JPG vs. PNG vs. WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?

Choosing the right image format can be confusing. Should you use JPG for your logo? Or PNG for your photos? Making the wrong choice can bloat your website size and hurt your SEO. Let's break down the three giants of the image world.

1. JPEG / JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPG is the most common image format on the internet. It uses Lossy Compression, meaning it deletes some data to keep file sizes small.

• Best For: Photographs, complex images with millions of colors, and gradient backgrounds.
• Bad For: Logos, text-heavy images, and simple drawings (you will see "artifacts" or blurriness).
• Transparency: ❌ No. JPG does not support transparent backgrounds.

2. PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG is known for its high quality and ability to handle transparency. It uses Lossless Compression, meaning no quality is lost when the file is saved.

• Best For: Logos, icons, screenshots, and images requiring transparent backgrounds.
• Bad For: Photographs. A high-quality PNG photo can be 5x to 10x larger than a JPG version.
• Transparency: ✅ Yes. Fully supported.

3. WebP (Google's Modern Format)

Developed by Google, WebP is the modern standard for the web. It is designed specifically to make websites load faster.

• The Superpower: It offers Lossy compression (like JPG) AND Transparency (like PNG) in a single format.
• File Size: On average, WebP images are 26% smaller than PNGs and 25-34% smaller than JPGs.
• Compatibility: Supported by all modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox).

Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

• Use JPG if you are a photographer uploading to a portfolio (unless you use WebP).
• Use PNG if you are saving a logo, an icon, or a screenshot with text.
• Use WebP for basically everything on a website to ensure fast loading times and better Google rankings.