PNG vs JPG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Should You Use?
A no-nonsense guide to image formats. What each one does best, when to use it, and how to convert.
The quick answer
- Photos for the web: Use WebP or AVIF. Fall back to JPEG for maximum compatibility.
- Screenshots, diagrams, logos: Use PNG (or SVG for vectors).
- iPhone photos:They're HEIC by default. Convert to JPG when you need to share outside Apple.
- Sharing anywhere: JPG and PNG work everywhere. When in doubt, use one of these.
The full comparison
| Format | Best for | Compression | Transparency | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Photos | Lossy | No | Universal |
| PNG | Screenshots, logos | Lossless | Yes | Universal |
| WebP | Web images | Both | Yes | Browsers (limited desktop) |
| AVIF | Web images, HDR | Both | Yes | All modern browsers |
| HEIC | iPhone photos | Both | Yes | Apple ecosystem |
| SVG | Icons, illustrations | Vector (N/A) | Yes | Browsers, design tools |
JPEG: the universal photo format
JPEG has been the default photo format since 1992. It uses lossy compression — every time you save a JPEG, it discards some image data to reduce file size. The quality loss is usually invisible at high quality settings, but becomes noticeable after multiple re-saves.
Use JPEG when:You need maximum compatibility, you're working with photos, and you don't need transparency.
PNG: lossless and transparent
PNG uses lossless compression — no data is lost, ever. This makes it ideal for screenshots, text-heavy images, diagrams, and anything with sharp edges. PNG also supports full transparency, which JPEG doesn't.
The tradeoff is file size. A PNG photo will be 5–10x larger than the same image as JPEG. That's fine for screenshots but wasteful for photographs.
Use PNG when:You need transparency, lossless quality, or you're working with screenshots and diagrams.
WebP: the modern replacement
Google's WebP format offers 25–34% smaller files than JPEG and supports both lossy and lossless compression plus transparency. It's the best general-purpose format for the web today.
The main limitation is that desktop applications often can't open WebP files. If you download an image from a website and it's WebP, you may need to convert it to use it elsewhere.
Use WebP when:You're optimising images for a website or web application.
AVIF: the next generation
AVIF offers even better compression than WebP — about 50% smaller than JPEG. It supports HDR, wide colour gamut, and up to 12-bit colour depth. Browser support is now universal (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
Use AVIF when: You want the smallest possible file size and your audience uses modern browsers.
HEIC: Apple's choice
HEIC is the default photo format on iPhones. It offers 50% smaller files than JPEG with better quality, but compatibility outside Apple devices is poor. Most people encounter HEIC when transferring photos from their iPhone to a Windows PC or uploading to a website.
Use HEIC when:You're staying within the Apple ecosystem. Convert to JPG or PNG when sharing elsewhere.
SVG: scalable vectors
SVG is fundamentally different from the others — it's a vector format that describes shapes mathematically rather than storing pixels. SVGs scale to any size without quality loss. They're ideal for logos, icons, and illustrations, but can't represent photographs.
Use SVG when:You're working with logos, icons, or illustrations that need to scale. Convert to PNG when you need a raster image at a specific size.
Converting between formats
FlipFiles converts WebP, AVIF, HEIC, and SVG to PNG, JPG, or WebP directly in your browser. No upload, no account, no software to install. Drop your files and download the result.