JPG vs PNG: Choosing the Right Image Format

The oldest format debate on the web

JPEG and PNG have coexisted for decades, yet teams still pick wrong daily. JPEG excels at photographs with smooth gradients. PNG excels at graphics with sharp edges, text, and transparency. Using JPEG for logos creates muddy text; using PNG for photos creates bloated pages.

This guide clarifies the technical differences and gives you decision rules you can apply without re-reading the spec each time.

How JPEG compression works

JPEG uses lossy compression optimized for continuous-tone images. It discards high-frequency detail the human eye struggles to perceive — especially in busy photographic scenes. Compression artifacts appear as blockiness and color banding when quality settings are too aggressive or when the image is edited and re-saved multiple times.

JPEG does not support transparency. Any "transparent JPEG" is a misconception — those images have a solid background baked in.

How PNG compression works

PNG uses lossless compression. Every pixel is preserved exactly after decode. PNG-8 limits palettes to 256 colors; PNG-24 supports full color with alpha transparency. File sizes are larger than JPEG for photographic content but often smaller for flat graphics, logos, and screenshots.

Use JPEG when

The image is a photograph or natural scene

Transparency is not needed

File size matters more than pixel-perfect accuracy

The image will be displayed large (hero banners, galleries)

You are optimizing for web performance and SEO

Use PNG when

The image contains text, logos, or sharp lines

You need transparency (overlays, icons, cutouts)

Lossless quality is required (screenshots, diagrams)

The image has large flat color areas

You will edit and re-export multiple times

JPEG quality settings that work

Quality 85 is the sweet spot for most web photographs — visually indistinguishable from 100 for most viewers, with files roughly 40% smaller. Quality 75 works for thumbnails and background images. Below 70, banding becomes visible in skies and skin tones.

Always compress from the original export, not from an already-compressed copy. Use the image compressor to find your threshold.

Consider WebP as a modern alternative

WebP often beats both JPEG and PNG on file size for web delivery. See our PNG vs WebP comparison. A practical 2026 workflow: edit in PNG or RAW, export to WebP for web, keep JPEG as fallback only if required.

Converting between JPG and PNG

Converting JPEG to PNG does not recover lost quality — it only increases file size. Converting PNG to JPEG destroys transparency and may introduce artifacts around sharp edges. Convert intentionally with the image converter, preview the result, and never convert back and forth repeatedly.

Related Zovaty tools

Image converter — convert JPG, PNG, WebP

Image compressor — optimize file size

Image resizer — set dimensions before export

Conclusion

JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics and transparency, WebP for web delivery when you can. The format choice affects page speed, visual quality, and SEO. Pick once per asset type, document the rule for your team, and stop debating on every upload.

Understanding JPEG artifacts

JPEG artifacts appear as blocky 8×8 pixel squares in high-contrast areas, color banding in smooth gradients, and ringing around sharp edges. Quality 90+ minimizes artifacts on most content. Quality below 75 produces visible degradation on hero images and product photos.

Chroma subsampling further reduces color detail in JPEG. 4:2:0 subsampling (default) reduces color resolution compared to luminance. For images with colored text on colored backgrounds, 4:4:4 subsampling preserves text clarity.

Screenshots and UI captures

Screenshots with text, code, or UI elements should always be PNG or WebP lossless. JPEG compression destroys text legibility with ringing artifacts around letter edges. If you must use JPEG for screenshots, use quality 95+ and accept larger file sizes.

For documentation sites, consider SVG for simple diagrams and PNG for complex screenshots. The file size difference is negligible compared to the readability gain.

Social media format requirements

Most social platforms re-compress uploaded images regardless of your source format. Upload the highest quality version within platform limits. Facebook and Instagram convert to JPEG internally. LinkedIn preserves PNG transparency on some placements. Check each platform's current specifications before batch uploading.

Print vs web format decisions

Print workflows often require TIFF or high-quality PNG at 300 DPI. Web workflows prioritize file size at 72–96 DPI. Never use web-compressed JPEG for print — compression artifacts become visible in physical output.

When the same image serves both print and web, maintain two exports from the original RAW or high-quality source. Use the image converter for web format conversion and keep print masters archived separately.

Animated images: GIF vs alternatives

GIF supports animation but is limited to 256 colors. WebP animation offers better color and compression. MP4 video as animated content often beats GIF on file size for complex animations. Choose based on platform support and animation complexity.

Camera-to-web workflow

Shoot in RAW or highest quality JPEG. Import to editing software. Export web version as JPEG quality 85 or WebP. Archive RAW separately. Never edit and re-export from the web JPEG — always return to the original.

Resize before compressing. A 6000-pixel-wide photo compressed to 200 KB still wastes bandwidth when displayed at 800 pixels. Resize to maximum display dimension, then compress.

CMS default format behavior

WordPress generates multiple sizes on upload, typically as JPEG regardless of upload format. Shopify converts to WebP or JPEG at CDN level. Understand your platform's behavior before choosing upload formats.

Override defaults when quality matters: upload PNG for logos through dedicated asset fields rather than the media library when the CMS converts everything to JPEG.

Export settings from photography software

Lightroom and Capture One export presets save time. Create presets for web JPEG (sRGB, 85 quality, max 2048px), web WebP, and archival PNG. One-click export beats manual settings for every image.

Workflow examples by content type

Blog hero image: shoot/edit RAW, export JPEG q85 at 1920px, compress with image compressor, convert to WebP, upload. Expected final size: 120-180KB.

Logo for website: design in vector tool, export SVG primary, PNG fallback at 512px for email and social. Never JPEG for logos.

Screenshot for documentation: capture at native resolution, PNG lossless, annotate in tool, compress PNG losslessly, upload. Text clarity is non-negotiable.

Product photo for e-commerce: studio shot on white, JPEG q88 at 2048px, compress, convert WebP, upload with alt text describing product.

Summary: JPEG vs PNG quick reference

Photos → JPEG or WebP. Graphics with text → PNG. Transparency needed → PNG or WebP. Email → JPEG. Print → TIFF or high-quality PNG. When uncertain, test both formats at actual display size and compare file size and visual quality side by side.