Use JPEG for photos, PNG for exact raster graphics, WebP for smaller web delivery, and SVG for icons or artwork made from shapes. The right format depends on what the image contains, not on which extension is newest.
This series is the reference version of that decision. If you only need the short publishing rule, read How to Choose the Best Image Format for the Web. Use the pages below when you want the mechanism behind each format.
Format decision table
| Format | Use it for | Avoid it for | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Photos, product shots, hero images | Transparency, logos, screenshots with text | Lossy compression and no alpha channel |
| PNG | Screenshots, UI, logos, transparent raster graphics | Large photos | Lossless files can become large |
| WebP | Web delivery for photos and graphics | Editing chains, tools that do not accept WebP | Some workflows still need JPEG or PNG exports |
| SVG | Icons, logos, diagrams, shape-based art | Photos and noisy raster images | Complex paths can become heavy |
JPEG: photos and gradients
JPEG stores photographic detail in a small file by discarding information the eye is less likely to notice. That makes it a strong default for photos, hero images, product shots, and textured backgrounds.
The tradeoff is permanent loss. Re-saving a JPEG repeatedly can add artifacts, and JPEG cannot store transparency. Use it when the image is photographic and alpha support does not matter.
PNG: exact pixels and transparency
PNG is lossless. It keeps hard edges, small text, UI screenshots, logos, and alpha transparency intact. It is a good fit when the image must stay exact.
The cost is file size. A photo saved as PNG can be several times larger than the same photo saved as JPEG or WebP because PNG refuses to throw detail away.
WebP: smaller delivery files
WebP supports lossy compression, lossless compression, and transparency. It can replace JPEG for many photos and PNG for many transparent graphics when your publishing stack accepts it.
The tradeoff is workflow compatibility. Some editors, CMS fields, ad platforms, or older production pipelines still ask for JPEG or PNG. Keep the original source file, then export WebP as the delivery version.
Convert common cases directly: JPEG to WebP, PNG to WebP, or WebP to JPEG when another system needs a JPEG file.
SVG: shapes instead of pixels
SVG stores drawing instructions: paths, fills, strokes, groups, and coordinates. It stays sharp at any size because the browser redraws the shapes rather than scaling a fixed pixel grid.
Use SVG for icons, logos, marks, maps, charts, and diagrams that began as vector artwork. Do not use it for normal photos. A photo traced into SVG can become a large collection of paths that is harder to edit and slower to render than the original raster file.
Convert only when the output has a job
Changing format should solve a specific problem:
- PNG photo too large: convert to JPEG or WebP.
- JPEG logo looks muddy: rebuild or export as PNG or SVG.
- WebP rejected by a platform: convert WebP to JPEG or PNG.
- SVG artwork needed as a raster image: export SVG to PNG.
For batch conversions, use Image Converter. For file-size reductions after choosing a format, use Image Compressor.
The decision rule is stable: photos need photographic compression, exact graphics need lossless pixels or vectors, and delivery files should match the systems that will open them.
