Image Formats
JPG vs PNG – Which Format Should You Use?
The wrong image format makes files unnecessarily large or degrades quality. Here is exactly when to use JPG, when to use PNG, and how to convert between them when you have the wrong one.
The key difference in one sentence
JPG uses lossy compression — it removes image data to make files smaller, making it ideal for photographs where small quality loss is invisible. PNG uses lossless compression — it keeps every pixel perfectly, making it ideal for graphics, text, and images requiring transparency.
File size comparison
For a typical photograph (e.g. a 2000×1500px holiday photo), the same image saved as JPG (85% quality) might be 400KB, while the same image as PNG could be 3–5MB. That is a 7–12× size difference.
For a simple logo on a white background, PNG at 200×200px might be 8KB, while the same as JPG could be 15KB — slightly larger because JPG's compression is poorly suited to flat colours and sharp edges.
When you have the wrong format
Got a PNG but need JPG? The upload form rejects it, the file is too large, or the platform specifically requires JPG. Convert it — the resulting JPG will be smaller and perfectly usable for photos.
Got a JPG but need PNG? Your design tool needs a transparent background, or you are working on a graphic and need to preserve quality through multiple edits. Convert to PNG to stop further compression damage.
Convert JPG to PNG or PNG to JPG instantly
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Convert Image Format →Frequently asked questions
Is PNG or JPG better quality?
PNG is technically better quality because it uses lossless compression — every pixel is preserved exactly. JPG uses lossy compression, which permanently removes some image data to reduce file size. However, at high quality settings (85–95%), JPG images look virtually identical to PNG for photographs, and the file size difference can be significant.
When should I use PNG instead of JPG?
Use PNG when your image has text, logos, icons, illustrations, screenshots, or areas of flat colour. PNG handles these sharp edges and solid colours without the blurring artefacts that JPG compression creates. Also use PNG when you need transparency — JPG does not support transparent backgrounds.
When should I use JPG instead of PNG?
Use JPG for photographs and complex images with many colours and gradients where the compression artefacts are invisible at normal viewing sizes. JPG files are typically 5–10 times smaller than PNG for photos, which significantly improves page load speed on websites.
Does JPG lose quality every time you save it?
Yes — this is an important property of JPG. Every time you open, edit, and resave a JPG, the lossy compression runs again and removes more data. After many generations, the quality degradation becomes visible. If you are editing an image, work in PNG or a lossless format and only convert to JPG as the final export step.
Can I convert JPG to PNG without losing quality?
Converting JPG to PNG stops further quality loss — but it cannot recover quality that was already lost when the JPG was created. The PNG will be a lossless copy of the existing JPG, meaning it will be larger but will not degrade further. If the JPG already has visible compression artefacts, those will remain in the PNG.
Which format is better for websites — JPG or PNG?
For photographs and hero images, JPG is typically better for websites because of its smaller file size, which improves load speed. For logos, icons, and UI elements with transparency, PNG is required. Modern web development often uses WebP instead of both, as it provides better compression than JPG and supports transparency like PNG.