Website performance can make or break a business, which is why you need to ensure that all areas of your site are performing as they should—including your images.
And when it comes to those images, the all-important question is, “PNG or JPG?”
At Quick Sprout, we choose the PNG format for most of the images on our website. On some other sites, it makes more sense to use JPG.
The similarities and differences between PNG and JPG make it easy to make the correct decision for your site and your business. There are also pros and cons to each, so there’s a good time when and when not to use them both.
The Difference Between PNG and JPG
PNG is a popular image format that supports high-quality images and those with transparent elements.
PNGs retain the original image data in a process known as lossless compression, which means that the file size is usually larger, and the image quality greater than it would be in JPG format. A company logo is a good example of an image that works well in a PNG format.
Meanwhile, JPG is a popular image format that supports photographs and graphics with complex color gradients.
JPGs lose some of the original image data in a process known as lossy compression. This process makes images smaller so that they’ll load quickly on the web, but it’s worth noting that too much compression will hinder the quality of the image. A photograph is a good example of an image that works well in a JPG format.
Pros of PNG Images
High image quality: PNG images retain their clarity, detail, and color accuracy—even after multiple saves—thanks to the format’s use of lossless compression. This is particularly useful when choosing a format for graphics, logos, and icons where precision and visual appeal are hugely important.
Sharp edges: The PNG format preserves sharp edges really well. This makes it ideal for text-heavy images, images that feature bold and angular graphics, or images with detailed graphs and charts.
Transparency support: PNG images support transparency, making the format best-suited for images that require transparent elements, such as company logos. This is particularly important if your image needs to blend seamlessly on web pages with different backgrounds.
Cons of PNG Images
Larger file size: PNG images tend to have larger file sizes when compared with other formats, due to the format’s lossless compression method. Larger files can increase web page load times, especially when there are lots of images used on a single page.
Pros of JPG Images
Small file size: JPG images tend to have smaller file sizes when compared with other formats. This is because of the format’s lossy compression method. This makes JPG images ideal for web use, as long as very high image quality isn’t required.
Photographic detail: The JPG format is well-suited for images with complex color gradients and photographic details. Although the lossy compression method causes a minor reduction in image quality, images with lots of detail and color still look good in this format.
Widespread compatibility: While PNG and JPG are supported by most modern web browsers and web host providers, JPG images have greater compatibility with older browsers and selected mobile devices.
Cons of PNG Images
Reduction in quality with each save: When you use the JPG format, some of the original file data is lost during compression. With each save, more of the data is lost, and the quality of the image is further compromised. If your images are likely to be edited several times or saved and republished often, the PNG format is a better choice.
Lack of transparency support: JPG images cannot have transparent areas, making them unsuitable for website designs featuring graphic overlays or visual integrations with different backgrounds.
When To Use PNG
The PNG format tends to be the best choice when high image quality and/or transparency are called for.
At Quick Sprout, the images we use typically contain a lot of information—like screenshots from the dashboard of a software platform, for example. Thus, when you see an image on our site, it’s almost always a PNG image.
Here are some other use cases that are good for the PNG format:
Logos, icons, and graphics with sharp edges
PNG’s lossless compression maintains sharp edges and intricate details, making it a good choice for graphics that feature crisp lines and intricate patterns. As a result, PNG is the best type for infographics and illustrations where visual precision is required in order to understand the content.
Text-heavy graphics, tables, and charts
When images include a lot of information through tables, charts, or graphs, image quality becomes super important for legibility. In this case, PNG is a good format to choose as the high quality and sharp edges will help ensure that the information is easy to view and comprehend.
Artwork or detailed illustrations
Because the original image data is retained in the PNG format, you’re able to view a greater level of detail, making it ideal for works of art and illustrations. Simply put, with PNG, you’re closer to the real-life viewing experience than you are with JPG.
Images likely to be edited, saved, or republished
Sometimes images published on a website are downloaded and edited at a later date. For example, you might refresh a blog post once a year and amend the images each time. In this case, PNG is a great choice, as all the original image data is retained no matter how many times it’s saved and edited. With JPGs, data is lost each time the image is saved.
Exception: Some content teams have a process in place that gives everyone access to original image files in programs like Adobe Photoshop or Canva. In this case, the data loss that goes along with multiple edits can be avoided.
When To Use JPG
The JPG format is the best choice when file size and loading speed are more important than image quality, and when images contain a lot of complex color variations.
Here are some instances when you should consider using the JPG format:
When website load speed is more important than quality
Website users expect pages to load quickly—if they don’t, they’ll probably look elsewhere for the information they need. With the JPG format, smaller file sizes contribute to faster load times, enhancing user experience and reducing bounce rates. With a reduction in file size comes a reduction in image quality, but the trade-off is usually worth it.
When multiple images are used on a single web page
When a web page contains a lot of images—or few images with really large file sizes—it can slow down load times significantly. For example, if you publish step-by-step tutorials with 20 or so screenshots, the smaller file sizes offered by JPG files will make a huge difference.
Exception: It’s possible to prioritize which images should be loaded first on a web page, in order to maximize load times, which means you don’t need to worry too much about image quantity.
When transparent elements aren’t required
JPG doesn’t support transparency, so if your image is not required to blend with different backgrounds or other graphic elements, it’s a great choice. A good example of this is a product image on an ecommerce site, which tends to be self-contained.
For photographs
JPG is the go-to format for photographs, as these tend to include a wide spectrum of colors and subtle detail—as opposed to the sharp, crisp graphics mentioned above.
Take, for example, a photograph of a landscape. In most cases, the image quality that JPG supports is more than enough to offer a good viewing experience.
Exception: Photographs featuring a lot of text, very high contrast, or sharp edges may not look their best in JPG format thanks to the loss of original image data. In this case, PNG is the better choice.
For images with complex color variations
For big, bold blocks of color, PNG tends to be the more popular option, as the lines can remain sharp with this format. In images where the color variation is subtler, and there’s not a high level of contrast, the quality supported by JPG is usually enough.
How To Manage PNG, JPG, and Other Image Types
SVGs, GIFs and WebPs
While PNG and JPG are the most common image formats, newer formats like SVG, GIF and WebP can also enrich the content on your site.
SVGs: Scalable Vector Graphics are unique in that they are vector-based rather than pixel-based like PNGs and JPGs. This means they can be scaled up and down without losing quality, making them ideal for logos, icons, and illustrations that need to maintain sharpness across various sizes.
SVGs are particularly useful for responsive design and animations, making them a great choice for modern websites.
GIFs: Graphics Interchange Format images are best known for their support of animations and are often used to convey short, looping visuals on websites. While GIFs offer limited color depth compared to other formats (256 colors vs the 16 million supported by PNG and JPG), they excel in presenting brief animations and conveying concepts quickly.
WebP: Developed by Google, images in the WebP format offer both lossless and lossy compression, which results in smaller file sizes without compromising image quality. It also supports transparency and animations, making it a versatile choice.
As adoption is still growing, WebP compatibility varies across different browsers and devices.
Managing your images
When you first create a website, organizing and tracking your images is usually a pretty simple affair. But maintaining a library of images can become challenging as your website grows.
That’s why so many business owners use digital asset management (DAM) software to organize, share, track, and distribute their website’s digital assets. This includes documents, videos, and audio files, as well as images and animations.
DAM software allows you to assign metadata to each asset with a unique description, making it easier to search and filter files at scale. It’s particularly useful for large-scale websites with lots of images such as ecommerce sites, media outlets, and businesses that rely on visual content. It’s also useful in organizations where several team members collaborate on content creation.
If you’re looking for a platform that makes it easy to store, index, and share digital content, check out our list of the top 11 digital asset management software solutions.
Final Verdict
The image format you choose for your website can affect search engine rankings, user experience, and even revenue generation.
When it comes to making a decision for your own personal or company website, the choice between PNG and JPG usually boils down to two things: performance and visual appeal.
Choose wisely!