Use JPG for photos, PNG for screenshots, logos and transparency, and WebP for images on your own website.
JPG: photos
JPG (also written JPEG) discards fine texture and subtle color shifts. A photo saved as JPG can be a tenth the size of the PNG with little visible difference. Text, logos, screenshots and diagrams get fuzzy halos at hard edges. JPG has no transparency, so transparent areas become a solid background.
Use JPG for: photos you email, post or archive.
PNG: screenshots, logos and transparency
PNG is lossless and supports full alpha transparency. A detailed photo saved as PNG can be 5–20 times larger than the JPG and look the same.
Use PNG for: screenshots, logos, icons, graphics with text, and images placed over unknown backgrounds.
WebP: images for the web
WebP supports lossy and lossless compression plus transparency. Lossy WebP is often 25–35% smaller than JPG at similar quality. Current browsers support it. Some desktop software, corporate tools, print workflows and upload forms reject it.
Use WebP for: images on a website you control.
SVG: vector logos and icons
SVG stores lines, curves and fills instead of pixels, so a vector logo stays sharp and small at any size. Photos embedded in an SVG gain no scaling benefit.
Use SVG for: logos, icons and illustrations drawn as vector art.
HEIC and AVIF compatibility
HEIC (the iPhone camera default) and AVIF (a newer web format) have uneven support. Keep the original and share a JPG or PNG copy. The HEIC guide covers conversion and iPhone settings.
Which format to use
- Photo going anywhere unpredictable → JPG at 80–90% quality.
- Screenshot, logo or text → PNG.
- Transparent background → PNG, or WebP on the web.
- Image for your own website → WebP.
- Vector logo or icon → SVG as the master copy.
- Unsure → JPG for photos, PNG for everything else.
Converting between formats
Converting a JPG to PNG does not restore lost detail. It only makes the file larger. Convert copies from the highest-quality original. The image format converter handles PNG, JPG, WebP and SVG in your browser. The resize & compress tool shows the file size change as you move the quality slider.