PNG vs JPG vs WebP vs AVIF: which image format should you use?
Choose an image format by transparency, visual content and destination requirements.
Reviewed by HSQ Tools ·
Start with the destination
A smaller file is only useful if the receiving application accepts it. Check the upload requirements before converting: a website may display AVIF while its administration screen accepts only JPG and PNG. Keep the original so a compatibility conversion does not become your only copy.
Match the format to the picture
For a product photograph on an opaque background, try JPG or a modern web format. For an interface screenshot with small text, start with PNG and inspect any lossy alternative at the intended display size. A transparent logo needs an alpha-capable format; converting it to JPG changes the background.
Example: a 1200-pixel transparent product cutout intended for a colored website card should stay PNG or become WebP. A JPG export places white behind the subject, which can show as a visible rectangle on the card.
What conversion cannot fix
Saving a previously compressed JPG as PNG prevents a further lossy encoding step, but does not restore texture already discarded. Changing the extension also does not increase resolution or create true vector artwork.
HSQ Image Converter uses fixed encoder settings for each format pair. Compare the downloaded result rather than assuming one format always produces fewer bytes. Animated sources often export only the first frame for still outputs; use an animation-capable workflow for moving images.
A format-selection workflow
Check the destination’s allowed formats, pixel dimensions and byte limit. Keep the original and choose a test export based on the content: PNG for fine text, JPG for an opaque compatibility image, or WebP/AVIF for a destination that accepts them.
Open the export in the receiving application, not only its file picker. If it rejects an otherwise readable file, verify its actual type and dimensions; changing the filename extension does not change its encoding.
| Format | Transparency | Useful starting point |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Yes | Screenshots and sharp graphics |
| JPG | No | Photographs and broad upload compatibility |
| WebP | Yes | Web delivery when accepted |
| AVIF | Yes | Web delivery after compatibility testing |