Image Formats Explained
A plain guide to the image formats that matter: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, SVG, HEIC, BMP, TIFF and JPEG XL, with a clear recommendation for each job.
The full format landscape in one place, with a firm pick for photos, graphics, the web, printing and archival.
How it works
Pick the format that fits the job
There is no single best image format. JPG is the universal choice for photos and sharing. WebP and AVIF shrink web images far more than JPG at similar quality. PNG is the reliable lossless pick for logos, screenshots and anything with transparency. GIF still works for simple animated graphics. HEIC is the efficient iPhone default that most devices cannot open. SVG stays crisp at any size for icons and logos. TIFF and BMP are heavyweight archival and print formats. JPEG XL is the emerging format with the best compression and a clever lossless mode.
Photographs
For photos on the web, AVIF gives the smallest files and WebP offers the broadest support. For email, printing and older software, JPG is the safe default. If you need an editing master, keep a lossless copy in PNG or a high quality format instead of repeatedly saving JPG.
Graphics, logos and transparency
PNG keeps transparency and sharp edges, which makes it the dependable choice for logos, icons and screenshots. On the web, WebP lossless gives you the same transparency in a smaller file. SVG is better still for logos and icons because it scales to any size without losing crispness.
The web
For website images, aim for WebP or AVIF. They are dramatically smaller than JPG or PNG, which makes pages load faster. Serve AVIF when your audience uses modern browsers and fall back to WebP or JPG for older ones. Use the converter here to switch between them in your browser.
Print and archival
For printing, export at the resolution you need in JPG or PNG. TIFF suits archival scans where you want to keep maximum data, though it creates very large files. For long term storage, a lossless format such as PNG or WebP lossless protects your pixels from the gradual quality loss that comes with repeated JPG saving.
A note on JPEG XL
JPEG XL is the most promising new format. Its lossless mode can recompress an existing JPG to be 20 to 30 percent smaller while staying byte for byte reversible, so the original JPG can be recovered exactly. Support is still rolling out, so treat it as a forward looking choice rather than a universal one today.
Still undecided?
Start with the format your audience can open everywhere. When in doubt, JPG for photos and PNG for graphics is a safe, widely compatible starting point, and WebP is the upgrade path for the web.
Format comparison
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Browser support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG.jpg | Lossy (discards some detail) | No | All browsers and devices | Photographs and images with smooth color gradients |
| PNG.png | Lossless (keeps every pixel) | Yes | All browsers and devices | Screenshots, logos, illustrations with sharp edges and transparency |
| WebP.webp | Lossy (discards some detail) | Yes | All modern browsers (2011+) | Web images that need both quality and small file size |
| AVIF.avif | Lossy (discards some detail) | Yes | All modern browsers (2020+) | Modern web photos with the best compression at high quality |
| SVG.svg | Lossless (keeps every pixel) | Yes | All browsers | Vector graphics, icons, logos that scale without quality loss |
| HEIC.heic | Lossy (discards some detail) | No | n/a | High-efficiency photos from iPhones and modern cameras |
| GIF.gif | Lossy (discards some detail) | Yes | n/a | Animated web graphics and simple images with flat colors |
| BMP.bmp | Lossless (keeps every pixel) | No | n/a | Uncompressed raster images for legacy software and raw storage |
| TIFF.tiff | Lossless (keeps every pixel) | No | n/a | High-quality print and scan archives |
| JXL.jxl | Lossy (discards some detail) | Yes | n/a | Next-generation web images with the best compression (Chrome, Edge, Opera) |
Frequently asked questions
Which image format is best?
It depends on the job. AVIF for web photos, WebP for broad web compatibility, JPG for sharing and print, PNG for logos and transparency, and SVG for scalable icons.
What is the difference between lossy and lossless?
Lossy formats such as JPG, WebP and AVIF discard detail to shrink files. Lossless formats such as PNG keep every pixel exactly.
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF usually compresses photos smaller than WebP at the same quality, but WebP is supported in more older browsers. Both are modern and worth using on the web.
What format should I use for a logo?
SVG is ideal because it scales without losing quality. If you need a raster, PNG keeps transparency and sharp edges.
Why is my JPG getting worse every time I save it?
Every lossy JPG save discards a little more detail. Keep a lossless original such as PNG and only export JPG when you need to share it.