Every picture you save is in some format, usually JPG, PNG or WebP. Picking the right one can make a file ten times smaller, keep a logo crisp, or decide whether an upload form accepts your photo. Here’s the short answer first, then the details.
The quick answer
- Photos (people, places, food): JPG.
- Logos, icons, screenshots, text, or anything with a see-through background: PNG.
- Pictures for your own website or blog: WebP, the smallest files for the same quality.
- Online application forms: JPG, because it’s the one every form accepts.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | JPG | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|---|
| File size for photos | Small | Large | Smallest |
| Keeps every pixel exactly | No | Yes | Optional |
| See-through background | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sharp text and lines | Can look fuzzy | Perfect | Good |
| Opens everywhere | Yes | Yes | Modern browsers and apps, some forms refuse it |
JPG (or JPEG): the photo format
JPG makes photos small by throwing away detail your eyes barely notice. At 70–90% quality the difference is very hard to see, and the file is a fraction of the size. The downside: it’s lossy, so each time a JPG is edited and saved again it loses a little more quality. Sharp edges, like text in a screenshot, can get blurry “halos”. JPG also can’t have a transparent background.
PNG: for sharp graphics and transparency
PNG is lossless: it keeps every pixel exactly. That makes it perfect for logos, diagrams, screenshots and anything with text, and it supports see-through backgrounds, so a logo can sit on any colour. The cost is size: a photo saved as PNG is often 5–10 times bigger than the same photo as JPG.
WebP: the modern all-rounder
WebP was made for the web. It can work like JPG (small photos) or like PNG (exact pixels and transparency), usually with smaller files than either. All modern browsers show WebP, which makes it the best choice for pictures on your own website, where smaller files load faster. Some older programs and many government or job portal upload forms still don’t accept it, so convert to JPG for those.
How to convert between formats
- Open Image Converter.
- Pick the format under Convert to (JPG, PNG or WebP) and, for JPG or WebP, a quality.
- Choose one or more images, then download. Several images come as one ZIP file.
If your goal is a smaller file rather than a different format, the Image Compressor lets you set the quality and width and shows the new size straight away.
What about iPhone HEIC photos?
iPhones save photos as HEIC by default, which many websites and Windows programs can’t open. To make your iPhone take photos as JPG instead, go to Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible.
Common questions
Which format is best for printing?
For photos, a high-quality JPG (90% or more) is fine. For logos and text, PNG keeps the edges perfectly sharp.
Why is my PNG photo so big?
PNG keeps every pixel exactly, which takes a lot of space for photos. Convert it to JPG or WebP and it will usually be many times smaller.
Is WebP better than JPG?
For websites, usually yes: similar quality with a smaller file. For sending to other people or uploading to forms, JPG is safer because everything accepts it.
Are my images uploaded when I convert them?
No. ToolNest converts images inside your browser, so they never leave your device.