HEIC Converter editorial
PNG, JPG, WEBP, and AVIF: Which Image Format Should You Use?
A task-based comparison of four popular image formats for photos, graphics, and the web.
JPG for dependable photo sharing
JPG is the safest default when a photograph needs to work in email clients, office software, print kiosks, and older devices. It produces manageable files but does not support transparency. High compression can create ringing or block artifacts around detailed edges.
PNG for crisp graphics
PNG uses lossless compression and supports transparency. It is excellent for logos, interface captures, diagrams, and text-heavy graphics. Photographs saved as PNG can become much larger than necessary because lossless compression has more information to preserve.
WEBP and AVIF for modern delivery
WEBP offers lossy and lossless options and is broadly useful for websites. AVIF can be even more storage-efficient for many images, though encoding may take longer and a legacy workflow may not recognize it. Test your actual images and audience rather than selecting a format from benchmarks alone.