PNG vs JPEG vs WebP: which format to use?
Short answer: use JPEG for photos when you need the widest compatibility, PNG for graphics, screenshots and anything that needs crisp edges or transparency without loss, and WebP for the web when you want small files — with or without transparency.
The differences at a glance
| PNG | JPEG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | No | Yes |
| Best for | Graphics, logos, screenshots | Photos, maximum compatibility | Web images of all kinds |
| File size | Larger for photos | Small for photos | Usually smallest |
PNG
PNG never throws away detail. Every save is identical to the original, which makes it ideal for screenshots, interface graphics, logos and text. It supports full transparency. The downside: photos saved as PNG are often several times larger than as JPEG.
JPEG
JPEG discards detail your eye is unlikely to notice, which makes photos small. At high quality settings the loss is hard to see; at low settings you get blocky artefacts, especially around sharp edges and text. JPEG has no transparency — transparent areas become a solid colour, usually white.
WebP
WebP can be lossy like JPEG or lossless like PNG, and supports transparency in both modes. For the same visual quality it is usually smaller than either. All current major browsers support it, but some older software and some upload forms still don't.
A simple rule of thumb
- Sharing a photo anywhere, by email or upload form: JPEG.
- A logo, screenshot or graphic with text: PNG.
- Images for your own website: WebP.
- Anything you will keep editing: keep the original project, not a flattened image.
In Picstea, File → Export As… offers all three. The quality slider for JPEG and WebP lets you trade size against detail, and the image is created on your device. Try it in the editor.