JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs HEIC: Which Image Format Should You Use?
A clear comparison of the four most common photo formats — compression, quality, transparency, compatibility and the best use for each.
Four formats cover almost every photo you'll handle: JPG, PNG, WebP and HEIC. Each has a clear strength. Here's how they compare and when to use which.
At a glance
| JPG | PNG | WebP | HEIC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless | Lossy |
| Typical photo size | Medium | Very large | Small | Small |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | APNG | Yes | Sequences (limited support) |
| Colour depth | 8-bit | 8/16-bit | 8-bit | 8/10-bit and more |
| Browsers | All | All | All modern | Safari only |
| Windows / Android apps | Everywhere | Everywhere | Most | Varies |
| Best for | Sharing, printing, email | Editing, graphics, screenshots | Websites | Storing photos on Apple devices |
JPG — the universal format
JPG has been the standard for photos since the 1990s. Every device and app can open it, which makes it the safe choice for sending photos to anyone, uploading them to forms, or printing. It's less efficient than modern formats and can't store transparency.
Use it when: compatibility matters most. Convert with HEIC to JPG.
PNG — lossless precision
PNG never discards detail. It's ideal for screenshots, graphics, text and images with transparency, and as an intermediate format while editing. For ordinary photos it produces very large files.
Use it when: you need an exact copy or transparency. Convert with HEIC to PNG.
WebP — made for the web
WebP produces smaller files than JPG at similar visual quality, supports transparency and animation, and is supported by every modern browser. Outside the browser, support in older desktop software and email clients is less universal than JPG.
Use it when: publishing images on a website. Convert with HEIC to WebP.
HEIC — efficient storage on Apple devices
HEIC offers excellent compression and advanced features (depth maps, HDR, bursts). It's the default on iPhones, but compatibility outside Apple's ecosystem is limited and most browsers can't display it.
Use it when: storing photos on iPhone, iPad or Mac. Convert other images to HEIC with JPG to HEIC.
Decision guide
- Is it going on a website? → WebP.
- Does it need transparency or pixel-perfect detail? → PNG (or WebP for the web).
- Are you sending it to someone or uploading it to a form? → JPG.
- Is it staying in your Apple photo library? → Keep HEIC.
Converting between them
Every conversion between lossy formats costs a little quality, so convert from the original each time rather than chaining conversions. Keep your HEIC originals, and create JPG, PNG or WebP copies with the HEIC converter whenever you need them.