JPEG vs PNG vs WebP: pick the right image format
Choosing the right format often saves more space than any quality slider. The three web workhorses each have a clear job.
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Lossy | No | Photographs, universal compatibility |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | Screenshots, logos, text, line art |
| WebP | Lossy or lossless | Yes | Modern websites — usually 25–35% smaller than JPEG at similar quality |
JPEG: the photo standard
JPEG discards detail your eye is unlikely to miss in continuous-tone images. It is a poor choice for sharp text, flat logos and screenshots, where its artefacts show up as fuzzy halos around edges.
PNG: exact, and larger
PNG preserves every pixel, supports transparency, and excels at graphics with hard edges. For a photograph it will typically be several times larger than a JPEG of similar visual quality — use PNG for fidelity, not for photos.
WebP: the modern default for the web
WebP is supported by all major modern browsers and usually beats JPEG on size while also offering transparency. Its only real caution is compatibility with some older software and a few social or print workflows, where JPEG remains the safe handoff format.
Simple decision rule
Photo for a website → WebP (JPEG fallback if the platform rejects it). Screenshot or logo → PNG, or lossless WebP. Photo to email or print → JPEG at 85–90% quality. Test your own files in the Image Compressor and compare the percentages side by side.