JPG vs PNG — Differences, File Size & When to Use Each

JPG vs PNG

A detailed comparison of JPEG Image and PNG Image — file size, quality, compatibility, and which format to choose for your workflow.

Convert JPG → PNG Convert PNG → JPG

JPG

JPEG Image

Raster & Vector Images

JPEG is the most widely used lossy image format on the web. It achieves small file sizes through adjustable compression, making it ideal for photographs and complex images where some quality loss is acceptable.

About JPG files

PNG

PNG Image

Raster & Vector Images

PNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It is ideal for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image where preserving exact pixel data is important.

About PNG files

Strengths Comparison

JPG Strengths

Excellent compression ratio for photographs (10:1 or better without visible quality loss).
Universal support — every camera, phone, OS, and browser reads JPEG natively.
Adjustable quality setting balances file size against visual fidelity.
Embeds EXIF metadata (camera model, GPS, exposure) automatically.
Progressive rendering for graceful loading over slow networks.

PNG Strengths

Lossless compression — every save preserves the original pixels perfectly.
Full 8-bit alpha channel for smooth transparency.
Excellent for text, UI screenshots, logos, and line art.
Royalty-free and an ISO standard (ISO/IEC 15948).
Supports 16-bit color depth for high-fidelity work.

Limitations

JPG Limitations

Lossy — every save degrades the image further (generation loss).
No transparency channel (use PNG or WebP for that).
Visible compression artifacts on text, sharp edges, and flat colors.
Limited to 8 bits per channel — poor for HDR or print work.
Baseline JPEG tops out at 65,535 × 65,535 pixels.

PNG Limitations

Much larger than JPEG for photographs (no perceptual compression).
No native animation in most software (APNG support is inconsistent).
No CMYK support — web and screen only, not print.
Metadata capabilities are less rich than JPEG's EXIF.

Technical Specifications

Specification	JPG	PNG
MIME type	image/jpeg	image/png
Compression	Lossy — Discrete Cosine Transform + quantization + Huffman coding	Lossless — DEFLATE (zlib)
Color depth	8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB or 8-bit grayscale)	1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 bits per channel
Max dimensions	65,535 × 65,535 pixels (baseline)	2^31 − 1 pixels per side (2.1 billion)
Transparency	Not supported	Full 8-bit alpha channel
Typical quality	75–90 for web, 95+ for print	—
Standard	—	ISO/IEC 15948:2004

Typical File Sizes

JPG

Phone photo (12 MP, quality 85) 2–5 MB
Web thumbnail (400px) 20–60 KB
Full-page magazine photo 500 KB – 2 MB
Social-media square (1080×1080) 100–400 KB

PNG

Icon or small logo 2–20 KB
UI screenshot (1920×1080) 200–800 KB
High-res photo (12 MP) 10–30 MB
Print-ready illustration 5–50 MB

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Frequently Asked Questions

JPG (JPEG) is the most widely used image format, developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992. It uses lossy compression to achieve small file sizes, making it the standard for digital photography, web images, and social media.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless raster image format created in 1996 as a patent-free alternative to GIF. It supports transparency, making it ideal for logos, icons, and web graphics.

JPG files can be opened by virtually any image viewer or editor, including Windows Photos, macOS Preview, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and all web browsers.

PNG files open natively in all modern operating systems, web browsers, and image editors including Photoshop, GIMP, Paint.NET, and Canva.

Use JPG for photographs and complex images where small file size matters. Use PNG when you need transparency, sharp text, or lossless quality such as logos, screenshots, and graphics with flat colors.

WebP offers 26% smaller file sizes than PNG with equivalent quality. Use WebP for web delivery when browser support is sufficient. Use PNG when maximum compatibility or professional editing workflows are needed.