Complete Guide to Image Formats: JPEG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF

Choosing the right image format can significantly impact your website's performance and visual quality. Here's everything you need to know.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG remains the most widely used image format. It uses lossy compression optimized for photographs.

Best for: Photos, complex images, social media

Supports: 16.7 million colors, progressive loading

Doesn't support: Transparency, animation

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG uses lossless compression, preserving every pixel perfectly.

Best for: Graphics, logos, screenshots, images with text

Supports: Transparency (alpha channel), lossless compression

Doesn't support: Animation (use APNG instead)

WebP

Google's modern format offering both lossy and lossless compression with smaller file sizes.

Best for: Web images where browser support is available

Supports: Transparency, animation, lossy and lossless

Limitation: Older browser support

AVIF

The newest format based on the AV1 video codec, offering the best compression ratios.

Best for: Future-proof web projects

Supports: HDR, transparency, animation

Limitation: Limited browser support, slow encoding

Use our Format Converter to convert between any of these formats instantly.

Once you have picked the right format, run your files through our Image Compressor to shave off 60-80% of the file size.