JPG, PNG, WebP or AVIF: choosing an image format
ToolMixo · Last reviewed:
Start with what the image needs to preserve. PNG keeps sharp text and transparency without lossy compression. JPG is widely compatible for photographs, but has no alpha channel: transparent areas must become a solid color. WebP supports transparency and often reduces download size; AVIF can compress photographs efficiently but may take longer to encode.
Compare exports using the same dimensions. For example, resize a 4000-pixel photograph to the width it will actually occupy on your page before comparing JPG and WebP. Inspect faces, small lettering and high-contrast edges at normal viewing size. Keep the original: converting a low-quality JPG to PNG cannot restore detail removed by the original compression.
Compare the choices
| Format | Good fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| JPG | Photographs and broad compatibility | No transparency; repeated lossy exports can lose detail |
| PNG | Screenshots, small text and transparent graphics | Sharp edges, but photographs can produce large files |
| WebP | Web images with or without transparency | Compare quality and confirm your destination accepts WebP |
| AVIF | Photographs where file size matters | Inspect detail and allow time for encoding |
Worked example
For a 4000 × 3000 photo displayed at 1200 pixels wide, first resize a copy to 1200 × 900. Export that same copy as JPG and WebP, then compare bytes and visible detail. Keep the original rather than repeatedly recompressing an export. An AVIF option is useful only if the destination accepts it.
Before you publish or upload
- Check the destination's accepted format, dimensions and byte limit.
- Use PNG or a transparency-capable WebP export when an alpha channel is needed; JPG needs a solid background.
- Review the downloaded result at its intended display size. SVG is accepted as an input by the converter; raster-to-SVG tracing is not offered.