PNG vs JPG (JPEG): Which Should You Use?

PNG and JPG (also written JPEG) are the two formats you'll run into constantly, whether you're exporting from a design tool, downloading a graphic, or saving a photo. They solve different problems, and picking the wrong one leads to either bloated file sizes or a graphic that looks broken with a solid box around it.

The quick answer

See the difference: live PNG vs JPG demo

Here is a real SketchValley illustration saved both ways, right now in your browser. Move the JPG quality slider and watch the file size and the edges change.

What is PNG?

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless format — it compresses files without discarding any image data, and it supports a full alpha (transparency) channel. Every time you save a PNG, it looks exactly as sharp as the last save. The tradeoff is file size: PNG files are typically larger than JPGs of the same photo.

What is JPG?

JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a lossy format — it achieves much smaller file sizes by selectively discarding image data that's less noticeable to the human eye. This makes it excellent for photographs, but every re-save introduces a small amount of additional quality loss, and JPG has no transparency support at all — every JPG is a solid rectangle.

PNG vs JPG: what’s the difference?

Transparency

PNG wins, decisively. This is the single biggest reason to choose PNG. JPG cannot represent transparency in any form — if you need a cutout, a logo, or any graphic layered over something else, PNG is the only real option.

File size

JPG wins for photographs. A detailed photo as JPG might be 200 KB; the same image as PNG could be 2-3 MB. For simple graphics with few colors (icons, screenshots, text), the gap narrows significantly and PNG can even come out smaller.

Quality over repeated saves

PNG wins. Because PNG is lossless, you can open, edit, and re-save it as many times as you want with zero degradation. Every JPG re-save compounds quality loss — visible as blocky artifacts after enough rounds.

Browser and software support

Tied. Both formats are universally supported by every browser, operating system, and design tool in existence.

The one rule that matters most

If you remember nothing else: if it needs to be transparent, it has to be PNG. There's no JPG equivalent. Everything else — file size, repeated-save quality — is a secondary consideration that rarely changes the decision once transparency is in play.

Converting between PNG and JPG

If you have a PNG and need a JPG (say, to shrink a file for email), most image editors and our own SVG to JPG converter handle the export directly. Going the other way — adding transparency to a JPG — isn't really "converting" since a JPG has no transparency data to begin with; you'd need to remove the background first with a tool like our Background Remover, which outputs a proper transparent PNG. And if you need a PNG logo or icon as a scalable vector, our free PNG to vector converter traces it into an SVG right in your browser. And if you need a PNG logo or graphic as a scalable vector, you can convert PNG to vector for free.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between PNG and JPG?

PNG supports transparency and loses no quality no matter how many times you save it. JPG (also called JPEG) has no transparency and loses a little quality every time it's re-saved, but produces much smaller files for photos.

Is JPEG the same as JPG?

Yes. JPG and JPEG are the same format — the three-letter .jpg extension comes from older versions of Windows that only allowed three-letter extensions. Everything in this comparison applies to both.

Does PNG or JPG support transparency?

Only PNG. A PNG can have fully or partly transparent pixels, so it sits cleanly on any background. JPG cannot store transparency at all — transparent areas are filled with a solid colour (usually white), which is why a JPG logo shows a box around it.

Which is smaller, PNG or JPG?

For photos, JPG — often 5–10× smaller than the same photo as PNG. For flat graphics, logos, icons and screenshots with few colours, PNG is often as small or smaller, and it stays perfectly sharp. Try the live demo above to see real numbers.

Is PNG always better quality than JPG?

Not necessarily "better" — PNG is lossless so it never degrades, but for complex photographs a well-compressed JPG can look visually identical at a fraction of the file size. PNG's real advantage is transparency and exact pixel accuracy, not raw photographic quality.

Should I use PNG or JPG for printing?

For photos, a high-quality JPG (quality 90–100) prints just as well and keeps files manageable. For logos, text and graphics, use PNG (or better, a vector format like SVG or PDF) so edges stay crisp. Either way, make sure the image has enough pixels — about 300 per inch of print size.

Is PNG or JPG better for websites and SEO?

Use JPG (or WebP) for photos to keep pages fast, and PNG for logos, icons, screenshots and anything transparent. Google ranks both formats the same — what matters for SEO is small file size, a good file name and descriptive alt text.

When should I never use JPG?

Never use JPG for anything that needs a transparent background — logos, icons, cutouts, or any graphic meant to sit on top of another image or color.