Guide · 3 min read · Updated 15 October 2026
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC: which image format to use, and when
Saving a picture in the wrong format is the most common reason it is ten times bigger than it should be, looks blurry around text, or simply will not open on someone else’s computer. Four formats cover almost everything you will meet. This guide explains what each one is good at, so you can pick the right one in a few seconds.
The short answer
| You are saving… | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| a photo to send or share | JPG | small, opens everywhere |
| a screenshot, chart or text | PNG | sharp edges, no smudging |
| a logo or cut-out with transparency | PNG (or WebP) | keeps the transparent background |
| images for your own website | WebP | smallest files, supported by all modern browsers |
| photos on an iPhone | HEIC (by default) | half the size of JPG, but less compatible |
Lossy and lossless
Formats save space in two different ways. Lossy formats (JPG, and WebP or HEIC in their usual mode) throw away detail the eye is unlikely to notice. At sensible quality settings the difference is invisible, and the file is many times smaller. Lossless formats (PNG) keep every pixel exactly, which is essential for text and sharp lines but makes photos large.
Each time a lossy file is edited and saved again, a little more detail is lost. Keep an original and export copies from it, rather than re-saving the same JPG over and over.
JPG: the universal photo format
JPG has been the standard for photos since the 1990s. Every phone, computer, website and printing service opens it. It handles the smooth gradients of real photos very well, but it smudges sharp edges: text in a JPG screenshot gets faint grey halos, and logos get blotchy borders. It has no transparency.
Quality 75–85% is the sweet spot for photos: visually identical to 100% at a fraction of the size. Compress image lets you choose it.
PNG: sharp edges and transparency
PNG is lossless, supports transparency and keeps text, lines and flat colours perfectly crisp. That makes it the right format for screenshots, diagrams, logos, icons and anything you will edit again. The downside is size: a photo saved as PNG is often five to ten times larger than the same photo as JPG.
If you have a photo that was saved as PNG (common with screenshots of photos and pictures from some apps), converting it to JPG or WebP with the image converter is the single biggest saving you can make.
WebP: smaller files for the web
WebP was made by Google for websites. It can be lossy or lossless and supports transparency, and it is typically 25–35% smaller than a JPG of the same visual quality. Every current browser supports it, so it is the best default for images on your own site.
Outside browsers support is patchier: some older image editors, upload forms and print services still reject WebP. If a site will not accept a WebP you downloaded, convert it to JPG (photos) or PNG (graphics).
HEIC: the iPhone format
Since 2017 iPhones save photos as HEIC, which keeps JPG-like quality in about half the space. It works perfectly inside Apple’s world, but Windows needs an extra codec and many websites and services refuse it. Convert with HEIC to JPG before sending photos to someone on Windows or uploading them to a form, or follow our guide How to open iPhone HEIC photos on Windows.
Size matters as much as format
Format is only half the story. A modern phone photo is 4000 pixels or more across, while a laptop screen shows about 1920. Reducing the longest side to 1600–2000 px with Resize image cuts the file by around three quarters before quality is touched, and nobody looking at it on a screen will see the difference.
PNG ⇄ JPG ⇄ WebPImage converterConvert images between JPG, PNG and WebP in your browser. PNG to JPG, JPG to PNG, WebP to JPG and more. Batch, private, no upload.Frequently asked questions
Is PNG better quality than JPG?
For text, graphics and screenshots, yes: PNG keeps edges perfectly sharp. For photos, a high-quality JPG looks the same to the eye at a fraction of the size, so JPG is the better choice.
Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?
No. The detail lost when the JPG was saved cannot be brought back; the PNG will simply be larger.
Should I use WebP?
For images on your own website, yes. For files you send to other people or upload to forms, JPG and PNG are still the safer choice.
Why is my screenshot blurry around the text?
It was probably saved or converted as JPG. Take it again and save it as PNG.