JPEG vs PNG: The Complete Comparison
JPEG and PNG are the two most common image formats. Here's exactly when to use each, what the tradeoffs are, and how file size compares.
JPEG and PNG are the two formats most people use for everything — and most people use them interchangeably without thinking about it. That's usually fine, but it leads to large PNG files where a JPEG would do the job, and blurry JPEGs where a PNG would have looked sharper.
Here's a clear breakdown so you can make the right choice every time.
The Fundamental Difference
JPEG uses lossy compression. When you save a JPEG, the encoder analyzes the image and discards visual information that's hard for the human eye to notice — subtle color variations, fine texture, detail in shadows. The result is a much smaller file, but some data is permanently gone.
PNG uses lossless compression. Every pixel is preserved exactly. The file is larger, but the image is bit-for-bit identical to the original. No data is ever discarded.
This one distinction explains almost every other difference between the two formats.
When JPEG Wins
Photographs. Photos contain millions of gradually varying colors. JPEG's compression algorithm excels at this type of content — it can cut file size by 80–90% with almost no visible quality loss. A 6 MB RAW photo from a camera becomes a perfectly usable 500 KB JPEG for web use.
Large file sizes. If storage or bandwidth matters, JPEG is almost always smaller for photographic content.
Sharing and social media. JPEG is universal. Every device, every app, every website supports it. When in doubt about compatibility, JPEG is the safe choice.
When PNG Wins
Screenshots. Screenshots contain sharp text, hard edges, and flat areas of color — exactly what JPEG compresses poorly. JPEG artifacts become glaringly obvious on text. PNG keeps every pixel perfect.
Logos and graphics. A logo typically has sharp edges and flat color fills. JPEG smears those edges with compression artifacts. PNG keeps them crisp.
Transparent backgrounds. JPEG does not support transparency. Any transparent area in your source image becomes solid white in a JPEG. PNG supports full alpha transparency — essential for logos, icons, and any image that needs to sit over a colored background.
Images you'll edit multiple times. Each time you save a JPEG, the lossy compression runs again, and the quality degrades a little more. This is called "generation loss." If you're working on an image iteratively, keep it as PNG (or another lossless format) and only convert to JPEG for the final export.
File Size Comparison
For the same image, how do they compare?
| Image type | PNG | JPEG (90% quality) | JPEG (75% quality) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo (1200×800) | ~2.5 MB | ~200 KB | ~120 KB |
| Screenshot with text | ~400 KB | ~350 KB (with artifacts) | ~200 KB (obvious artifacts) |
| Logo on white (800×400) | ~80 KB | ~120 KB | ~70 KB |
For photos, JPEG is dramatically smaller. For screenshots and graphics, the difference is smaller and the quality tradeoff isn't worth it.
Side-by-Side Decision Guide
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Photo from a camera or phone | JPEG |
| Screenshot | PNG |
| Logo or icon | PNG or SVG |
| Graphic with transparent background | PNG or WebP |
| Web image where loading speed matters | WebP (or JPEG if WebP isn't supported) |
| Image you'll edit again | PNG |
| Final export for sharing or uploading | JPEG (for photos), PNG (for graphics) |
Converting Between JPEG and PNG
Need to switch formats?
- JPG to PNG — convert to lossless for editing or transparency
- PNG to JPG — reduce file size for photos
- JPG to WebP — modern web format, smaller than JPEG
- PNG to WebP — smaller than PNG, keeps transparency
All conversions run in your browser with no file upload.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does converting PNG to JPEG lose quality? Only if the source is a photo. Converting a photograph from PNG to JPEG applies lossy compression — the result looks the same but some data is discarded. Converting a graphic like a screenshot or logo loses visible quality because JPEG handles sharp edges and text poorly.
Can I recover a JPEG back to its original quality by saving as PNG? No. Converting a JPEG to PNG makes a lossless copy of the already-compressed image. The lost data from the original JPEG compression is gone permanently.
Is PNG always better quality than JPEG? PNG is always lossless, but that doesn't mean it's always better looking for photographs. At high quality settings, a JPEG photograph looks essentially identical to the PNG version while being much smaller. "Higher quality" and "lossless" are different things.