Loading...

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

Learn more about PNG Learn more about JPG/JPEG