🖼️ JPEG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Format Should You Use?
Picking the right image format can save bandwidth, speed up your site, and keep visuals looking sharp. In 2025, you’ll mostly choose between JPEG, PNG, and WebP. Here’s a no-nonsense guide so you can decide fast.
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Quick answers
- Photos? Use JPEG or WebP (WebP usually smaller at similar quality).
- Logos/UI/text/flat art? Use PNG (crisp edges, true transparency) or lossless WebP.
- Need transparency? Use PNG or WebP (both support alpha).
- Maximum compatibility? Use JPEG or PNG.
Format breakdown
JPEG
- Compression: Lossy (tiny files at the cost of some detail).
- Best for: Photographs, gradients, anything with lots of color variation.
- Pros: Small files, universal support.
- Cons: No transparency; at low quality you’ll see blocky artifacts.
- Tip: Export at quality
80–90for social/web. Resize to the exact pixel size before compressing.
PNG
- Compression: Lossless (no quality loss).
- Best for: Logos, UI, screenshots, text and line art, transparent graphics.
- Pros: Razor-sharp edges, alpha transparency.
- Cons: Larger files than JPEG/WebP for photos.
- Tip: If a PNG is a photo, try converting to WebP or JPEG—you’ll usually cut size by 60–90%.
WebP
- Compression: Lossy or lossless.
- Best for: General web use where size matters.
- Pros: Much smaller than JPEG at similar quality; supports transparency like PNG; excellent browser support.
- Cons: A few legacy apps still don’t handle it.
- Tip: Start with WebP quality
80–90. For crisp logos, try lossless WebP.
Decision table
| Use case | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait/photo | WebP (lossy) or JPEG | Small files with good detail |
| Logo on transparent bg | PNG or WebP (lossless) | Perfect edges & alpha channel |
| Screenshots/UI | PNG or WebP (lossless) | Text stays sharp, no blur |
| Email/newsletters | JPEG or PNG | Maximum client compatibility |
| Performance-critical web | WebP | Best compression ratio in 2025 |
File size tips that actually work
- Resize first, then export. Don’t upload 4000px if you only need 1080px.
- Pick the right format (above) and test. Export the same image as JPEG, PNG, and WebP—choose the smallest that still looks good.
- Mind transparency. If you don’t need it, avoid PNG.
- Use quality dials wisely. Most images look identical at 80–90 quality vs 100.
Resize & convert instantly
Open RayBresizer, drop your image, choose a preset or set custom size, and export as JPEG/PNG/WebP in seconds. Everything runs in your browser—your files never leave your device.
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