Should you save that screenshot as PNG or JPG? What about WebP? Choosing the wrong format doubles your file size, turns transparency black, or makes photos look mushy. This short guide settles it once and for all.
The 60-Second Cheat Sheet
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Both |
| File size | Small | Large | Smallest |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Quality loss | Yes | None | Optional |
| Compatibility | Universal | Universal | All modern browsers |
| Best for | Photos | Icons / screenshots | Web images |
JPG: The Photo Veteran
JPG (or JPEG, born in 1992) uses lossy compression to make photos tiny. It remains the default format for cameras, phones and social platforms. Two weaknesses: no transparency, and repeated editing degrades quality because every save re-compresses the image.
PNG: Lossless and Transparent
PNG stores every pixel exactly and supports an alpha channel — the only correct choice for logos, icons and UI screenshots. The price is size: a photo saved as PNG can be 5–10× larger than the same photo as JPG. Saving photos as PNG is the most common storage-wasting mistake.
WebP: The Modern All-Rounder
Developed by Google, WebP supports lossy and lossless modes, transparency and animation, and runs 25–35% smaller than JPG at equal quality. All major browsers support it, making it the top choice for website images. Only very old apps and system galleries still struggle to open it.
How to Choose — In Three Lines
- Photos, banners, product shots → JPG or WebP (WebP for the smallest size)
- Icons, logos, screenshots, transparent assets → PNG
- Sharing with unknown devices → JPG is the safest bet
Wrong Format? Convert It Online
If your image is already in the wrong format, an online converter fixes it in seconds — with adjustable quality so you control the final size.
Recommended Tools
Image Compressor
Compress JPG, PNG and WebP images online by up to 90% with almost no visible quality loss.
Format Converter
Convert images between PNG, JPG and WebP in one click while keeping quality.
Free online, images never leave your browser
FAQ
Why did my PNG turn white after converting to JPG?
That is expected. JPG has no transparency support, so transparent areas get filled with a solid color. Keep PNG or switch to WebP if you need transparency.
Some platforms reject WebP uploads
A few sites still accept only JPG/PNG. Convert back to JPG with quality set above 85 to keep the quality loss invisible.