PNG vs JPEG: When to Use Each Format
PNG and JPEG solve different problems: one is lossless with transparency, the other is lossy and ideal for photos. Here is how to choose.
| Feature | PNG | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Best content | Logos, icons, screenshots, text | Photographs |
| File size on photos | Very large | Small |
| Quality | Pixel-perfect | Tunable, some loss |
| Best for | Sharp graphics & transparency | Photos & continuous tone |
The key difference
PNG is lossless and supports transparency, so it keeps sharp edges and text perfectly — ideal for logos, icons, screenshots and graphics. JPEG is lossy and excels at photographs, where its compression discards detail the eye barely notices to produce small files. Using PNG for a photo bloats the file; using JPEG for a logo blurs the edges and drops the transparency.
Which should you use?
Use JPEG for photographs and rich, continuous-tone images. Use PNG for graphics with sharp edges, text or transparency. For the modern web, consider WebP, which can beat both — see the comparisons below.
Optimise your images
Frequently asked questions
Use JPEG for photographs — it produces much smaller files than PNG at good quality. Reserve PNG for graphics, logos and images that need transparency.
PNG is lossless, so it stores photographic detail without discarding anything, which makes photo files very large. JPEG (or WebP) is far smaller for photos.
No. JPEG has no transparency. If you need a transparent background, use PNG or WebP.