JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which to Compress To?

Choosing the right image format before you compress matters as much as the compression settings themselves. Here's how JPG, PNG and WebP actually compare, and which one fits your situation.

JPG: the default for photos

JPG uses "lossy" compression tuned for photographic detail — smooth gradients, natural colors, complex scenes. It's supported everywhere, which makes it the safe default for photos in email, documents and most websites. Its main downside is that it doesn't support transparency and can show visible artifacts around sharp edges or text at low quality settings.

PNG: best for graphics and transparency

PNG uses lossless compression, meaning no detail is discarded — ideal for logos, screenshots, diagrams and anything with sharp edges or flat colors. It also supports transparency, which JPG doesn't. The trade-off is file size: a PNG of a complex photo is usually far larger than an equivalent JPG.

WebP: the modern middle ground

WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, and typically produces smaller files than JPG or PNG at a comparable visual quality — often 25–35% smaller than JPG for photos. Browser support is now very broad, making it a strong default for web use, though some older software and print workflows still expect JPG or PNG specifically.

Quick decision guide

• Sending a photo by email or messaging? Use JPG — universal compatibility.
• Need a transparent background or sharp-edged graphic? Use PNG.
• Optimizing images for a website's loading speed? Use WebP where supported, with JPG as a fallback.

Compressing after choosing a format

Once you've picked a format, the Compress Image tool lets you convert between JPG, PNG and WebP while adjusting quality and resizing in the same step — useful when you're not sure which format will end up smallest for a specific image.

Choose the format before you optimize

Compression works best when the format matches the image. Photos usually tolerate JPG compression well, while screenshots and transparent graphics may benefit from PNG or WebP. Start from the original image and compare the output at its intended display size rather than choosing a format based only on the smallest possible file.

The best compressed format depends on the image type

JPG is usually strong for photographs, PNG is useful for transparency and crisp graphics, and WebP can offer a good balance for modern web delivery. The correct choice changes with the source: a screenshot with text should not be judged by the same rules as a camera photo.

Choose by the failure mode you need to avoid

If transparency matters, eliminate formats that cannot preserve it. If a photograph must be tiny for a webpage, compare JPG and WebP at the same visible quality. If sharp text or flat colors must remain clean, inspect PNG or a lossless alternative.

The practical test is the destination page or application: choose the smallest file that still looks correct there.

Use the destination to break the tie

When two formats look equally good, the destination usually decides the winner. A photograph on a modern website may favor WebP or AVIF, a transparent logo may favor PNG, and a broadly compatible photo upload may favor JPG. Compare the actual files at the target display size and measure their weight; a format decision made without the destination is only a theoretical optimization.