Quick comparison table
| Feature | JPG/JPEG | PNG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Both | Both |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File size | Small | Large | Very small | Smallest |
| Browser support | Universal | Universal | 95%+ | 90%+ |
| Best for | Photos | Graphics/text | Web images | Next-gen web |
| Animation | No | No (APNG yes) | Yes | Yes |
JPG / JPEG — the universal standard
JPG has been the default photo format for decades. It uses lossy compression, meaning it discards some data to achieve smaller files. At quality 80–90%, the loss is invisible to most viewers.
Use JPG when: Uploading photos to websites, social media, exam portals, or email attachments. It's universally accepted.
Avoid JPG when: You need transparency, sharp text/logos, or need to edit the same file repeatedly (each save degrades quality).
PNG — lossless quality with transparency
PNG preserves every pixel perfectly and supports transparent backgrounds. The trade-off is larger file sizes — a PNG photo can be 3–5× larger than an equivalent JPG.
Use PNG when: You need transparency (logos, icons), sharp text in screenshots, or need to preserve exact pixel data.
Avoid PNG when: Working with photographs where file size matters. A 4MB PNG photo could be a 200KB JPG with no visible quality difference.
WebP — the modern sweet spot
Developed by Google, WebP offers 25–35% smaller files than JPG at equivalent visual quality. It supports both lossy and lossless modes, plus transparency and animation. Browser support is now above 95%.
Use WebP when: Building websites where page speed matters. It's the best balance of quality, features, and compatibility for web use.
Avoid WebP when: Submitting to government portals or older systems that only accept JPG/PNG.
AVIF — the future of web images
AVIF is the newest format and offers the best compression — typically 30–50% smaller than JPG and 20% smaller than WebP at similar quality. It supports HDR, transparency, and wide colour gamuts.
Use AVIF when: Maximum compression is critical and you can provide fallbacks for older browsers.
Avoid AVIF when: Encoding speed matters (AVIF is slow to encode), or when maximum browser compatibility is required.
How to choose the right format
- For exam/passport uploads: JPG — it's what portals expect.
- For website images: WebP with JPG fallback for best performance.
- For logos/icons: PNG or SVG for crisp edges and transparency.
- For background removal results: PNG to preserve the transparent background.
- For maximum compression: AVIF if your platform supports it.