PNG vs JPG: which image format should you use?
PNG preserves sharp edges and transparency. JPG usually makes photographs much smaller. The right choice depends on what the image contains and where it will be used.
Use PNG for logos, screenshots, diagrams, and transparency. Use JPG for photos and smaller email or web files.
Quality and editing
PNG stores pixels without generational loss, so repeated saves do not add compression artifacts. JPG discards visual detail each time it is encoded; keep an original before editing repeatedly.
Web performance
A smaller file is usually faster to load, but format alone is not enough. Resize oversized images and test JPG quality around 75–85 for photographs.
Frequently asked questions
Is PNG always higher quality than JPG?+
PNG is lossless, but that does not restore detail already lost in a JPG. For photos, a well-encoded JPG can look excellent at a much smaller size.