JPG, PNG and WebP Explained: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Three formats, three different jobs. Pick the wrong one and you get a blurry logo, a needlessly huge photo, or an image a site won't accept. Here's what each is actually good at — so you can choose on purpose rather than by accident.
The short answer: JPG for photographs, PNG for graphics and anything needing transparency, WebP when you want smaller files and control the platform. If you need to move between them, the Image Converter does it in your browser without uploading anything. The longer answer — and the why — is below.
JPG: the default for photographs
JPG (also written JPEG) has been the standard photo format for decades. It uses lossy compression: it throws away detail the eye is unlikely to miss, which makes files small while photos still look good.
Strengths: small files, universal support — essentially everything opens a JPG — and excellent for photographs, where its compression is nearly invisible.
Weaknesses: no transparency; it softens sharp edges, so text and thin lines can look fuzzy; and because it's lossy, re-saving a JPG over and over gradually degrades it. It's the wrong tool for a crisp logo or a screenshot full of text.
PNG: for graphics, text and transparency
PNG is lossless — it reproduces every pixel exactly — and it supports transparency, which JPG can't do at all.
Strengths: razor-sharp edges, perfect for logos, icons, diagrams, screenshots and line art; a transparent background so a logo sits cleanly on any colour; and no quality loss no matter how many times you re-save.
Weaknesses: much larger files for photographs. A camera photo saved as PNG can be several times the size of the JPG for no visible benefit. Use PNG for graphics, not for your holiday pictures.
WebP: smaller files, if the platform supports it
WebP is the newer format designed for the web. Its trick is doing a bit of both: it offers lossy and lossless modes, supports transparency, and typically produces noticeably smaller files than JPG or PNG at similar quality.
Strengths: smaller than JPG for photos and smaller than PNG for graphics, with transparency support — a strong choice for websites where page weight matters.
Weaknesses: support is good in modern browsers but still less universal than JPG. Some older software, apps and upload forms don't accept WebP, so it's best when you control where the image will be used. When in doubt for sharing with others, JPG is the safer bet.
Side by side
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Photos | Graphics, text, logos | Web images |
| File size | Small | Large for photos | Smallest |
| Support | Universal | Universal | Modern, not universal |
A word on transparency
Transparency is the clearest dividing line. If part of your image needs to be see-through — a logo with no background, an icon that sits on different colours — you need PNG or WebP. JPG simply can't store it: convert a transparent PNG to JPG and the see-through areas fill in with a solid colour (usually white). That's not a bug; JPG has no transparency to keep. When you convert to JPG, it's worth choosing what that background colour should be rather than being surprised by it.
Photographs vs graphics
Most format decisions come down to one question: is it a photograph or a graphic?
- Photographs — continuous tones and gradients — compress beautifully with JPG (or WebP). PNG just bloats them.
- Graphics — logos, icons, diagrams, screenshots, flat colour and sharp text — stay crisp in PNG (or WebP). JPG blurs their edges.
When to convert from one to another
A few everyday cases where switching format is the right move:
- PNG photo that's too big? Convert it to JPG and the file shrinks dramatically with no visible loss.
- Site rejected your WebP? Convert it to JPG or PNG for broad compatibility.
- Need a logo on a transparent background? Make sure it's PNG (or WebP), not JPG.
- Shrinking a website's images? WebP usually gives the smallest files.
- Sharing with someone on any device? JPG is the safest, most universal choice.
Converting locally, without uploading
Most "image converter" sites upload your pictures to a server to change the format. For a stock graphic that's harmless; for personal photos, a document you snapped, or anything private, it means handing the image to a company you don't control just to swap .png for .jpg.
The RedactLocal Image Converter does it in your browser. The image is read into the page, re-encoded on your device — with your choice of quality, and a background colour when converting a transparent image to JPG — and downloaded straight to you. Nothing is uploaded, and it works offline once the page has loaded.
Converting the format changes the container, not the file size on its own. To make an image genuinely smaller, compress it. Coming from an iPhone? Those .heic photos convert with the dedicated HEIC to JPG tool. And to gather several images into one document, use JPG to PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Are my images uploaded when I convert them?
No. The conversion happens inside your browser. Your images aren't sent to RedactLocal or anywhere else.
Which format is best for photos?
JPG for universal sharing, or WebP if you want smaller files and control where the image will be used. PNG is a poor fit for photos because the files are much larger.
Why did my transparent image get a white background?
You converted it to JPG, which can't store transparency, so the see-through areas filled with a solid colour. Keep it as PNG or WebP to preserve transparency, or choose the background colour when converting to JPG.
Is WebP safe to use?
Yes, in modern browsers and software. It's just not as universally supported as JPG, so for sending files to others or uploading to older systems, JPG is the safer choice.
Does converting between formats lose quality?
Converting to a lossless format (PNG) doesn't lose quality. Converting to a lossy format (JPG, or lossy WebP) re-compresses the image, so use a high quality setting when it matters — and avoid repeatedly re-saving the same photo as JPG.
This guide is for general reference. The right format depends on the image and where it's going, so when it matters, open the converted file and check it looks right at the size it will be used.
Convert Images the Right Way
Switch between JPG, PNG and WebP in your browser, with quality and background control — free, and the images never leave your device.
Open the Image Converter