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

Pick the wrong image format and you'll either have files that are needlessly huge or logos that look like they were faxed. The right choice depends on what's in the image and where it's going to be used. This guide breaks it down in plain English with a comparison table you can bookmark.

The 30-second answer

• Photographs → JPG or WebP
• Logos and graphics with text → PNG or SVG
• Anything for a modern website → WebP
• Animations → GIF (legacy) or WebP (modern)
• Print or design files → keep the original

Full format comparison

JPG — the workhorse

JPG has been around for over 30 years and still powers most photography on the web. It excels at compressing photos and gradients but does poorly with hard edges and text, where it produces visible 'halo' artifacts. JPG also doesn't support transparency.

PNG — perfect lines, bigger files

PNG uses lossless compression, which means it preserves every pixel exactly. It's the right choice for logos, screenshots, UI mockups and any graphic with sharp text or hard edges. The trade-off is file size — a PNG photo can be 5–10× larger than the same JPG.

WebP — the modern default

Developed by Google, WebP gives you JPG-style lossy compression that's roughly 25–35% smaller, plus optional transparency and animation. Every modern browser supports it. Unless you have a specific reason to use JPG or PNG, WebP is the right default in 2026.

AVIF — the cutting edge

AVIF compresses even better than WebP, sometimes by another 20–50%. The catch is slow encoding and less mature tooling. It's a great choice for large hero images on high-traffic sites where every kilobyte counts.

Convert between formats in your browser

Use our free Image Converter to flip any image between JPG, PNG and WebP without uploading it anywhere. It runs entirely in your browser.

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