JPG and PNG are the two most common image formats on the planet, and picking the wrong one means either a blurry photo or a needlessly huge file. The good news: the rule of thumb is simple.
The one-line answer
- Use JPG for photographs.
- Use PNG for logos, icons, screenshots and anything that needs a transparent background.
Why the difference exists
JPG uses lossy compression. It discards fine detail your eye is unlikely to notice, which makes photo files small — often five to ten times smaller than the equivalent PNG. The trade-off is that it can't store transparency, and re-saving the same JPG repeatedly slowly softens it.
PNG uses lossless compression. Nothing is thrown away, edges stay razor-sharp, and it supports a transparent background. That makes it perfect for graphics with text or hard lines — but a poor choice for full photos, where files get large fast.
A quick decision guide
| You have… | Best format |
|---|---|
| A photo for a website or email | JPG |
| A logo or icon with transparency | PNG |
| A screenshot with text | PNG |
| A product photo for a marketplace | JPG (or PNG on white) |
| Something you'll edit repeatedly | PNG |
What about WebP?
WebP is a newer format that often beats both — smaller than JPG at the same quality, with PNG-style transparency. The catch is that a few older tools still don't accept it, so many people convert WebP back to JPG or PNG for compatibility. If your target supports it, convert to WebP for the smallest files.
Converting is free and instant
You don't need software to switch formats. Convert PNG to JPG to shrink a graphic, JPG to PNG when you need lossless, or use the general Convert Image tool — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.