JPEG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Format Should You Use?

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) has been the default format for photographs on the web since the early 1990s. Its lossy DCT compression algorithm is specifically designed for smooth colour gradients found in photos.

Strengths:

• Universal support — every device, browser, and software tool on the planet can open a JPEG.
• Excellent for photos at moderate quality settings (70–85).
• Wide tooling support for editing, printing, and professional workflows.

Weaknesses:

• No transparency support — you can't have a transparent background.
• No animation.
• Visible "blocking" artefacts at low quality settings, especially around text and sharp edges.
• Larger files than WebP at the same perceived quality.

Use JPEG when: you need maximum compatibility and you're dealing with photographs without transparency.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was created as an open-source replacement for GIF. It uses lossless compression, meaning the decompressed image is pixel-for-pixel identical to the original.

Strengths:

• Lossless — zero quality degradation, no matter how many times you save it.
• Full alpha transparency with 256 levels of opacity.
• Ideal for images with sharp edges, flat colours, text overlays, and UI screenshots.
• Universal support.

Weaknesses:

• Large files for photographic content — a PNG photo can be 5–10× larger than a JPEG.
• No lossy mode, so you can't trade quality for smaller files.

Use PNG when: you need pixel-perfect accuracy, transparency, or are working with graphics, icons, or UI elements.

WebP was developed by Google in 2010 as a single format to replace both JPEG and PNG on the web. It supports lossy and lossless compression, full transparency, and animation.

Strengths:

• Smaller than both JPEG (~30%) and PNG (~26%) at equivalent quality.
• Handles both photographs and graphics equally well.
• Supports transparency — unlike JPEG.
• 97%+ browser support as of 2026.
• Open format, royalty-free.

Weaknesses:

• Not universally supported in older desktop software (Photoshop now supports it, but older versions don't).
• Less common in print workflows.

Use WebP when: you're building anything for the web in 2026. It is the best default for almost every use case.

Here's a typical 1200×800 px photograph compressed with each format at "high quality" settings:

WebP wins on file size while matching JPEG's perceived quality. PNG is the largest because it's lossless — appropriate for its use case, but wrong for photographs.