The quick answer
Use JPG for photos and anything where a small file matters. Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text and graphics, and whenever you need a transparent background. If you are unsure and the picture is a photo, JPG is almost always right.
How they differ
- Compression: JPG is lossy, so it throws away detail you are unlikely to see to make the file smaller. PNG is lossless, so every pixel is kept exactly.
- File size: a photo saved as PNG is often five to ten times larger than the same photo as JPG.
- Transparency: PNG supports transparent areas. JPG does not, and transparent areas turn white when you convert.
- Editing: you can save a PNG again and again without losing quality. Each JPG save adds a little loss.
- Text and sharp edges: PNG keeps them crisp. JPG can leave faint blur around letters and thin lines.
When to choose JPG
Choose JPG for photographs, images on websites where speed matters, email attachments and uploads with a size limit. A quality of 75 to 80 percent usually looks the same as the original at a fraction of the size. The JPEG compressor lets you pick the quality, or hit an exact size in KB.
When to choose PNG
Choose PNG for logos, icons, screenshots, charts, diagrams and anything with text. Pick it too when you will keep editing the image, or when it needs a see-through background. If a PNG is too heavy for a website, a newer format such as WebP keeps transparency at a smaller size, and you can convert with the PNG to WebP converter.
How to convert between them
To turn a photo saved as PNG into a smaller file, use the PNG to JPG converter. To get a lossless copy for editing, use the JPG to PNG converter. Converting a JPG to PNG does not bring back detail the JPG already lost, but it stops further loss. The PNG converter handles several formats in one place.
A simple rule
Ask two questions. Is it a photo? Use JPG. Does it need transparency, sharp text or repeated editing? Use PNG. Everything runs in your browser, so your images are never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is PNG higher quality than JPG?
PNG keeps every pixel exactly, so it never loses quality when saved. JPG loses a little detail, but at a good setting the difference is very hard to see in photos.
Why is my PNG so much bigger than a JPG?
PNG stores every pixel without lossy compression. Photos have a lot of fine detail, so the files get large. Converting a photo to JPG usually cuts the size by 70 to 90 percent.
Which format is better for websites?
For photos, JPG, or WebP for even smaller files. For logos and graphics, PNG or WebP. The aim is the smallest file that still looks right.
Can I turn a JPG into a PNG with a transparent background?
Converting does not remove a background. The PNG keeps the same solid background as the JPG. Removing it needs an image editor.