What is the Best Image Format? JPG vs. PNG vs. WebP Explained

When you save an image, you have a lot of format options. The three most common on the web are JPG, PNG, and the newer WebP. Choosing the right one can have a big impact on your website's speed and image quality. Let's break them down.

JPG (or JPEG)

JPG is the most popular format for photos. It's great at compressing complex images with lots of colors, like photographs, into a small file size. However, it does not support transparent backgrounds.

• Best for: Photographs and complex, colorful images.
• Downside: Does not support transparency.

PNG

PNG is the king of transparency. If you have a logo, icon, or any image where you need the background to be see-through, PNG is the format you need. The file sizes can be larger than JPGs, especially for photos.

• Best for: Logos, icons, and any image that needs a transparent background.
• Downside: Can result in large file sizes for photographs.

WebP

WebP is a modern format developed by Google. It's the best of both worlds! It can create much smaller file sizes than JPG for photos, and it also supports transparency like a PNG. It's the best choice for overall web performance.

• Best for: Almost everything! It's a superior replacement for both JPG and PNG.
• Downside: Not all very old browsers support it, but it's supported by over 97% of users today.

You can easily convert your images between JPG, PNG, and the highly efficient WebP format with our free online converter. Visit our homepage, select the converter tool, and get the exact format you need.