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JPG vs PNG

JPG is a lossy format built for photographs; PNG is a lossless format built for graphics, text, and transparency.

JPG (also written JPEG) compresses images by discarding visual detail the eye is less likely to notice, which keeps photo files small but introduces artifacts and degrades on re-saving. PNG uses lossless compression, so it reproduces every pixel exactly and supports an alpha (transparency) channel, making it the better choice for logos, icons, screenshots, and any image with sharp edges or text. The two are not interchangeable: each was designed for a different kind of image.

JPGPNG
CompressionLossy; discards data to shrink size, with adjustable qualityLossless; reconstructs every pixel exactly
Transparency (alpha)Not supportedSupported, including full 8-bit alpha for smooth edges
Color depth8 bits per channel (24-bit color), no alphaUp to 16 bits per channel; also palette and grayscale modes
Typical file sizeMuch smaller for photographs at comparable visual qualitySmaller for flat graphics/text; large for photos
Best contentPhotographs and complex images with smooth gradientsLogos, icons, screenshots, line art, text, sharp edges
Re-saving / editingQuality degrades with each save (generation loss)No quality loss when re-saved repeatedly

Choose JPG when

  • The image is a photograph or has smooth color gradients with no hard edges
  • You need the smallest practical file size for web pages or email
  • You do not need transparency
  • You are delivering a final image that will not be edited and re-saved repeatedly

Choose PNG when

  • The image needs transparency or a soft alpha edge (logos, icons, overlays)
  • It contains sharp edges, text, or flat areas of color (screenshots, UI, line art)
  • You need exact, lossless reproduction with no compression artifacts
  • The file is a working copy you will edit and re-save multiple times

Use JPG for photographs where small file size matters and transparency is not needed; use PNG for graphics, text, screenshots, and anything requiring transparency or pixel-exact quality. If a photo doesn't need transparency, JPG will almost always give a far smaller file than PNG.

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Frequently asked questions

Does converting PNG to JPG reduce quality?
Yes. JPG is lossy, so converting introduces compression artifacts and flattens any transparency onto a solid background (usually white or black). It also reduces file size, which is often the goal for photos. Keep the PNG if you may need to edit later.
Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?
No. PNG stores the JPG's pixels losslessly, including any artifacts already present, so it cannot recover detail that JPG discarded. The PNG will usually be larger. Convert to PNG only when you need transparency or lossless re-editing, not to gain quality.
Why is my PNG so much larger than the JPG?
PNG is lossless, so it keeps full detail for every pixel; on photographs this produces much larger files than JPG, which trades detail for size. For photos without transparency, JPG is the size-efficient choice.
Are JPG and JPEG the same thing?
Yes. JPG and JPEG refer to the same format; the shorter .jpg extension dates from older systems that limited extensions to three characters. The files are identical and open in the same software.