JPG vs PNG: which should you use?
12 October 2026
The short answer
Use JPG for photographs and PNG for graphics, screenshots, and anything that needs transparency.
Why JPG exists
JPG (JPEG) uses lossy compression: it throws away detail your eye barely notices to make files dramatically smaller. A 12-megapixel photo might be 30 MB as a raw bitmap but 3 MB as a JPG. That is why every camera and phone in the world saves photos as JPG.
The trade-off is that every time you re-save a JPG, it loses a little more quality. Keep your original, and only convert a copy.
Why PNG exists
PNG uses lossless compression: every pixel is preserved exactly. That makes it perfect for:
- Screenshots with sharp text
- Logos and icons
- Images with transparent backgrounds
- Anything you plan to edit again later
The downside is size. A PNG of a photo can be five to ten times larger than the equivalent JPG.
A quick decision table
| Situation | Best format |
|---|---|
| Photo for a website | JPG (or WebP) |
| Screenshot | PNG |
| Logo with transparency | PNG |
| Image to edit repeatedly | PNG |
| Emailing lots of photos | JPG |
Converting between them
You can convert JPG to PNG or PNG to JPG right here on ConvertPics — everything happens in your browser, so your images never leave your device. Try the PNG to JPG converter or the JPG to PNG converter.