What's the main difference between JPG, PNG, and WebP?

JPG uses lossy compression and is best for photos. PNG is lossless and supports transparency, best for graphics and screenshots. WebP supports both lossy and lossless modes and usually produces the smallest file for a given quality.

Which format is smallest?

WebP is usually the smallest for a given visual quality, often 25-35% smaller than an equivalent JPG and significantly smaller than PNG for photographic content.

Does WebP work everywhere?

All major modern browsers support WebP. The main exception is older or specialized software that hasn't been updated, where JPG remains the safer universal choice.

JPG vs PNG vs WebP: which should you use?

A plain-language breakdown, not a spec sheet

All three are everywhere, and picking the wrong one is the single biggest reason images end up larger than they need to be. Here's what actually matters for each, without the technical detail you don't need to make the decision.

JPG — the safe default for photos

JPG uses lossy compression, meaning it throws away some detail to shrink the file, in a way that's barely visible at reasonable quality settings. It works everywhere — every browser, every device, every piece of software made in the last 25 years — which makes it the safest universal choice. It doesn't support transparency, and because it's lossy, re-saving a JPG repeatedly gradually degrades quality.

Use it for: photos being shared, emailed, or posted where maximum compatibility matters more than squeezing out the last few percent of file size.

PNG — lossless, with transparency

PNG keeps every pixel exactly as-is, so there's no quality loss no matter how many times you re-save it. It also supports transparency, which JPG doesn't. The tradeoff is file size: a PNG photo is often 3-5x larger than the same photo as a well-compressed JPG, since lossless compression can't throw anything away.

Use it for: screenshots, logos, icons, graphics with flat colors or text, and anything that needs a transparent background.

WebP — usually the smallest, now widely supported

WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression in one format, and at a given visual quality it typically produces the smallest file of the three — often 25-35% smaller than an equivalent JPG, and dramatically smaller than PNG for photographic content while still supporting transparency. All major modern browsers support it; the only real holdout is older or niche software that hasn't been updated.

Use it for: anything headed to a website, where smaller files mean faster page loads, as long as you don't have a hard requirement to support very old software.

Quick decision

Photo for the web, and speed matters → WebP. Photo being emailed or shared where you're not sure what will open it → JPG. Screenshot, logo, or anything needing a transparent background → PNG, or WebP if the destination supports it.

Converting between formats in bulk? Quantize compresses and converts batches of images between all three directly in your browser — no uploads, no waiting. Sending photos by email? See how to compress images to fit email attachment limits, or for the full picture, how to reduce image file size without losing quality. Building a website? See the best image format and size for a fast website.