PNG vs JPG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format Should You Use?
A practical breakdown of the four most common image formats — when to use each one, and how to convert between them.
The short answer
- Use JPG for photos where maximum compatibility matters most.
- Use PNG for graphics, logos, and anything needing transparency.
- Use WebP as your default for the modern web — smaller than JPG or PNG at equal quality.
- Use AVIF for maximum compression on platforms that support it.
A closer look at each format
JPG (JPEG)
The oldest and most universally supported format. Great for photos, but no transparency support and visible compression artifacts at low quality.
PNG
Lossless and supports transparency, which makes it the standard output for tools like the Background Remover. Larger file sizes than JPG for photos, but ideal for graphics and screenshots.
WebP
Google's format designed specifically to replace JPG and PNG on the web. Typically 25-35% smaller than JPG at the same visual quality, and supports transparency like PNG.
AVIF
The newest of the four, based on the AV1 video codec. Often produces the smallest files of all, though encoding is slower and support is slightly less universal than WebP.
How to convert between formats
The Image Converter supports PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, TIFF, and GIF. Upload your image, pick a target format, and download the result — no software installation required.
Frequently asked questions
Which format is best for product photos? WebP for web use, PNG if you need transparency for later editing.
Will converting to JPG lose my transparency? Yes — JPG has no alpha channel, so transparent areas are filled with white during conversion.
Is AVIF worth using? Yes, if your platform and audience's browsers support it — it typically produces the smallest files of the four formats.
Related tools
Pair format conversion with the Image Compressor to squeeze out every extra kilobyte, or the Smart Crop tool to hit exact platform dimensions.
Try Image Converter
Convert between any image format