Use JPG for photographs when you want small files that are easy to share. Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text, diagrams, and anything that needs a transparent background or crisp edges.
The key difference: compression
- JPG uses lossy compression. It discards some detail the eye is unlikely to notice, which makes photo files much smaller. Saving a JPG repeatedly can add visible artifacts.
- PNG uses lossless compression. Every pixel is kept exactly, so files are larger for photos but stay sharp for graphics.
Side-by-side comparison
- Best for: JPG — photos; PNG — graphics, screenshots, text.
- Transparency: JPG — no; PNG — yes.
- File size for photos: JPG — small; PNG — often several times larger.
- Sharp edges and text: JPG — may blur or show halos; PNG — stays crisp.
- Repeated editing: JPG — loses a little quality on each save; PNG — no loss.
When to choose JPG
- Sharing photos by email or messaging apps.
- Uploading to websites with file-size limits.
- Printing photos from a print service.
When to choose PNG
- Logos and icons that need a transparent background.
- Screenshots that contain text.
- Images you will keep editing.
Converting between them
- PNG to JPG makes files smaller. Transparent areas are filled with a background color you choose.
- JPG to PNG prevents further lossy compression in future edits, but it cannot recover detail already lost or add transparency.
If your photos are in HEIC format from an iPhone, see how to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows.