PNG, JPG or WebP: which format?
Each image format is good at different things, and the wrong one can make a file ten times bigger than it needs to be or ruin a transparent logo.
- JPG (JPEG) uses lossy compression designed for photographs. Files are small and every device can open them, but there is no transparency, and sharp edges such as text can show blurry artifacts.
- PNG is lossless and supports transparency. It is ideal for logos, icons, screenshots and diagrams, but photos saved as PNG are very large.
- WebP, developed by Google, supports both lossy and lossless compression and transparency. It is typically 25–35% smaller than JPG at similar quality and is supported by all modern browsers.
How to convert an image
- Choose, drag or paste an image. JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, AVIF and SVG files can be opened.
- Pick the format to convert to.
- For JPG and WebP, set the quality. For JPG, choose a background color to replace transparent areas.
- Check the preview and the before-and-after file size, then download the converted file.
What happens to transparency?
PNG and WebP keep transparent pixels exactly as they are. JPG cannot store transparency, so transparent areas are filled with the background color you choose, white by default. Without this step, many converters turn transparent areas black.
Converting an animated GIF keeps only the first frame, and SVG files are rasterized at their natural size. To change the size at the same time, use our image resizer.
Common conversions
- PNG to JPG: shrink large screenshots or photos saved as PNG for email and forms.
- JPG to PNG: needed by some editors and upload forms; note this does not restore quality already lost.
- WebP to JPG or PNG: open images saved from websites in older software.
- JPG or PNG to WebP: make website images lighter for faster pages.
More worked examples
Smaller file: the same banner saved as PNG is 216.5 KB, but converted to JPG at 90% quality it is about 79 KB.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Converting logos to JPG. JPG has no transparency and blurs sharp edges; keep PNG or WebP.
- Expecting JPG to PNG to improve quality. It only preserves what is already there.
- Converting when you only need a smaller file. The image compressor gives finer control.
Sources and methodology
The calculations on this page follow these published standards and references. The code is covered by automated tests against known values.