PNG vs JPG
Updated October 12, 2026
PNG and JPG are the two most common image formats, and every device opens both. The difference is in how they store an image, which makes each one right for different kinds of pictures.
The short answer
- Photos → JPG. Smaller files, and the compression is hard to see in photographs.
- Screenshots, logos, text and graphics → PNG. Sharp edges stay sharp, and transparent backgrounds are supported.
Side by side
| PNG | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless: every pixel kept exactly | Lossy: fine detail approximated |
| Best for | Screenshots, text, logos, line art | Photos and realistic images |
| File size for a photo | Large, often several times a JPG | Small |
| File size for a screenshot | Small to medium | Medium, with blurry text at edges |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Quality after re-saving | Never changes | Gets a little worse each time |
| Compatibility | Everywhere | Everywhere |
Why JPG blurs text
JPG compression works on small blocks of pixels and smooths out fine detail that's hard to see in a photo. Text and sharp lines are made of exactly that kind of detail, so a screenshot saved as JPG often gets fuzzy halos around letters. PNG has no such problem because it stores every pixel.
Why PNG photos are huge
Photos are full of subtle noise and gradients. PNG has to store all of it exactly, so a photo saved as PNG can easily be five times the size of a JPG that looks the same.
Converting between them
- PNG to JPG: for photos that were saved as PNG, or when a form requires JPG. Transparent areas become white, or a color you choose.
- JPG to PNG: when you'll keep editing an image and don't want each save to lose more detail. Converting won't bring back detail the JPG already lost.
Both run in your browser without uploading your images. For websites, also consider WebP, which can do the job of both.