Image
5 min read
September 18, 2025

PNG vs JPG: Which Format Should You Actually Use?

Two formats, two very different jobs. Here's the simple rule of thumb that decides which one you should be using, and when to break it.

The One-Line Rule

Photos go to JPG. Graphics with sharp edges, text, or transparency go to PNG. That covers about 90% of real-world cases. The other 10% is where understanding why this rule exists helps you make the right call.

How They're Actually Different

JPG (JPEG) uses lossy compression - it analyses the image and discards detail the human eye is least likely to notice, especially in smooth colour gradients like skies, skin tones, and shadows. This is what makes JPG files so much smaller than PNG for photographic content. The trade-off: it struggles with sharp edges (think text, logos, line art), where it produces visible blur or "ringing" artefacts around the edges.

PNG uses lossless compression - every pixel is preserved exactly. It also supports a transparent (alpha) channel, which JPG cannot do at all. This makes PNG the only sensible choice for logos that need to sit on coloured backgrounds, icons, screenshots with text, and any graphic with hard edges or flat colour areas.

Side-by-Side

JPGPNG
CompressionLossy (smaller files)Lossless (larger files)
Best forPhotos, gradientsLogos, text, screenshots, icons
TransparencyNot supportedFull alpha channel
Sharp edges/textBlurry, artefactsCrisp, exact
Typical file size (same image)Smaller2-5x larger

Real Examples

  • A product photo for an online store: use JPG. It's a photograph with natural gradients; JPG will compress it 70-90% smaller than PNG with no visible quality loss at normal viewing sizes.
  • A logo that needs to sit on different coloured page backgrounds: use PNG. You need the transparent background, and the sharp edges of text/shapes in the logo will look noticeably crisper.
  • A screenshot of a website or app for a tutorial: use PNG. Screenshots are full of sharp text and UI edges, exactly where JPG compression artefacts are most visible.
  • A banner photo with a text overlay baked into the image: this is the tricky middle case. If the photo dominates, JPG at a higher quality setting (85%+) usually wins on file size with acceptable text sharpness. If the text is large and central, PNG may be worth the larger file size.

    • What About File Size?

    This is usually where the rubber meets the road. A photo saved as PNG can easily be 3-5x larger than the same photo saved as JPG at 80% quality, with a difference in visual quality that's nearly impossible to spot at normal viewing distance. That's wasted bandwidth on every single page load.

    Conversely, a logo or screenshot saved as JPG might look smaller in file size, but the blurring around text and edges is genuinely visible, and looks unprofessional, especially at higher zoom levels or on Retina displays.

    Converting Between Them

    Sometimes you receive a file in the wrong format and need to switch:

  • Need a JPG from a PNG (e.g. to shrink a photo that was incorrectly saved as PNG)? Use our PNG to JPG Converter - instant, in your browser, no quality surprises.
  • Need a PNG from a JPG (e.g. you need to add transparency to a photo, or you need lossless quality for further editing)? Use our JPG to PNG Converter.
  • Either way, want to shrink the result further without a visible quality hit? Run it through our Image Compressor afterwards - it finds the smallest file size that still looks right.

    • The Bottom Line

    Don't overthink it: ask whether the image is a photograph (use JPG) or a graphic with sharp edges/transparency (use PNG). For the rare in-between cases, try both, compare the file sizes and visual quality side by side, and pick the winner - our converters make that a 10-second experiment rather than a guessing game.

    Written by the GMC Tools team

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    PNG to JPG Converter

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