JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Format Should You Use?
Updated 11 November 2026 · Metro Research editorial team · How we test
The format you pick can change a file's size tenfold. Here is what happened when we saved the same four photographs in each format.
| Test photo | PNG | JPG q85 | JPG q75 | WebP q75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait, 512 × 512 | 422 KB | 54 KB | 40 KB | 26 KB |
| Food, 600 × 400 | 442 KB | 57 KB | 42 KB | 31 KB |
| Animal, 451 × 300 | 219 KB | 28 KB | 21 KB | 14 KB |
| Outdoor, 640 × 427 | 302 KB | 42 KB | 29 KB | 19 KB |
KB here means 1,000 bytes. Standard encoders, measured 11 November 2026.
Use JPG when…
- the image is a photograph;
- an upload form, printer or older app must accept it;
- you are emailing photos to people on any device.
Use PNG when…
- you need transparency, such as a logo on a colored background;
- the image is a screenshot, chart or diagram with sharp text;
- you will edit it again and want no quality loss.
Use WebP when…
- the image is for your own website and page speed matters;
- you want transparency but smaller files than PNG;
- the destination explicitly accepts .webp.
The one-line rule
Photos → JPG (or WebP for your own site). Graphics and screenshots → PNG. When a form lists accepted formats, that list beats every other consideration.
Need to switch? Use PNG to JPG, WebP to JPG or JPG to WebP.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?+
No. PNG cannot restore detail that JPG compression already removed; it only makes the file larger.
Is WebP safe to send by email?+
Recipients on current phones and browsers can open it, but some desktop software cannot. JPG is the safer choice for email.
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