JPEG vs PNG — When to Use Which

JPEG vs PNG: A Practical Comparison

JPEG and PNG are the two most widely used image formats on the web, but they serve very different purposes. Choosing the right one can dramatically affect file size, image quality, and page load speed.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

JPEG uses lossy compression, meaning it permanently discards some image data to achieve smaller file sizes. This makes it ideal for:

• Photographs with millions of colors and smooth gradients
• Hero images and background photos on websites
• Situations where file size matters more than pixel-perfect quality

Quality	Typical File Size	Visual Artifacts
95%	Large	Barely noticeable
80%	Medium	Slight in zoomed areas
50%	Small	Visible on edges
20%	Very small	Obvious blocky artifacts

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG uses lossless compression, preserving every pixel exactly. This is essential for:

• Graphics with text, logos, icons, and UI elements
• Images requiring transparency (alpha channel)
• Screenshots where text must remain sharp
• Line art and images with flat colors

File Size Comparison

For a typical 1920x1080 photograph:

• JPEG at 80% quality: ~200-400 KB
• PNG: ~2-5 MB (10-20x larger)

For a 500x500 icon with flat colors:

• JPEG at 90%: ~30-50 KB (with visible artifacts around edges)
• PNG: ~10-30 KB (smaller AND sharper)

The Rule of Thumb

Use JPEG for photos. Use PNG for graphics, text, and transparency. When in doubt, try both and compare.