PNG, JPEG or WebP: which image format to use in each situation

By Marcelo Amantino · published October 5, 2026 · 2 min read · who we are

Choosing the wrong format makes a photo huge, a logo blurry or an image lose its transparent background. The good news is that the decision follows a few simple rules, which this guide sums up.

Quality loss: the difference that matters

There are two kinds of compression. In lossy compression, the format discards details the eye barely notices to save space; the stronger it is, the more visible the loss. In lossless compression, the file shrinks without changing a single pixel, but the space saving is smaller.

Each format uses one of these modes (or both), and that is where most of the decision comes from.

JPEG: the standard for photos

JPEG uses lossy compression and was designed for photographs, with smooth color transitions. In general, a medium quality already looks good and cuts the size a lot. It does not support transparency, so a transparent background becomes a solid color. In images with text, thin lines or sharp edges, the compression can leave a dirty outline around the letters.

PNG: sharpness and transparency

PNG uses lossless compression and supports transparency. It is the right choice for logos, icons, screenshots, charts and any image with text or flat areas of color. In photographs, however, the file is usually much bigger than an equivalent JPEG.

WebP: light for the web

WebP can work lossy or lossless and also supports transparency, which makes it a flexible option for websites. In many cases it delivers smaller files than JPEG and PNG with a similar look. It is widely accepted in current browsers, but some older programs and systems still do not recognize it, so, if the destination is an editor, a form or a specific system, check whether it accepts WebP.

Other formats you will come across

ICO: the format of Windows icons and website favicons.
BMP: an old, uncompressed format that produces large files; rarely the best choice today.

Quick summary of what to choose

Photo to send or publish: JPEG, or WebP if the destination accepts it.
Logo, icon or screenshot with text: PNG.
Image with a transparent background: PNG or WebP, never JPEG.
Site that needs to load fast: WebP, with JPEG or PNG as a fallback if necessary.
Program icon or favicon: ICO.

Common mistakes

Converting JPEG to PNG expecting to improve quality: it does not improve it, it only makes the file bigger, because the lost details do not come back.
Saving the same photo as JPEG several times: each lossy save degrades it a little more. Convert from the original.
Using PNG for photos on a site: it usually makes the page slower with no visible gain.

How to convert in batches

With Image Conversion, you upload several images at once, choose the output format (PNG, JPEG, WebP, BMP or ICO) and the quality, compare the size before and after and download everything in a ZIP. The conversion happens in your browser: the images are not sent to WebFaz. If the photos have the location recorded and are going to be published, also read how to remove the location from photos.