WebP vs PNG vs JPEG: Which Image Format Should You Use?

JPEG — the photo standard

JPEG (or JPG) has been the web's go-to format for photographs since the 1990s. It uses lossy compression, which means it discards some image data to achieve smaller file sizes.

Best for: Photographs, complex images with gradients, hero images, product photos.

Not ideal for: Images with text, logos, screenshots, or anything requiring a transparent background.

A high-quality JPEG at 80–85% quality is hard to distinguish from the original and typically 5–10x smaller than an uncompressed file.

PNG — the quality king

PNG uses lossless compression — no image data is discarded. This makes it perfect for images that need to be pixel-perfect, like logos, icons, and screenshots.

Best for: Logos, icons, illustrations, screenshots, images with text, images requiring transparency.

Not ideal for: Photographs (file sizes are much larger than JPEG for photos).

PNG is the only common format (besides WebP) that supports full transparency, making it essential for logos placed on different backgrounds.

WebP — the modern winner

WebP was developed by Google and is now supported by all modern browsers. It combines the best of both worlds — lossy compression for photos AND lossless compression for graphics, plus full transparency support.

Best for: Almost everything on the modern web.

WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPEGs and 25% smaller than PNGs, with the same visual quality. If your audience uses modern browsers (which is almost everyone today), WebP should be your default choice.

When to use each format

• Use WebP as your default for all web images if browser support allows
• Use JPEG for photos when you need maximum compatibility (e.g. email, older systems)
• Use PNG for logos and graphics that need transparency and pixel-perfect quality
• Avoid using PNG for photographs — the file sizes are unnecessarily large