Every Image Format Explained: JPG, PNG, WebP, SVG & More

JPG (JPEG)

Best for: Photographs and realistic images Compression: Lossy — quality degrades slightly each save Transparency: No Typical size: Small to medium

JPG is the default for digital cameras and smartphones. Use it when file size matters more than pixel-perfect quality.

PNG

Best for: Logos, screenshots, graphics with text, images needing transparency Compression: Lossless — no quality loss on save Transparency: Yes (alpha channel) Typical size: Medium to large

PNG is ideal when you need crisp edges, transparent backgrounds, or are going to edit the image further.

WebP

Best for: Web use — best quality-to-size ratio Compression: Both lossy and lossless modes Transparency: Yes Typical size: 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPG or PNG

WebP is the recommended format for all web images in 2026. Supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

SVG

Best for: Logos, icons, illustrations Compression: Vector — infinitely scalable Transparency: Yes Typical size: Very small for simple graphics

SVG files are code, not pixels. They scale perfectly at any size, making them ideal for responsive design.

GIF

Best for: Simple animations Compression: Lossless but limited to 256 colours Transparency: Basic (no partial transparency) Typical size: Medium to large for animations

Use GIF only for animations. For static images, PNG or WebP is always better.

HEIC

Best for: iPhone photos Compression: Highly efficient lossy compression Transparency: Limited Typical size: ~50% smaller than equivalent JPG

HEIC is Apples default format since iOS 11. If you need to share with non-Apple users, convert to JPG using our HEIC to JPG converter.

Four Formats You'll Encounter Constantly

JPG is the format for photos. It uses lossy compression — some detail is discarded to achieve small file sizes. At quality 80–85%, the loss is essentially invisible. JPG is the right format for photos, scanned documents, and any image you're sharing, uploading, or using on the web. Not suitable for images with text or sharp edges.

PNG is the format for graphics. It uses lossless compression — every pixel is preserved exactly. PNG supports transparent backgrounds, making it essential for logos and icons. The trade-off: PNG files are much larger than JPG for photographic content. Use PNG for screenshots, UI elements, logos, and anything you'll edit repeatedly.

WebP is Google's modern format, designed to replace both JPG and PNG on the web. It achieves smaller file sizes than both at comparable quality. Both lossy and lossless modes are available. Supported by all modern browsers. If you're a web developer or website owner, converting images to WebP reduces page load times and improves Core Web Vitals scores.

HEIC is Apple's iPhone format (since iOS 11). Technically superior to JPG in compression efficiency, but poorly supported outside Apple's ecosystem. Convert to JPG before sharing with non-Apple users or uploading to websites and government portals.

Choosing the Right Format: Quick Reference

File Size Comparison (Same 1920×1080 Image)

Converting Between Formats

All the conversions you're likely to need are available on weFixPDF: PNG to JPG, JPG to PNG, PNG to WebP, HEIC to JPG. The conversion tools run in your browser, so your image files are never uploaded to a server.