WebP vs PNG vs JPG: which image format should you use?
The three formats you meet most on the web do different jobs. This guide explains the real differences, gives a table for choosing quickly, and links to converters for moving between them.
Lossy and lossless in one minute
Lossy formats such as JPG throw away detail that the eye is unlikely to miss, which makes files small. Each time you save a JPG again, a little more detail is lost. Lossless formats such as PNG keep every pixel, so they stay sharp however often you save them, but photographs become large.
WebP can work either way. It has a lossy mode for photographs and a lossless mode for graphics, so one format can cover both jobs.
The three formats side by side
| Feature | JPG | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | Not in the common version | Yes |
| Best for | Photographs | Screenshots, logos, text | Web images where size matters |
| Compatibility | Everywhere | Everywhere | Current browsers, some older programs fail |
Which format should I use?
| You want to | Use |
|---|---|
| Email or upload a photo | JPG |
| Keep a screenshot with sharp text | PNG |
| Keep a logo with a transparent background | PNG, or WebP on websites |
| Make website images load faster | WebP |
| Edit a picture many times | PNG, because saving it again does not lose detail |
| Send a picture to someone with old software | JPG |
Common mistakes
- Saving a photograph as PNG. The file becomes much larger than a JPG with no visible benefit.
- Saving a screenshot with text as a low quality JPG. Fuzzy edges appear around letters.
- Converting a JPG to PNG and expecting better quality. The PNG keeps the JPG flaws and cannot restore lost detail.
- Converting a lossy file to WebP over and over. Every lossy step removes detail, so keep the original.
Converting between them
WebP images saved from websites often need to become PNG or JPG for older programs, which WebP to PNG handles while keeping transparency. PNG to JPG shrinks large screenshots and photos, and JPG to WebP prepares photos for a website. All of them run in your browser and keep your files on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is WebP better than JPG?
For websites, WebP can store a similar looking photo in a smaller file, which helps pages load faster. For sharing files with other people, JPG is safer because more programs accept it.
Is PNG better than JPG?
They are for different jobs. PNG is better for graphics, text and transparency. JPG is better for photographs because the files are far smaller.
Does WebP support transparency?
Yes. WebP supports transparent backgrounds in both its lossy and lossless modes, like PNG.
Try the converters
- WebP to PNG ConverterAdd WebP images and get PNG files back.
- PNG to JPG ConverterAdd PNG files and download smaller JPG versions.
- JPG to WebP ConverterDrop JPG photos here to create WebP versions.
- PNG to WebP ConverterAdd PNG images to produce WebP files for your website.
Last reviewed October 2026. Steps on other systems can change between versions, so check the menu names on your own device. Convert In Place is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Microsoft or Adobe.