Choosing between JPG and PNG is one of those decisions you make dozens of times without thinking — and getting it wrong costs you either quality or kilobytes. Here are the seven differences that actually matter, and simple rules for choosing.
The 7 differences at a glance
| JPG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy — discards detail | Lossless — pixel-perfect |
| Transparency | No | Yes (full alpha) |
| Typical size (photo) | Small (100–500 KB) | Large (1–10 MB) |
| Typical size (graphics/text) | Larger, with artifacts | Small and crisp |
| Repeated editing | Quality decays each save | No generational loss |
| Animation | No | No (APNG is rare) |
| Best for | Photographs | Logos, screenshots, UI |
1. Compression: lossy vs lossless
JPG throws away visual information your eye is least likely to miss — that's why a 12MP photo can fit in 300 KB. PNG stores every pixel exactly, which is why the same photo as PNG can be 20× larger. Neither is "better"; they solve different problems.
2. Transparency
Only PNG supports transparent backgrounds. If you need a logo over a colored page or a cut-out subject, PNG is the only choice of the two. (WebP and AVIF also support transparency, with smaller files.)
3. File size
For photographs, JPG wins massively. For flat graphics, screenshots and text, PNG is often smaller than JPG — and never grows the fuzzy halo JPG puts around sharp edges.
4. Quality loss on re-saving
Every time you edit and re-save a JPG, it is re-compressed and loses a little more detail — after ten rounds the damage is visible. PNG can be opened and saved forever without change. Rule: edit in PNG, publish in JPG.
5. Sharp edges and text
JPG's compression is designed for smooth gradients, not hard lines. Text and UI screenshots in JPG grow "mosquito noise" around letters. PNG keeps them razor sharp.
6. Metadata behaviour
Both formats can carry EXIF/XMP metadata — including GPS location and, since the AI era, C2PA "content credentials" that platforms read to apply AI labels. If you're sharing either format publicly, it's worth checking what your file carries and cleaning it first.
7. Browser and tool support
Both are supported everywhere, since the 1990s. The practical difference is downstream: print shops prefer PNG/TIFF for quality; the web increasingly prefers WebP/AVIF over both — a JPG or PNG to WebP conversion typically cuts 25–40% of the size at the same visual quality.
Simple decision rules
- Photo for the web or social? JPG (or better, WebP). Need it under a size limit? Compress to a target size.
- Logo, icon, screenshot, anything with text or transparency? PNG.
- Editing in progress? Keep a PNG (or the original RAW); export JPG at the end.
- Converting between the two? JPG → PNG and PNG → JPG both run free in your browser here — files never leave your device.