Guide · 6 min read
JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format to Use
An honest, practical comparison of JPG, PNG and WebP: quality, transparency, file size and browser support.
Last updated: 2026-09-29
Tools for this guide
JPG: the photo workhorse
JPG uses lossy compression tuned for photographs and opens everywhere — every browser, editor, printer and phone from the last two decades.
Weaknesses: no transparency, and repeated re-saving accumulates artifacts. Keep a lossless original and export JPG copies for sharing.
PNG: exact pixels and transparency
PNG is lossless: what you save is exactly what you get, including transparency. Ideal for logos, UI screenshots, diagrams and anything with sharp edges or text.
Weakness: photographic PNGs are enormous. Never use PNG for camera photos on the web unless you have a specific reason.
WebP: the modern default
WebP handles both lossy photos and lossless graphics with transparency, usually in fewer bytes than either JPG or PNG. All current browsers support it.
Use WebP for web publishing by default; fall back to JPG/PNG only when a specific recipient (an old printer pipeline, a government portal) demands it.
Quick decision tree
Photo for the web → WebP (or JPG for maximum compatibility). Screenshot with text → PNG, or WebP if size matters. Needs transparency → PNG or WebP, never JPG.
Gargloo's converters (JPG to WebP, PNG to WebP, JPG to PNG) run entirely in your browser — convert and compare sizes directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is WebP always smaller than JPG?
For photographic content at matched visual quality, almost always — typically by a quarter to a third. For tiny icons or images that must open in very old software, JPG or PNG can still be the pragmatic choice.
Does PNG support transparency?
Yes — PNG and WebP both support transparency; JPG does not. If your image needs see-through areas, JPG is out.