JPG vs PNG — Complete Format Comparison
JPG and PNG look similar but work completely differently. This comparison explains which to choose for photographs, logos, screenshots, and web graphics.
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JPG vs PNG — Complete Format Comparison
JPG and PNG are the two most common image formats, but they work differently and suit different content types. Choosing the wrong one either wastes significant storage or permanently degrades image quality.
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The Fundamental Difference
JPG uses lossy compression — it permanently discards some image data to produce smaller files. The amount discarded is controlled by the quality setting.
PNG uses lossless compression — every pixel is stored exactly as-is. The image can be saved and re-opened infinite times with no quality loss.
Comparison Table
| Factor | JPG | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy — data permanently discarded | Lossless — pixel-perfect preservation |
| Transparency | No — transparent areas become white | Yes — full 8-bit alpha channel |
| File size (photos) | Small — 3–10× smaller than PNG | Large |
| File size (graphics/logos) | Large — ringing artefacts stored | Small — flat colours compress efficiently |
| Quality loss on re-save | Yes — each re-save adds artefacts | No — infinite re-saves, no loss |
| Best content type | Photographs, realistic images | Logos, icons, text, screenshots, graphics |
| Browser support | Universal | Universal |
| Colour depth | 24-bit (16.7M colours) | 8-bit or 48-bit (wide gamut) |
| Metadata | EXIF embedded | Minimal metadata |
File Size Comparison (Typical 1920×1080 photograph)
| Format | File Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PNG (lossless) | 2.8 MB | Every pixel preserved |
| JPG (Q95) | 850 KB | Near-lossless |
| JPG (Q85) | 280 KB | Recommended for web |
| JPG (Q75) | 180 KB | Smaller; slight artefacts |
| WebP (Q85) | 190 KB | Better than JPG at same quality |
When to Choose JPG
✅ Photographs from a camera or phone ✅ Images being uploaded to social media (final delivery) ✅ Email attachments where file size matters ✅ Product images on e-commerce sites ✅ Blog post images and editorial photographs
When to Choose PNG
✅ Logos and brand marks (requires sharp edges or transparency) ✅ Screenshots (especially those containing text or UI) ✅ Icons and interface graphics ✅ Images with transparent backgrounds ✅ Working/intermediate editing copies ✅ Images that will be edited and re-saved multiple times
The Common Mistakes
Saving a photo as PNG: Produces a file 3–10× larger than JPG with no visible quality benefit. For photographs, always use JPG (or WebP).
Saving a logo as JPG: Produces colour-banding artefacts on solid fills and blurring on sharp edges. For logos and graphics, always use PNG.
Converting JPG to PNG to "improve quality": The existing JPG compression artefacts are preserved in the PNG. You get a larger file with the same visible quality — not better quality.
The Third Option: WebP
WebP is a modern format that delivers 25–34% smaller files than JPG at equivalent quality, with full transparency support. For web images, WebP is often the best choice. Use our WebP Converter to convert existing images.
Frequently asked questions
Always PNG for screenshots. Screenshots contain text and UI elements with sharp, clean edges. JPG compression introduces "ringing" artefacts around high-contrast edges (like text on a white background), making text look blurry. PNG is lossless and keeps text perfectly sharp.
For photographs — images with many colours, gradients, and no text. A photograph as JPG (quality 85) is 5–10× smaller than the same photograph as PNG with no visible quality difference. PNG's lossless advantage is wasted on photos because photos do not have the sharp edges that benefit from lossless compression.
For photographs, JPEG at 85–90% quality is visually indistinguishable from PNG, while PNG files are 5–10× larger for no practical benefit. PNG is genuinely better than JPG for logos, screenshots, text, and flat-colour graphics — not because JPG is bad, but because JPEG artefacts specifically appear around sharp edges and solid colours, which are common in these image types.
JPG loads faster for photographs (smaller file = less to download). PNG loads faster for simple flat-colour graphics. For both use cases, WebP is the better modern choice — it is smaller than JPG or PNG at equivalent quality and supported by 97%+ of browsers. Consider migrating to WebP for all new web images.