JPG vs. PNG
A lossy, small photo format vs. a lossless format with transparency.
Image Tools
JPG (JPEG) compresses photos by discarding detail the eye is less likely to notice, producing small files that get worse with repeated re-saves. PNG uses lossless compression — no detail is discarded, so it never degrades — and it's the only one of the two with an alpha channel for transparency.
JPG
Best for
- Photographs and complex images with lots of color variation
- Situations where small file size matters more than pixel-perfect fidelity
- Universal compatibility — every image viewer and platform supports it
Trade-offs
- No transparency support
- Lossy — quality degrades a little on every re-save/re-export
- Not ideal for sharp-edged graphics like logos or text screenshots, which can show visible artifacts
PNG
Best for
- Images needing transparency (logos, icons, overlays)
- Screenshots, diagrams, and graphics with sharp edges or text
- Any image where you need lossless quality preserved exactly
Trade-offs
- Meaningfully larger file size than JPG for photographic content
- No native way to control a size/quality trade-off — it's lossless or nothing
| Dimension | JPG | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency | Not supported | Supported (alpha channel) |
| Best for | Photos | Graphics, logos, screenshots |
| Typical file size | Smaller | Larger |
Verdict
Use JPG for photos where file size matters and PNG for anything needing transparency or pixel-perfect sharp edges. If you're unsure, ask whether the image needs a transparent background — if yes, PNG; if no and it's a photo, JPG.