JPG vs PNG: Which Is Smaller and When to Use Each
A plain explanation of lossy and lossless images, with advice on which format to choose for photos, screenshots and logos.
JPG and PNG are the two most common image formats. They work in different ways, which is why the same picture can have very different file sizes in each.
JPG: smaller files, some loss
JPG is a lossy format. It removes fine detail that is hard to notice, which makes files small. It is the usual choice for photos. JPG does not support transparency.
PNG: exact pixels, larger files
PNG is lossless. Every pixel is kept exactly, and it supports transparent backgrounds. That is ideal for logos, screenshots and images with text, but photos saved as PNG are often several times larger than the same photo as JPG.
WebP
WebP is a newer format that can be smaller than both. Some older programs and upload forms do not accept it, so converting to JPG or PNG is often useful.
Which should you choose?
| Image type | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Photos | JPG |
| Screenshots and text | PNG |
| Logos or icons with transparency | PNG |
| Need the smallest file for a form | JPG |
Converting between them
Converting PNG to JPG usually makes a big saving, and transparent areas turn white. Converting JPG to PNG does not bring back detail that JPG already removed, and the file often grows. Try PNG to JPG, JPG to PNG or WebP to JPG.