WEBP vs PNG vs JPG — Which Format to Use, and When
How the three main web image formats differ, which one fits each situation, and how to convert between them right in your browser.
Updated 2026-07-11 · 5 min read
The same photo can differ in size by several times depending on the format you save it in. Here's a rundown of the three most common web formats and how to choose between them.
JPG — best for photos
Lossy compression packs photos and complex gradients into small files. It doesn't support transparency. For everyday photos — people, landscapes — it's the default choice.
PNG — transparency and crisp graphics
Lossless compression makes it great for images with sharp edges — logos, icons, screenshots — and it supports transparent backgrounds. The trade-off: photos saved as PNG get heavy.
WEBP — the modern default for the web
At the same visual quality, WEBP comes out roughly 25–35% smaller than JPG, while also supporting transparency and animation. Every modern browser supports it, so if the goal is publishing to the web, it deserves first consideration.
Quick recommendations
- •Regular photos → JPG or WEBP
- •Logos, icons, transparent backgrounds → PNG or WEBP
- •Images going on a web page → WEBP
TipFor print or archival, stick with lossless (PNG) or the original format. For web publishing, WEBP usually comes out ahead.
Converting in the browser
Drop a file into the image converter, pick the target format and quality, and you're done. The estimated output size is shown before you convert, so you can compare options at a glance.
Try different formats and quality settings and compare the estimated sizes.
Open Image Converter →