Choosing an image format sounds technical, but the decision comes down to one question: what is in the image, and where is it going?
The three formats at a glance
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| File size for photos | Small | Large | Smallest |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sharp text and edges | Can blur slightly | Perfect | Good |
| Marketplace uploads | Accepted | Accepted | Not always accepted |
| Best for | Product photos | Logos, graphics, cut-outs | Websites |
JPG: the default for product photos
JPG compresses photographs very efficiently by discarding detail the eye doesn’t notice, so photo files stay small. Marketplace upload forms accept it everywhere. Its weakness is sharp edges and text, which can pick up faint artefacts, and it has no transparency.
PNG: for graphics and transparency
PNG keeps every pixel exactly. That is ideal for logos, screenshots, size charts and cut-out products on a transparent background — and wasteful for photos, where a PNG can be several times the size of the equivalent JPG with no visible benefit.
WebP: smaller files for websites
WebP usually produces smaller files than JPG at the same visual quality, and supports transparency. It is excellent for your own website. The catch is compatibility: not every marketplace upload form accepts WebP, so convert to JPG before uploading if you are unsure.
A simple rule
- Uploading product photos to a marketplace? JPG.
- A logo, a graphic with text, or anything with transparency? PNG.
- Images for your own website? WebP.
Converting between them
Converting a photo from PNG to JPG usually shrinks it a lot. Converting a JPG to PNG makes it bigger without improving it — the detail JPG discarded is not recovered. Converting to JPG fills any transparency with a solid colour; see how to handle transparent backgrounds.
Try it: Convert between JPG, PNG and WebP — free, no signup, runs in your browser.