JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Understand when JPEG, PNG and WebP make sense before converting an image.
JPEG / JPG
JPEG uses lossy compression and is a common choice for photographs. It does not support transparency. Repeatedly saving JPEG files at low quality can accumulate visible artifacts, so keep an original when possible.
PNG
PNG uses lossless compression and supports transparency. It works well for screenshots, diagrams, interface graphics and images that need crisp edges, but photographic PNG files can become much larger than JPEG or WebP.
WebP
WebP is a modern image format that supports lossy and lossless compression as well as transparency. It is broadly supported by current browsers and is often useful for web delivery, though specific software workflows may still request JPEG or PNG.
Conversion does not restore missing information
Changing a JPEG into PNG cannot recover detail that JPEG compression already removed. Likewise, converting a small image into a larger format does not add real resolution. Choose formats based on compatibility, transparency and size—not on the assumption that a different extension improves the source.