JPG, PNG and WEBP are the three image formats you meet most often. They store pictures in different ways, and choosing the right one affects file size, quality and whether a website or form will accept your file. This guide explains the differences in plain language.
The short answer
- Use JPG for photographs and for most online forms.
- Use PNG for screenshots, logos and graphics that need sharp edges or a transparent background.
- Use WEBP for websites and apps that support it, when you want smaller files at similar quality.
JPG (or JPEG)
JPG is designed for photographs. It compresses by discarding detail the eye is unlikely to notice, which makes files small. The trade-off is that the compression is lossy: every time you save a JPG again, a little more detail can be lost. JPG does not support transparency, so transparent areas become a solid colour, normally white. It is accepted almost everywhere, which is why many portals ask for it.
PNG
PNG keeps every pixel exactly as it is, so it is lossless. This suits screenshots, text, logos and drawings, where sharp edges matter. PNG also supports transparency. The cost is size: a photo saved as PNG is usually much larger than the same photo as JPG. Converting a JPG to PNG does not bring back detail that was already lost, it only makes the file bigger.
WEBP
WEBP is a newer format that can be lossy or lossless and supports transparency. It often produces smaller files than JPG or PNG at similar quality, which is why websites use it to load faster. Most current browsers and phone apps open it, but some older programs and some upload forms do not accept WEBP. If a form lists only JPG or PNG, do not upload WEBP.
Quick comparison
- Photos: JPG or WEBP.
- Screenshots and text: PNG.
- Transparent background: PNG or WEBP.
- Smallest file for a website: WEBP.
- Widest compatibility: JPG, then PNG.
Which one for an online form?
Use exactly what the form lists. If it says "JPG or JPEG", upload a real JPG. Renaming a PNG file to end in .jpg does not convert it, and a portal that checks the file contents may still refuse it. Convert it properly with the image converter, then use the image compressor if the size is above the limit.
Things to remember
- Keep your original photo. Convert copies, not the only version you have.
- Avoid saving the same JPG again and again. Edit from the original each time.
- Converting to JPG puts transparent areas on white. If you need transparency, choose PNG or WEBP.
- Format changes do not change the pixel size. Use the image resizer for that.