If you have ever saved an image and been asked to choose between JPG, PNG, WebP and a few others, you are not alone in feeling unsure. Each format exists for a reason, and once you know what that reason is, choosing becomes easy. This guide explains the seven formats our converters work with, in plain language, with simple rules you can remember.
The two big ideas: lossy and lossless
Almost every difference between image formats comes down to two questions.
Does the format keep every pixel exactly, or does it approximate? Lossless formats keep every pixel exactly. Lossy formats throw away detail people rarely notice, in exchange for much smaller files.
Does the format support transparency and animation? Some formats can have see-through backgrounds or moving pictures; others cannot.
Keep those two questions in mind as we go through each format.
JPG (also called JPEG)
Best for: photographs.
JPG is the world's most common photo format. It is lossy, which means it makes photos small by discarding fine detail, mostly subtle colour variation that our eyes are bad at seeing. At sensible quality settings the difference is invisible at normal size.
JPG has no transparency and no animation. It is also a poor choice for screenshots, text and logos, where it can leave faint smudges around sharp edges.
Remember: JPG for photos you want to share, email or print.
PNG
Best for: screenshots, logos, icons, diagrams and anything with transparency.
PNG is lossless, so every pixel is kept exactly. It handles text and sharp lines perfectly and supports smooth transparency, which is why logos and icons are often PNG files. Its weakness is size: PNG photographs are much larger than JPG photographs.
Remember: PNG for graphics, screenshots and images that need a transparent background or will be edited repeatedly.
GIF
Best for: simple animations and very simple graphics, especially where compatibility matters.
GIF dates back to the late 1980s. It can store animations, which is why it became the home of reaction images and memes. Its big limitation is colour: each frame can contain at most 256 colours, so photos look grainy. Its transparency is either fully on or fully off, so soft edges become jagged.
Remember: GIF when a platform needs it, especially for animations in apps that do not support newer formats.
WebP
Best for: images on websites.
WebP is a modern format created for the web. It can be lossy or lossless, supports smooth transparency, and can store animations. It is usually noticeably smaller than JPG for photos and smaller than PNG for graphics. All current browsers display it.
Its only real drawback is that some older desktop software, printing services and upload forms still do not accept it.
Remember: WebP for websites, online shops and anywhere you control how images are displayed.
AVIF
Best for: very small, high-quality images on modern websites and devices.
AVIF is newer still, based on modern video compression. It typically produces even smaller files than WebP at the same visual quality, supports transparency, and handles wide colour and high dynamic range images. Support is growing quickly in browsers, but many apps and services cannot open AVIF yet, which is why converting AVIF to JPG, PNG or WebP is common.
Remember: AVIF is excellent for delivery but often needs converting for everyday use.
TIFF
Best for: professional printing, publishing, scanning and archiving.
TIFF is a lossless format used by printers, publishers and archives. It stores images faithfully, supports colour profiles and transparency, and offers lossless compression options. Files are large, and TIFF is not used on websites.
Remember: TIFF when a print shop, publisher or archive asks for it.
BMP
Best for: compatibility with older software and simple devices.
BMP stores pixels almost directly, without compression. It is simple and widely readable, but files are very large. Today it mostly appears in older Windows programs, embedded devices and industrial or scientific software.
Remember: BMP only when something specifically requires it. Otherwise, convert it to PNG to save space without losing anything.
A quick decision guide
- A photo to share or email? JPG.
- A photo for your website? WebP, or AVIF if your audience's browsers support it.
- A logo or icon with a transparent background? PNG, or WebP for websites.
- A screenshot or diagram? PNG, or lossless WebP for websites.
- An animation? WebP for websites, GIF for messaging apps and email.
- Printing or archiving? TIFF, or PNG for simpler needs.
- An old system requires it? BMP or GIF.
Common myths
"Converting to PNG improves quality." Converting a JPG to PNG keeps the image as it is. It prevents further loss during editing, but it cannot restore detail.
"Higher quality settings are always better." Above a certain point, files grow without visible improvement. Around 85 is a good default for JPG.
"Newer formats are always the answer." They are often the most efficient, but compatibility matters. The best format is the one your audience can open.
"The file extension tells you the format." Not always. Websites sometimes serve WebP or AVIF images under names ending in .jpg. Our converters check the real contents of every file and tell you if the name is misleading.
Three everyday scenarios
Sending holiday photos to family. Your phone saved them as large files, maybe even AVIF. Convert to JPG at quality 85 and they will open on every relative's device and arrive quickly.
Putting a logo on a presentation. You have a WebP logo with a transparent background, and your slide software will not take it. Convert to PNG; the transparency stays and the logo sits cleanly on any slide colour.
Updating a shop website. Product photos are heavy JPGs and the pages load slowly. Resize them to the size they are shown, convert to WebP at around 80, and the pages become much faster with no visible change.
In each case, the right format is simply the one that suits where the image is going.
How our converters help
Every converter on this site checks your file's real format, warns you about anything that will change, such as transparency being filled or colours reduced, and explains options in plain language before you convert. You will always see the final file size and a list of changes on the result page.
In short
Use JPG for photos, PNG for graphics and transparency, WebP or AVIF for websites, GIF for animations where newer formats are not supported, TIFF for professional print and archives, and BMP only when something old requires it. With those rules, you will choose the right format almost every time.