SajinbaroJPEG vs PNG vs WebP: which format to use
JPEG for photos, PNG for transparency, text and screenshots, WebP for smaller files where it is accepted. The differences and what to check before you choose.
Reviewed: 2026-10-06 · Sources checked: 2026-10-06
Should I save my image as JPEG, PNG or WebP?
For ordinary photos, JPEG is the safe choice. For images that need a transparent background or contain sharp text and shapes, PNG fits better. WebP is often smaller at similar visual quality, but check first that the website or form you are uploading to accepts WebP.
1. How the formats differ
| Format | Transparency | Quality setting | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | No | Yes (lossy) | Photos, uploads to forms and portals |
| PNG | Yes | No (lossless) | Logos, screenshots, diagrams, transparent images |
| WebP | Yes | Yes (lossy or lossless) | Websites and online stores |
2. Common mistakes
- Converting a transparent PNG to JPEG fills the transparent areas with a background colour (Sajinbaro lets you pick it).
- Converting a photo to PNG often makes the file bigger, not smaller.
- Some upload forms still reject WebP — check the accepted formats first.
Sources and rules
- Calculation: The size examples in this guide are generated by the same code as the tools on this site.
- Image file type and format guide (MDN): JPEG: lossy, no transparency. PNG: lossless with transparency. WebP: lossy or lossless with transparency (checked 2026-10-06).