PNG vs JPG vs WEBP — Which Format Should You Use?

Most people use the wrong format for their images. Not out of ignorance — the options are genuinely confusing. Here's the practical guide that cuts through the noise.

The Short Answer

• Photos → WEBP (or JPG as fallback)
• Screenshots with text → PNG or WEBP lossless
• Graphics/logos → PNG or SVG
• Web images → WEBP always

That's it. But let's break down why.

Format Comparison Table

When to Use PNG

Best for:

• Screenshots with text and UI elements
• Images that need transparency
• Graphics with sharp edges (no anti-aliasing artifacts)
• Print-ready files
• Images that will be edited multiple times

Avoid PNG for:

• Photographs (file size is too large)
• Web images (use WEBP instead)

PNG preserves every pixel exactly. It doesn't "guess" at compression like JPG does. For images with sharp edges and solid colors, this means smaller file sizes AND perfect quality.

For screenshots: PNG is almost always better than JPG. The text rendering in JPG introduces artifacts that look blurry, especially on technical screenshots with code or UI elements.

When to Use JPG

Best for:

• Photographs (real-world scenes, people, products)
• Complex images with gradients and lots of colors
• When maximum compatibility is required (very old browsers)
• Archival of original photos

Avoid JPG for:

• Screenshots (text gets blurry)
• Graphics (compression artifacts on sharp edges)
• Images with transparency
• Any image you plan to edit multiple times (degrades with each save)

JPG throws away data to reduce file size. For photographs, this is fine — the human eye doesn't notice subtle compression in complex natural images. For screenshots or graphics, it's terrible.

When to Use WEBP

Best for:

• All web images (default choice)
• Photos on the web (smaller than JPG, same quality)
• Graphics on the web (smaller than PNG)
• Any situation where file size matters

WEBP is the modern answer to the PNG vs JPG debate. It does both:

• Lossy WEBP: better compression than JPG at equal quality
• Lossless WEBP: similar quality to PNG at 25–30% smaller file size

Browser support: 97%+ globally. If you're targeting IE11 users (you probably shouldn't be), you can add a JPG fallback. Otherwise, WEBP is safe to use as the default.

Practical Decision Tree

Is this going on a website?
├─ Yes → WEBP
│   ├─ Has transparency? → WEBP (lossless)
│   ├─ Photo? → WEBP (lossy)
│   └─ Screenshot/graphic? → WEBP (lossy or lossless)
│
├─ No → Does it need transparency?
│   ├─ Yes → PNG
│   └─ No → Is it a photograph?
│       ├─ Yes → JPG
│       └─ No → PNG or JPG (PNG for graphics, JPG for complex images)

Real File Size Examples

We tested the same images across all three formats at similar visual quality:

The Bottom Line

• Default for web: WEBP
• Screenshots: PNG or WEBP
• Print: PNG or TIFF
• Maximum compatibility: JPG
• Graphics with transparency: PNG

You can stop reading now and apply those rules. The rest is nuance.