PNG vs JPG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Choosing between PNG and JPG can make a massive difference in image quality, file size, and compatibility. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the right choice every time.
Quick Answer
Use JPG for:
- ✓ Photographs and realistic images
- ✓ Images with millions of colors
- ✓ Social media posts
- ✓ Website backgrounds
- ✓ Email attachments
- ✓ When file size matters more than perfection
Use PNG for:
- ✓ Logos and icons
- ✓ Graphics with transparency
- ✓ Text-heavy images
- ✓ Screenshots
- ✓ Graphics with sharp edges
- ✓ When quality is more important than size
What is JPG?
JPG (also called JPEG, standing for Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a lossy image format designed specifically for photographs. It's been the dominant format for digital photos since 1992.
How JPG Works
JPG achieves small file sizes through lossy compression—it permanently discards some image data that human eyes are less likely to notice. Think of it like MP3 for music: not perfect, but good enough that most people can't tell the difference.
JPG Strengths
- ✅ Small file sizes: Typically 10-30% the size of equivalent PNG files
- ✅ Universal support: Works everywhere—every device, browser, and app supports JPG
- ✅ Adjustable quality: You control the balance between quality and file size
- ✅ Great for photos: Handles gradients and complex colors beautifully
JPG Weaknesses
- ❌ No transparency: Cannot save images with transparent backgrounds
- ❌ Quality degrades: Every time you edit and save, quality decreases
- ❌ Poor for graphics: Creates artifacts around sharp edges and text
- ❌ Lossy compression: Once data is discarded, it's gone forever
What is PNG?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format created in 1996 as an improved alternative to GIF. It's designed for web graphics, logos, and images that need transparency.
How PNG Works
PNG uses lossless compression—it reduces file size without discarding any data. You can edit and save a PNG 100 times and it will look identical to the original. This comes at the cost of larger file sizes compared to JPG.
PNG Strengths
- ✅ Transparency support: Full alpha channel for smooth, variable transparency
- ✅ Lossless quality: Perfect for editing—no quality loss, ever
- ✅ Sharp edges: Excellent for text, logos, and line art
- ✅ Wide color support: Supports millions of colors plus transparency
PNG Weaknesses
- ❌ Larger file sizes: Typically 3-10x bigger than JPG for photos
- ❌ Not ideal for photos: Photographic images become unnecessarily large
- ❌ Slower loading: Bigger files mean longer download times on websites
- ❌ No quality adjustment: Can't trade quality for smaller size
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | JPG | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy (discards data) | Lossless (keeps all data) |
| Transparency | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (full alpha) |
| File Size (photo) | ✅ Small (50-200 KB) | ❌ Large (500 KB - 2 MB) |
| File Size (logo) | ❌ Larger than needed | ✅ Optimal |
| Best For | Photographs, complex images | Graphics, logos, screenshots |
| Quality Degradation | ❌ Degrades with re-saves | ✅ Never degrades |
| Colors | 16.7 million | 16.7 million + transparency |
| Animation | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (APNG, rarely used) |
When to Use JPG
JPG shines in scenarios where file size matters and minor quality loss is acceptable:
📸 Photography
Ideal for: Camera photos, product photography, portraits, landscape images
Photos contain complex gradients and millions of colors. JPG compression is designed exactly for this, producing small files while maintaining photographic quality.
🌐 Website Images
Ideal for: Background images, blog post images, galleries, hero images
Smaller files mean faster page loads. For website performance, JPG is almost always the right choice for photographic content. Modern users expect fast-loading pages—large PNG files will hurt your SEO.
📱 Social Media
Ideal for: Instagram posts, Facebook photos, Twitter images, LinkedIn content
Most social platforms automatically convert PNG to JPG anyway. Save yourself the hassle and upload JPG from the start. Bonus: smaller uploads mean faster posting, especially on mobile data.
✉️ Email Attachments
Ideal for: Sharing vacation photos, project images, documentation with photos
Email services limit attachment size (typically 25MB). JPG lets you send more photos in less space. Recipients on mobile connections will thank you for keeping file sizes reasonable.
When to Use PNG
PNG is the superior choice when quality, transparency, or sharp edges are essential:
🎨 Logos and Icons
Ideal for: Company logos, app icons, brand graphics, UI elements
Logos need crisp edges and often require transparency to place on different backgrounds. JPG will create ugly halos and compression artifacts. PNG keeps sharp edges perfect and supports transparent backgrounds.
📊 Screenshots and Diagrams
Ideal for: Screen captures, flowcharts, infographics, technical diagrams
Screenshots contain text and UI elements with sharp edges. JPG compression makes text blurry and creates distracting artifacts. PNG preserves every pixel perfectly, ensuring text remains readable.
✏️ Text-Heavy Images
Ideal for: Quotes, posters, memes, educational graphics
Any image where text is the primary content should be PNG. JPG compression creates visible artifacts around letterforms, making text appear fuzzy or dirty. PNG keeps text crisp and professional.
🔄 Images You'll Edit Later
Ideal for: Work-in-progress graphics, design files, master versions
If you plan to make changes, always work in PNG. Each time you save a JPG, quality degrades further (generation loss). PNG maintains perfect quality through unlimited edits. When finished, export to JPG if needed.
👻 Images Requiring Transparency
Ideal for: Product images on e-commerce, overlays, stickers, badges
JPG cannot save transparency—it will fill transparent areas with a solid color (usually white or black). PNG supports full alpha transparency, allowing images to blend seamlessly over any background.
Converting Between Formats
Sometimes you'll need to convert between PNG and JPG. Here's what to know:
PNG → JPG
Converting PNG to JPG is common when you need smaller file sizes. Use KokoConvert's PNG to JPG converter.
⚠️ Important:
- • Transparent areas will become solid (usually white)
- • Quality will degrade slightly (lossy compression)
- • You cannot convert back to PNG and restore original quality
- • Keep the original PNG if you might need it later
JPG → PNG
Converting JPG to PNG is useful when you need transparency or plan to edit further. Use KokoConvert's JPG to PNG converter.
💡 Keep in Mind:
- • File size will increase significantly (3-10x larger)
- • Quality won't improve—the JPG compression is already baked in
- • Useful to prevent further quality loss from additional edits
- • Converting doesn't magically add transparency—you'd need to manually remove the background
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert JPG to PNG and get better quality?
No. JPG is lossy—once data is discarded during JPG compression, it's gone forever. Converting to PNG just creates a larger file with the same quality as the JPG. Think of it like converting a low-res video to 4K—the format changes, but the actual quality doesn't improve.
Why do my JPGs look worse every time I edit them?
This is called "generation loss." Every time you open, edit, and save a JPG, the compression algorithm runs again, discarding more data. After 5-10 cycles, images can look noticeably degraded. Solution: Keep an original, and export fresh JPGs from it rather than re-saving the same file.
What about WebP? Should I use that instead?
WebP is a modern format that's often better than both JPG and PNG—it's smaller than JPG with similar quality, and supports transparency like PNG. It's excellent for websites. However, it has limited support in older software and email clients. For maximum compatibility, stick with JPG/PNG. Learn more about WebP conversion.
Are JPG and JPEG different?
No, they're exactly the same format. "JPEG" is the original name; "JPG" exists because old Windows systems required three-letter file extensions. Today, both .jpg and .jpeg extensions are universally accepted and identical.
Can PNG files be compressed?
Yes! PNG files often contain unnecessary metadata and can be optimized without quality loss. Use image compression tools to reduce PNG file sizes by 20-50% with zero visual difference.
What's the best format for printing?
For printing, use high-quality JPG (90-100% quality) or PNG. Avoid low-quality JPGs—compression artifacts that are invisible on screens become glaringly obvious in print. For professional printing, ask your print shop; they often prefer TIFF or high-quality PDF.