Use WebP or AVIF for most web images when small file size matters. Use JPEG when compatibility is the priority and transparency is not needed. Use PNG for transparent graphics, crisp UI screenshots, logos, and images that must keep exact edges.
If you need to test formats on real files, use the Image Converter. For single-purpose conversions, use JPEG to WebP, WebP to JPEG, PNG to WebP, or WebP to PNG.
The short decision table
| Image type | Start with | Use another format when |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | WebP or AVIF | Use JPEG for older tools or required uploads |
| Product photo | WebP | Use JPEG if the platform rejects WebP |
| UI screenshot | PNG or WebP | Use PNG when text edges must stay exact |
| Logo or icon | SVG or PNG | Use WebP only for raster artwork |
| Transparent graphic | PNG or WebP | Use PNG when editor compatibility matters |
| Large decorative image | WebP or AVIF | Use JPEG if the site stack does not handle newer formats |
No format wins every case. The right choice depends on compression, transparency, compatibility, and whether the image will be edited again.
WebP for everyday web delivery
WebP supports lossy compression, lossless compression, and transparency. That makes it a strong default for web delivery because it can replace many JPEG and PNG exports with smaller files.
Use WebP for:
- Blog photos and cover images.
- Product photos when the CMS accepts WebP.
- Screenshots that do not need pixel-exact editing later.
- Transparent graphics where browser display is the final destination.
The tradeoff is workflow compatibility. Some older tools, email systems, marketplaces, or print workflows still ask for JPEG or PNG. In that case, convert the WebP back to the required format and check transparency before uploading.
JPEG for broad compatibility
JPEG is still the safest photo format when a site, marketplace, email client, or design tool has strict upload rules. It uses lossy compression, so it can make photos small, but it does not support transparency.
Use JPEG for:
- Photos without transparent areas.
- User-uploaded images where compatibility matters.
- Email attachments and systems that reject WebP.
- Camera exports that do not need alpha channels.
Avoid JPEG for screenshots with text, flat icons, logos, and transparent images. It can create ringing around sharp edges, and transparent areas flatten to a solid background.
PNG for transparency and exact edges
PNG uses lossless compression and supports alpha transparency. It keeps hard edges sharp, which is why it remains the right choice for UI screenshots, logos, diagrams, and interface graphics.
Use PNG for:
- Transparent logos and overlays.
- Screenshots with text or line art.
- Diagrams, icons, and UI components.
- Source files that will be edited again.
The cost is file size. A full-page PNG screenshot can be much larger than a WebP export. If the image is only being displayed on a web page, convert a copy to WebP and compare the result.
AVIF for smaller files with slower exports
AVIF can produce very small files at good visual quality, especially for photos and artwork with gradients. It also supports transparency.
Use AVIF when file size matters and your site pipeline supports it. Avoid it when export speed, editor compatibility, or older platform support matters more than the smallest possible file.
A common pattern is to keep a PNG or high-quality JPEG source file, then publish WebP or AVIF derivatives for the page.
Format changes do not restore lost detail
Converting a JPEG to PNG does not make it lossless again. It only places the already-compressed pixels inside a PNG container. Compression artifacts from the original JPEG remain.
The same rule applies to WebP. If a lossy WebP removed detail, converting it to PNG preserves the current pixels, not the lost information.
Use conversion for compatibility and delivery. Use the original source file when you need the highest-quality edit.
Common format mistakes
- Saving a transparent logo as JPEG, which creates a solid box behind it.
- Uploading a 4000px camera image when the layout displays it at 900px.
- Using PNG for full-photo hero images and shipping several megabytes per page.
- Converting an already compressed JPEG several times and expecting the quality to hold.
- Choosing a format before checking what the CMS, marketplace, or email tool accepts.
Before publishing, compare the displayed image, not only the file name. A smaller file is not a win if the edges blur or transparency breaks.
A safe export rule
Keep the original source. Publish the smallest format that preserves the thing that matters:
- Use WebP or AVIF for smaller web delivery.
- Use JPEG for compatible photos without transparency.
- Use PNG for transparency, screenshots, and exact edges.
Then test the final file in the place it will appear. Browser display, CMS previews, social cards, and email clients can treat the same image differently.
