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

What is the main difference between JPG, PNG and WebP?

The difference is how each format compresses pixels. JPG (also written JPEG) uses lossy compression: it discards detail the eye is unlikely to miss, mostly fine colour variation, and the amount discarded depends on the quality setting. PNG uses lossless compression: every pixel comes back exactly as it was saved, so the file is larger for photos but perfect for sharp edges.

WebP, developed by Google, offers both. Lossy WebP behaves like a more efficient JPG, and lossless WebP behaves like a more efficient PNG. Google’s WebP documentation states that lossless WebP files are 26% smaller than PNGs and lossy WebP files are 25–34% smaller than comparable JPEGs at equivalent quality. Those are averages from Google’s own tests, so your images may save more or less.

Which format is best for photos?

For photographs, a lossy format nearly always wins. A phone photo saved as PNG can be several times larger than the same photo as a good-quality JPG, and most people cannot see the difference on screen. JPG at a quality around 80 is a sensible starting point for sharing and uploading.

If the photo is going on your own website, lossy WebP usually gives the same look at a smaller size. Keep an original copy, though. Every time a JPG is edited and saved again, a little more detail is lost, so edit from the original and export once at the end.

Which format is best for logos, screenshots and text?

Use PNG, or lossless WebP on the web. JPG compression creates faint blocks and halos, called artefacts, around hard edges. They are hard to notice in a photo of a beach but obvious around black text on a white background, thin lines in a chart or the outline of a logo.

A screenshot of a spreadsheet saved as PNG keeps every character crisp, and because it has large areas of flat colour it often compresses well. The same screenshot as JPG may be smaller but the letters can look smudged.

Which formats keep a transparent background?

PNG and WebP can store an alpha channel, which records how see-through each pixel is. JPG cannot. When a transparent PNG is converted to JPG, every transparent pixel must be given a solid colour.

The Tools Star Hub Image Converter handles this with a background colour setting. It defaults to white, and you can type any hex colour, for example #000000 for black, so a logo meant for a dark page does not end up on a white rectangle. Converting JPG to PNG cannot add transparency back: the old background simply becomes opaque pixels in a lossless file.

Can every browser and app open WebP?

All current major browsers display WebP, and MDN’s image format guide lists it as broadly supported. The gaps are elsewhere: some older desktop software, upload forms and print services still accept only JPG or PNG. Government and job application portals are a common example.

That is why a practical workflow keeps JPG or PNG as the master copy and makes WebP versions for the web, rather than converting everything to WebP and finding a form that refuses it later.

Does converting between formats make a file smaller?

Sometimes, but not always. A photo converted from PNG to JPG usually shrinks a lot. A JPG converted to PNG usually grows, because PNG stores every pixel exactly, including the artefacts the JPG already created. Converting cannot recover detail that was thrown away.

If your goal is a smaller file rather than a different format, a compressor is the better tool. The Image Compressor can save as JPG, PNG or WebP with a quality slider from 10 to 100, starting at 80, and shows the original size, the new size and the percentage change. Its PNG output is lossless, so the slider does not change PNG encoding.

How do I choose and convert the right format step by step?

1. Decide what the image is. A photo with gradients and texture leans to JPG or lossy WebP. Text, icons, charts or flat colour lean to PNG or lossless WebP.
2. Check where it will be used. If an upload form lists accepted formats, follow that list. If it is your own website, WebP is usually available.
3. Check for transparency. If the image needs a see-through background, rule out JPG.
4. Convert JPG and PNG. Open the Image Converter, choose JPG → PNG or PNG → JPG, set a background colour for transparent pixels when going to JPG, and download the result.
5. Compress or make WebP. Use the Image Compressor to pick JPG, PNG or WebP output, adjust quality and compare the sizes before you download.

Example

What should I avoid when choosing a format?

FAQ

Is WebP better than JPG?

For web pages it usually gives a smaller file at similar visible quality. Google reports lossy WebP is 25–34% smaller than comparable JPEGs. JPG remains the safer choice where an app or form accepts only JPG.

Is PNG higher quality than JPG?

PNG is lossless, so it never discards detail. For photos the visible difference from a good JPG is often small while the PNG file is much larger.

Why does my transparent logo get a white background as JPG?

JPG has no transparency, so transparent pixels must be filled. The Image Converter fills them with white unless you choose another colour.

Should I use WebP for everything?

Use it for images on sites you control, but keep JPG or PNG masters. Some upload portals, print shops and older programs still do not accept WebP.

Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?

No. The PNG stores the JPG’s pixels exactly, including any blur or blocks, and is usually a larger file.

Which format is best for screenshots with text?

PNG or lossless WebP. Lossy formats can leave halos around letters and thin lines.

What quality setting should I use for JPG or WebP photos?

Start around 80, check the preview at full size and change in steps of 5. The compressor shows the new size so you can balance both.

Can WebP be animated?

Yes. WebP supports animation as well as lossy, lossless and transparent images, which is why it is used as a smaller alternative to GIF.

Can the Image Converter make WebP files?

No. It converts between JPG and PNG. To save a WebP file, use the Image Compressor, which offers JPG, PNG and WebP output.

Which format do passport and job portals usually want?

Most ask for JPG, sometimes PNG, with a size and pixel limit. Always follow the portal’s own instructions.

When is JPG still the safest upload choice?

Legacy portals and many ID forms still expect JPG even when WebP would be smaller.

Does PNG support animation like GIF?

APNG exists but support varies; GIF and animated WebP are more common for short loops.

How does WebP lossless compare to PNG?

Lossless WebP often beats PNG on size for photos with flat areas; always A/B the visual result.

Should product thumbnails use WebP with JPG fallback?

Yes on modern sites—serve WebP where supported and JPG for older clients.

Why keep a PNG master for logos?

Transparency and crisp edges survive edits better than a lossy JPG intermediate.

Can I convert PNG to JPG without noticing banding?

Gradients can band—raise quality or dither, or keep PNG/WebP for soft skies.

Is AVIF worth mentioning next to WebP?

AVIF can shrink further but encoding and support differ; WebP remains the broad middle ground.

Do CMYK print files belong in this comparison?

No—these formats are for screen RGB workflows; print shops often want TIFF or PDF.

How should email signatures pick a format?

Small JPG or PNG with modest dimensions; WebP support in mail clients is uneven.

Does changing format erase EXIF by itself?

Some converters strip metadata; check privacy needs separately from format choice.

Sources and further reading

• An image format for the Web (Google WebP)
• Image file type and format guide (MDN)