PNG vs JPG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Quick answer
Use JPG for photos and PNG for screenshots, logos, text and anything that needs a see through background. JPG uses lossy compression, so photo files stay small. PNG is lossless and supports transparency, so sharp edges stay crisp, but photo files get much bigger.
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PNG and JPG are the two most common image formats on the web, and picking the wrong one leads to blurry logos or huge photo files. This guide compares them side by side, shows when to use each, and explains where newer formats such as WEBP and AVIF fit in.
PNG vs JPG at a glance
| Feature | JPG (JPEG) | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy. Some detail is thrown away to shrink the file. | Lossless. Every pixel is kept exactly. |
| Transparency | Not supported | Full transparency, including soft edges |
| Best for | Photos and images with smooth color changes | Screenshots, logos, icons, diagrams, charts and text |
| File size for photos | Small | Much larger |
| Sharp edges and text | Can show blur and blocky marks around edges | Stays crisp |
| Animation | No | No. Animated PNG is a separate format called APNG. |
| File extensions | .jpg, .jpeg | .png |
These details come from the MDN guide to image file types, which recommends PNG when you need exact reproduction or transparency, and JPEG for photos.
What is the difference between PNG and JPG?
The main difference is how each format compresses an image. JPG looks for detail your eye is unlikely to miss in a photo and throws it away. That makes photo files small, but it also means quality drops a little each time you edit and save a JPG again.
PNG keeps every pixel. Nothing is lost, so text, lines and flat areas of color look exactly as they did. The cost is file size: a photo saved as PNG is often much bigger than the same photo saved as a good quality JPG.
When to use JPG
- Photos from a phone or camera
- Product photos and blog images where small files help pages load fast
- Images you email or upload where size limits apply
- Pictures with lots of color and soft gradients, such as skies or skin
When to use PNG
- Logos and icons, especially on a colored or see through background
- Screenshots with text, menus or code
- Charts, diagrams and line art
- Images you will keep editing, so quality does not drop with each save
- Source files for favicons, which you can turn into an ICO with our PNG to ICO converter
Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?
No. Detail that JPG compression removed cannot be brought back. Converting a JPG to PNG keeps the image as it is now and stops further loss on later edits, but the file will usually get larger. Convert to PNG when you need transparency or plan more edits, not to fix a blurry photo.
What about WEBP and AVIF?
MDN notes that WEBP and AVIF give better compression than JPG and PNG, and both support transparency. All current major browsers can show them, which makes them good choices for websites. Older software and some upload forms still expect JPG or PNG, so many people keep a JPG or PNG copy too.
Read more in our guides to WEBP files and AVIF files, or convert them with the WEBP to PNG and AVIF to PNG tools.
PNG vs JPG for websites and SEO
Google can index both formats, along with WEBP, AVIF, GIF, BMP and SVG, as its image SEO guide explains. Format alone does not change rankings. What matters is a fast page, so:
- Use JPG or WEBP for photos to keep pages light.
- Use PNG or SVG for logos and graphics with text.
- Resize images to the size they are shown on the page.
- Add alt text that describes what the image shows.
Frequently asked questions
Is PNG better quality than JPG?
PNG keeps every pixel, so it never loses quality when saved. For photos, a high quality JPG looks almost the same to most people at a fraction of the file size.
Which is smaller, PNG or JPG?
For photos, JPG is usually much smaller. For simple graphics with few colors, PNG can be small too and looks sharper.
Can a JPG have a transparent background?
No. JPG does not support transparency. Save the image as PNG, WEBP or AVIF if you need a see through background.
Is JPG the same as JPEG?
Yes. They are the same format. The shorter .jpg extension comes from older systems that only allowed three letter file extensions.
Should I use PNG or JPG for printing?
For photos, a high quality JPG at full size is usually fine. For logos, text and line art, PNG keeps edges sharp.
