PNG vs JPG: Which Format Should You Use?

The core difference: lossless vs lossy compression

The single most important distinction between PNG and JPG is how each format stores image data:

• PNG (Portable Network Graphics) uses lossless compression. Every pixel is stored exactly as it was — open and re-save a PNG a hundred times and the image never degrades. The file will be larger as a result.
• JPG/JPEG uses lossy compression. It achieves much smaller files by discarding some information the encoder judges to be invisible. The first save from a raw or lossless source is often fine; re-encoding an already-compressed JPG repeatedly will accumulate visible artefacts over time.

Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on the type of image and how you'll use it.

Side-by-side comparison

When to use JPG

JPG is the right choice for photographs. A real-world photo contains subtle colour gradients, noise, and fine texture — JPEG's compression algorithm targets exactly these properties and discards the information your eye is least likely to notice. The result is a file that can be 5–10 times smaller than an equivalent PNG while looking identical at normal viewing sizes.

Use JPG when you are:

• Sharing photos by email or messaging apps where file size matters.
• Uploading photos to social media, a website, or a cloud gallery.
• Sending a photo from your phone to someone on a different platform.
• Storing a large number of photos and disk space is a concern.

The HEIC to JPG converter on this site is built for exactly this use case — turning iPhone photos into universally compatible JPGs without uploading anything.

When to use PNG

PNG is the right choice when pixel-exact quality or transparency matters. JPEG compression introduces subtle blurring around sharp edges — the kind that appears on text, diagrams, icons, and screenshots. PNG stores those edges perfectly.

Use PNG when you are:

• Saving a screenshot that contains text, UI elements, or crisp lines.
• Working with a logo or icon that needs a transparent background.
• Editing an image and saving intermediate versions (to avoid generation loss).
• Creating graphics for print or high-resolution display where artefacts are unacceptable.

Transparency: the deciding factor for many graphics

If your image needs a transparent background, PNG is the only option between these two. JPG has no alpha channel — when you save a transparent image as JPG, the transparent areas are filled in with white (or whatever background colour the encoder chooses). Logos, product images with cut-out backgrounds, stickers, and UI assets almost always need PNG for this reason.

If transparency is not a requirement, the decision comes back to image type: photograph → JPG, graphic/screenshot → PNG.

File size in practice

The size difference between formats varies significantly by image type, which is often counterintuitive:

• A photograph saved as PNG can easily be 3–8 times larger than the same photo saved as JPG at high quality. For a typical 12-megapixel smartphone photo, that might be 8 MB (PNG) versus 2 MB (JPG at 85%).
• A screenshot or simple graphic saved as JPG can paradoxically be larger than PNG, because JPEG's algorithm struggles with flat colours and sharp edges and produces visible artefacts while still producing a large file.

The practical rule: JPEG compression earns its size savings on photographic content; PNG compression earns its savings on synthetic and graphical content. Applying the wrong format costs you size without any quality benefit.

How to convert between PNG and JPG

The free HEIC Fox converter handles both directions. Drop in your PNG or JPG file, choose the output format, and download the result. Conversion runs entirely in your browser — your files are never sent to a server. You can also convert in bulk: drop a folder of images, choose JPG or PNG as the target, and download everything as a ZIP.

Note that converting PNG to JPG is a lossy step: the resulting JPG will be compressed, so some information is discarded. Converting JPG back to PNG does not recover that lost information — it just re-wraps the already-compressed data in a lossless container, which typically makes the file larger without improving quality.

Frequently asked questions

Is PNG or JPG better for photos?

JPG is generally better for photographs. Photos contain complex colour gradients where lossy JPEG compression produces small, invisible artefacts — the file ends up much smaller than PNG with no visible quality difference for normal viewing.

Is PNG or JPG better for screenshots and graphics?

PNG. Screenshots, diagrams, text-heavy images, logos, and anything with large areas of flat colour compress far better with PNG's lossless algorithm. JPEG artefacts are most visible on sharp edges and text.

Does PNG support transparency?

Yes. PNG has a full alpha channel, so parts of the image can be partially or fully transparent. JPG has no transparency support — transparent areas are filled with a solid colour (usually white) when you save as JPG.

When should I choose JPG over PNG?

Choose JPG when you are sharing or uploading a photograph, sending images by email, or publishing photos to a website where file size affects load speed. The quality is visually indistinguishable from lossless at high quality settings, and the file will be much smaller.

How do I convert between PNG and JPG?

Use a free in-browser converter like HEIC Fox. Drop your file in, choose the target format (JPG or PNG), and download. Nothing is uploaded — conversion runs entirely in your browser.