PNG vs JPG vs WEBP – Image Format Guide 2025
Understanding Image Formats
Choosing the right image format impacts file size, quality, loading speed, and compatibility. Here is a breakdown of the three most popular formats in 2025.
PNG — Portable Network Graphics
Best for: Logos, icons, screenshots, text-heavy graphics, transparent images.
PNG uses lossless compression, meaning no quality is lost. It supports transparency (alpha channels) and renders text crisply. The downside is larger file sizes compared to JPG.
JPG (JPEG) — Joint Photographic Experts Group
Best for: Photographs, social media posts, email attachments.
JPG uses lossy compression to achieve much smaller file sizes. Quality settings from 1–100 let you control the trade-off. At 85–95%, most photos look identical to the original.
WEBP — Web Picture Format
Best for: Web pages, progressive web apps, performance-critical sites.
WEBP offers both lossy and lossless compression with files 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPGs. It supports transparency and animation. Browser support is now universal in 2025.
Quick Comparison Table
- Quality: PNG = lossless | JPG = lossy | WEBP = both
- Transparency: PNG ✓ | JPG ✗ | WEBP ✓
- File size: PNG = large | JPG = small | WEBP = smallest
- Best use: PNG = graphics | JPG = photos | WEBP = web