formats · 5 min read

Image formats explained: JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC and AVIF

Use JPG for photographs, PNG for screenshots, logos and anything that needs transparency, and WebP when you want a smaller file that current browsers can read.

HEIC and AVIF go further with compression, but support outside the newest devices and software is uneven. The right format depends less on which one is technically newer and more on where the file will be opened.

By FormatFlow EditorialUpdated October 17, 2026

Two kinds of compression, one important extra

Lossy compression throws away detail the eye is unlikely to miss, which is why a JPG photo can be ten times smaller than the raw image. Lossless compression keeps every pixel exactly and finds repetition in the data instead. Every extra save of a lossy format loses a little more, even if the change is invisible at first.

Transparency is the other dividing line. Formats with an alpha channel can store partly transparent pixels, which is what allows a logo to sit on any background. JPEG has no alpha channel at all; PNG, WebP, HEIC and AVIF do.

JPG: the default for photographs

JPG, also written JPEG, uses a mathematical transform that is well matched to photographs of people, landscapes and everyday scenes. At a quality setting around 75 to 85 the result is usually indistinguishable from the original on screen at normal viewing size, and the file is small enough to email or upload.

It is the wrong choice for sharp-edged graphics and text. JPG compression produces faint ringing around hard edges, so screenshots, diagrams and logos look soft or dirty. Color profiles and EXIF orientation data can be stored, but many editing steps that re-save the image will strip or rotate metadata unless the tool handles it carefully.

PNG: exact pixels and transparency

PNG is a lossless format built for images where every pixel matters: screenshots of interfaces, charts, line art, logos and images with transparent backgrounds. Text stays crisp no matter how many times the file is saved, and the alpha channel keeps edges clean when the graphic is placed on a different color.

The cost is size. PNG cannot match JPG for a detailed photograph, often producing files several times larger. It is also not the right delivery format for print photography. For simple graphics, a through PNG compressor can reduce the size considerably by removing metadata and recompressing the pixel data without changing it.

WebP: the modern all-rounder

WebP started as a web delivery format and now supports both lossy and lossless modes, transparency and even short animations. It generally produces smaller files than JPG or PNG at similar quality, which is why most image-heavy websites use it.

Its limits are practical rather than technical. Browsers have supported WebP for years and every current major browser can display it, but some desktop applications, print workflows and older mobile apps still refuse it. Always keep the original or a JPG/PNG copy if the image has to travel beyond the web.

HEIC and AVIF: newer compression, uneven support

HEIC is the file format iPhones save by default since iOS 11. It is a HEIF container holding HEVC-compressed images, which keeps quality high while reducing size, and it supports 10-bit color and HDR. Outside Apple's ecosystem it is less welcome: Windows needs extra codec support from the Microsoft Store, many Android apps handle it inconsistently, and most desktop browsers cannot open it directly.

AVIF uses the AV1 codec and is the newest of the group. It compresses extremely well, supports transparency and HDR, and is now supported by current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge. Encoding an AVIF takes longer than a JPG, and older software, some stock-photo systems and many print shops still cannot open it. AVIF is excellent for web delivery and still risky as an archival or hand-off format.

Choosing a format without overthinking

Pick for the destination, not for the spec sheet. A phone photo sent to family can be JPG; the same photo as a website hero image can be WebP or AVIF; a logo with transparency should be PNG or lossless WebP; a screenshot that will be read on screen should be PNG.

Photographs for sharing, email or social media: JPG at a sensible quality.
Screenshots, charts, logos and text: PNG, or lossless WebP for the web.
Website images where file size matters: WebP now, AVIF where you can generate fallbacks.
iPhone photos that must open on Windows or Android: convert HEIC to JPG first.
Print or further editing: keep the highest-quality source, not the compressed copy.

Frequently asked questions

Is PNG higher quality than JPG?

PNG is lossless, so it preserves the image exactly, but that does not make every PNG look better than every JPG. For photographs, a well-made JPG at high quality looks fine and is much smaller; PNG's advantage is exact pixels and transparency.

Can I restore quality by converting a JPG to a higher-quality format?

No. Once detail is discarded by JPG compression, converting to PNG or saving at higher quality cannot bring it back. Converting only preserves what remains, which is why you should keep the original file and edit from that.

Why won't iPhone HEIC photos open on Windows?

The photos are HEIC files that need HEVC decoding, and Windows does not include that support by default. Installing HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, plus HEVC Video Extensions on some systems, usually makes them open; converting to JPG is the simpler fix for most people.

Does converting to WebP lose quality?

It depends on the mode. Lossless WebP keeps pixels exactly, while lossy WebP discards some detail. Converting an existing JPG to lossy WebP re-encodes an already compressed image, so expect a small additional loss unless you use a high quality setting.

Which format is best for a logo or screenshot with text?

PNG is the safest choice because it keeps hard edges and text crisp and supports transparency. Lossless WebP, HEIC or AVIF also work for web use, but they may not open in older editing and print software.

Should I use AVIF on my website?

AVIF is a strong choice for modern browsers because it combines high quality with small files, but it is not supported by every older browser and visitors on outdated systems may see nothing. Serve AVIF inside a picture element with a WebP and JPG fallback.