PNG vs JPG: Which Format Should You Use?
The Short Answer
Use JPG for photographs and PNG for everything with sharp edges: screenshots, logos, text, diagrams. JPG makes photos small by discarding detail; PNG keeps every pixel and supports transparency, but a photo saved as PNG is several times larger.
PNG vs JPG Side by Side
| PNG | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | PNG: Portable Network Graphics | JPG: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) |
| File extension | PNG: .png | JPG: .jpg, .jpeg |
| How it stores data | PNG: Lossless compression | JPG: Lossy compression |
| File size | PNG: large (lossless) | JPG: small (lossy) |
| Created by | PNG: PNG Development Group (W3C), 1996 | JPG: Joint Photographic Experts Group, 1992 |
| Best for | PNG: screenshots, logos, interface graphics, images that need a transparent background | JPG: photographs, anything that must open everywhere, small files for email and the web |
| Watch out | PNG: photographs come out several times larger than as JPG or WebP | JPG: no transparency, and each re-save loses a little more detail |
| Opens with | PNG: every browser, phone, image viewer and editor | JPG: every browser, phone, image viewer and editor |
Choose PNG When
- Screenshots, logos, diagrams and text
- Images with a transparent background
- Pictures that will be edited and saved again
Choose JPG When
- Photographs
- Email attachments and web photos where size matters
- Anything going to a printer or photo service
Convert Between PNG and JPG
More About Each Format
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, PNG or JPG?
Use JPG for photographs and PNG for everything with sharp edges: screenshots, logos, text, diagrams. JPG makes photos small by discarding detail; PNG keeps every pixel and supports transparency, but a photo saved as PNG is several times larger.
When should I use PNG?
Screenshots, logos, diagrams and text. Images with a transparent background. Pictures that will be edited and saved again.
When should I use JPG?
Photographs. Email attachments and web photos where size matters. Anything going to a printer or photo service.
What is PNG?
PNG stores every pixel exactly, with an optional transparency channel. That makes it the usual choice for screenshots, logos, diagrams and anything with sharp edges or text.
What is JPG?
JPG is the standard format for photographs: it shrinks an image to a fraction of its raw size by discarding detail the eye barely notices. Every camera, phone, browser and printer can read it.
Can I convert between PNG and JPG?
Yes — free, in batches and without an account. Convert PNG to JPG, or Convert JPG to PNG with the converter linked on this page.