JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?

By the Novaxera team · Published 2026-10-18 · 7 min read

Short answer

Use JPG for photos, PNG for screenshots, logos and anything that needs a transparent background, and WebP for images on websites, where it usually gives smaller files than JPG or PNG. JPG is lossy with no transparency, PNG is lossless with transparency, and WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression plus transparency. Converting never restores detail a JPG has already lost.

Key takeaways

JPG uses lossy compression and has no transparency, which makes it a good fit for photos but not for logos or text.
PNG is lossless and supports transparency, so it keeps sharp edges in screenshots, logos and graphics, at the cost of larger files for photos.
WebP supports lossy and lossless compression and transparency, and all current major browsers support it, which makes it a strong choice for websites.
Converting a JPG to PNG does not bring back detail lost to JPG compression; it only changes the container and often makes the file bigger.
Converting to JPG fills transparent areas with a solid color, so keep a PNG or WebP copy of any image that needs a transparent background.

How do JPG, PNG and WebP work?

The three formats differ mainly in how they compress pixels and whether they can store transparency. That one difference explains most of the advice about when to use each.

JPG (JPEG) uses lossy compression. It throws away fine detail that the eye notices least, which works well for photos with smooth gradients. Every time a JPG is edited and saved again, a little more detail can be lost. JPG has no transparency and does not support animation.
PNG uses lossless compression: every pixel is stored exactly. That keeps text, lines and flat colors crisp, and PNG supports transparency, including soft semi-transparent edges. The trade-off is that photos saved as PNG are usually much larger than the same photo as a JPG. PNG is generally used for still images.
WebP is a newer format that can work either way: lossy like JPG or lossless like PNG. It supports transparency in both modes and can also store animation. All current major browsers display WebP, although some older desktop software cannot open it.

For the same visual quality, WebP files are often smaller than JPG or PNG, but the exact difference depends on the image and the settings used.

JPG vs PNG vs WebP: comparison table

This table summarizes the practical differences. Results for file size always depend on the specific image.

Feature	JPG	PNG	WebP
Compression	Lossy	Lossless	Lossy or lossless
Transparency	No	Yes	Yes
Animation	No	Not in standard PNG	Yes
Typical strength	Photos	Screenshots, logos, graphics with text	Web images of all kinds
Photo file size	Small	Large	Often smaller than JPG
Compatibility	Almost universal	Almost universal	All current major browsers; some older apps cannot open it

Which format should you use for each job?

Pick the format based on what the image contains and where it will be used. These rules of thumb cover most everyday situations.

Photos: JPG. It keeps photos small and opens everywhere. Use WebP instead if the photo is going on a website.
Screenshots: PNG. Lossless compression keeps text and interface edges sharp, where JPG tends to add blurry artifacts around letters.
Logos and icons: PNG, or WebP for the web. Both keep transparent backgrounds so the logo sits cleanly on any color.
Websites: WebP. It supports transparency and usually produces smaller files, which helps pages load faster.
Print: keep the highest-quality original you have. A high-quality JPG is usually fine for photos and PNG for graphics; TIFF is also common for print and archiving. Avoid printing images that have been heavily compressed.
Email and messaging: JPG for photos, because it keeps attachments small and every recipient can open it. Check the email and platform file size limits if you are sending many images.

How do you convert between JPG, PNG and WebP?

Use a converter that keeps the dimensions the same and only changes the format. Image editors and many built-in photo apps can export to another format, and Novaxera has a dedicated free page for each common pair.

PNG to JPG for smaller photo files (transparent areas become white).
JPG to PNG when an app or upload form requires PNG.
JPG to WebP and PNG to WebP for website images; PNG to WebP keeps transparency.
WebP to JPG or WebP to PNG when older software cannot open a WebP image.

To convert an image on Novaxera:

Open the page for the pair you need, or the general image converter for other formats such as GIF, BMP or TIFF.
Upload one image of up to 50 MB in a format the page accepts; the general converter takes JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF and TIFF.
Wait for the conversion; the width and height stay unchanged.
Download the result. It is deleted automatically within 60 minutes.

Novaxera converts one image per upload. HEIC photos from iPhones are not accepted, and for animated GIFs only the first frame is converted.

What can converting fix, and what can it not fix?

Converting changes how an image is stored; it cannot add detail that is not there. Knowing this avoids a lot of disappointment.

JPG to PNG does not restore quality. Blockiness, blur and color banding from JPG compression are copied into the PNG pixel for pixel. The PNG is usually larger, not better.
JPG to PNG does not create transparency. A JPG has no transparent areas, so the PNG has a solid background too. Removing a background is a separate step.
Converting to JPG removes transparency. On Novaxera, transparent areas are filled with white when converting to JPG or BMP. PNG, WebP and TIFF keep transparency.
Converting does not change resolution. A small image stays small; upscaling is not part of format conversion.
Converting can fix compatibility and size. Turning a WebP into a JPG lets older software open it, and turning a PNG photo into a JPG or WebP usually shrinks it a lot.

Each lossy save can lose a little more detail, so keep your original file and convert from it rather than from earlier converted copies.

How do you make JPG, PNG and WebP files smaller?

Compression works differently for each format, so the savings differ too. Lossy formats can shrink a lot; lossless PNG optimization usually shrinks less.

JPG and WebP: Compress JPG (for JPEG files) and Novaxera's image compressor (for JPEG and WebP) re-encode images at quality 75 with encoder optimization, keeping the width and height unchanged. This usually gives the largest savings.
PNG: Compress PNG optimizes the file losslessly, so no pixels change and transparency is kept. Savings are usually smaller. For a big reduction, convert the PNG to WebP (transparency kept) or to JPG (transparency becomes white).

Novaxera shows the exact result after compressing, for example how many percent smaller the file became and the old and new sizes. There is no resize option, so if you need fewer pixels, resize the image in an editor first. Compressing an image that is already heavily compressed may save little.

Frequently asked questions

Is PNG better quality than JPG?

Yes, for the same image PNG keeps every pixel exactly, while JPG discards some detail to save space. For photos the difference is often hard to see at normal quality settings, and the JPG is much smaller. For screenshots, text and logos, PNG looks noticeably sharper because JPG adds artifacts around edges.

Does converting JPG to PNG improve image quality?

No. Converting JPG to PNG keeps the image exactly as it is, including any blur or blockiness from JPG compression. The detail that was discarded when the JPG was saved cannot be recovered. The PNG will usually be larger. Convert to PNG only when a program or form requires that format.

Should I use WebP for my website?

Usually yes. WebP supports lossy and lossless compression and transparency, all current major browsers display it, and files are often smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality. Results depend on the image. Keep the original files, and you can create WebP versions with the JPG to WebP converter.

Why does my PNG lose its transparent background when converted?

The transparent background is lost because the target format cannot store transparency. JPG and BMP have no transparent pixels, so Novaxera fills those areas with white. To keep the transparent background, convert to WebP or keep the image as PNG instead.

Can Novaxera convert iPhone HEIC photos?

No. Novaxera's image converter does not accept HEIC files. On an iPhone, choosing the camera's Most Compatible format setting makes it save new photos as JPG instead of HEIC. Once you have a JPG, Novaxera can convert it to PNG or WebP or compress it.