PNG vs JPG vs WebP: which one should you use
The same picture can be a few hundred kilobytes in one format and several megabytes in another. Choosing the right format makes pages faster, uploads easier and files smaller without a visible loss.
JPG: the safe choice for photos
JPG works everywhere and is made for photographs. It reaches small sizes by discarding detail you are unlikely to notice. It has no transparency, so a transparent area becomes a solid background, and every time you edit and save a JPG again it loses a little more detail.
PNG: sharp edges and transparency
PNG keeps every pixel exactly and supports transparency, which suits logos, icons, screenshots and graphics with text or flat colour. The price is size: a photo saved as PNG is often several times bigger than the same photo as JPG.
WebP: usually smaller than both
WebP can be smaller than JPG at a similar look, and it also supports transparency, so it can replace many PNG files too. Modern browsers and apps open it without trouble. Some older programs and email clients cannot, so it is best for websites rather than for files you send to people.
AVIF: smallest, but slower to make
AVIF is often the smallest of all, but it takes longer to create and is supported by fewer older programs. It is worth trying for large photos on a website when every kilobyte counts.
A quick way to choose
- A photo you will send or upload anywhere: JPG.
- A logo, icon or screenshot, or anything that needs a transparent background: PNG, or WebP for a website.
- Pictures on your own website where speed matters: WebP, with a JPG copy for old software.
- You plan to edit the picture again: keep the original, and save copies in the format you need.
Switch formats without uploading
On the Filesmingo board, select a picture, open the Convert tab, pick the format and quality, and compare the result with the slider before you download. The conversion runs in your browser, so the picture is never uploaded.