JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Quick overview: JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF
When comparing JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF, the most important factors are file size, quality, transparency support, and browser compatibility. Here is a quick summary before we go into detail:
The classic photo format. Works everywhere but not the most efficient option anymore.
Perfect for graphics and logos. Supports transparency but creates large files for photos.
The best all-rounder for web use. Smaller than JPG, supports transparency like PNG.
The newest and most efficient format. Smallest file sizes but newer browser support.
JPG — the universal standard
JPG (also written as JPEG) stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. It has been the dominant image format for photographs since the mid-1990s. Because of its universal compatibility, JPG works on every device, browser, and operating system without exception.
JPG uses lossy compression, which means it permanently discards some image data to achieve smaller file sizes. However, at quality settings of 80% or above, this quality loss is essentially invisible to the human eye. As a result, JPG remains a solid choice when maximum compatibility is required.
When to use JPG
- Sharing photos via email, messaging apps, or social media
- Uploading to platforms that may not support WebP
- When you need the smallest file size with the broadest compatibility
- Product photos on e-commerce sites that target older browsers
When NOT to use JPG
- Logos, icons, or images that require a transparent background
- Screenshots or images that contain sharp text — JPG compression creates visible artifacts
- Images you plan to edit and re-save multiple times — quality degrades with each save
PNG — the lossless choice
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) uses lossless compression, which means every single pixel is preserved exactly. Furthermore, PNG supports full alpha transparency, making it the standard choice for logos, icons, and interface graphics.
The downside of PNG is file size. For photographic images, PNG files are often 5–10x larger than equivalent JPG files. Therefore, you should only use PNG when transparency or lossless quality is genuinely needed.
When to use PNG
- Logos and brand assets that need a transparent background
- Icons and UI graphics with sharp edges and flat colours
- Screenshots — especially those containing text or code
- Images you are still editing — PNG preserves quality through multiple saves
When NOT to use PNG
- Photographs on websites — the files are unnecessarily large
- Any situation where file size matters and transparency is not needed
If you need transparency AND small file sizes, use WebP instead of PNG. WebP achieves the same transparency support as PNG but with files that are typically 30–50% smaller.
WebP — the recommended choice for web
WebP was developed by Google and released in 2010. When comparing JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF for general web use, WebP consistently wins on the balance of file size, quality, and compatibility.
WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency. Moreover, it achieves 25–35% smaller files than JPG at equivalent quality. Consequently, switching your website images from JPG to WebP is one of the fastest wins for page speed improvement.
WebP browser support
As of 2024, WebP is supported by all major browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari (since version 14), and Edge. In other words, over 97% of web users can view WebP images without any issues.
When to use WebP
- All images on modern websites — photos, graphics, banners
- Any situation where you currently use JPG but want smaller files
- Replacing PNG logos and icons where transparency is needed
- WordPress and CMS-based websites
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AVIF — the future of image formats
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is the newest entrant in the JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF comparison. It is based on the AV1 video codec and achieves remarkable compression efficiency — typically 40–50% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality, and around 20% smaller than WebP.
However, AVIF has slightly lower browser support than WebP. Additionally, encoding AVIF images can be slower than other formats. Despite these limitations, AVIF is rapidly gaining adoption and is considered the future of web image formats.
AVIF browser support
AVIF is currently supported by Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, and Safari 16+. As a result, approximately 80–85% of web users can view AVIF images today, with support growing steadily.
When to use AVIF
- Performance-critical websites targeting modern browser users
- When Core Web Vitals scores are a priority
- Large hero images and banners where file size savings are most impactful
JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF — full comparison
The following table gives a complete JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF comparison across all key metrics:
| Feature | JPG | PNG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compression type | Lossy | Lossless | Both | Both |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File size vs JPG | Baseline | Larger | 25–35% smaller | 40–50% smaller |
| Browser support | 100% | 100% | 97%+ | 85%+ |
| Best for | Photos, compatibility | Logos, transparency | Web images | Max performance |
| Animation support | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Which format should you use?
After reviewing JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF in detail, here is the practical decision guide:
- For website photos and banners — use WebP. It gives the best balance of quality, file size, and compatibility.
- For logos and icons — use WebP (with transparency) or PNG if you need maximum compatibility.
- For email attachments and messaging — use JPG. It is universally supported and most email clients handle it best.
- For maximum web performance — use AVIF where supported, with a WebP or JPG fallback.
- For screenshots and text-heavy images — use PNG for lossless quality, or WebP lossless for smaller files.
There is no single "best" format in the JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF debate — the right choice depends entirely on your specific use case. However, for most web images in 2024, WebP is the safest and most practical choice.
How to convert between JPG, PNG, WebP and AVIF
Converting between these formats is simple with our free online tools. In addition to format conversion, you can also adjust quality, resize images, and set background colours — all in one place, all free.
- Image Converter — convert between JPG, PNG, WebP and AVIF
- Image Compressor — reduce file size while keeping quality
- Image Resizer — resize to exact dimensions before converting