PNG vs JPG/JPEG
Comparing Portable Network Graphics and Joint Photographic Experts Group — which format should you use?
| PNG | JPG/JPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Portable Network Graphics | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Extension | .png | .jpg |
| MIME Type | image/png | image/jpeg |
| Category | image | image |
PNG Pros
- +Lossless compression — no quality loss
- +Full alpha transparency support
- +Wide browser and software support
- +Good for graphics, logos, screenshots
PNG Cons
- -Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs
- -No animation support (use APNG or GIF)
- -Not ideal for print (use TIFF or PDF)
- -No EXIF metadata support
JPG/JPEG Pros
- +Excellent compression for photographs
- +Universal support across all platforms
- +Adjustable quality/size tradeoff
- +Small file sizes for web use
JPG/JPEG Cons
- -Lossy — quality degrades with each save
- -No transparency support
- -Artifacts visible at low quality settings
- -Not ideal for text, logos, or sharp edges
Use PNG when...
- -Website graphics and logos
- -Screenshots and UI mockups
- -Images requiring transparency
- -Digital art and illustrations
Use JPG/JPEG when...
- -Digital photography
- -Web images and thumbnails
- -Social media uploads
- -Email attachments