PNG vs JPG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format Should You Use?
7 min read • Updated October 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Use WebP for most web images, JPG when an app only accepts JPG, PNG for logos, screenshots and transparency, and AVIF when you want the smallest files and your audience uses modern browsers. A bulk converter can switch a whole folder between them in one pass.
Choosing an image format is a trade between file size, quality, transparency and compatibility. The old answer, "JPG for photos and PNG for everything else", is no longer the best one. WebP and AVIF produce smaller files at the same visual quality, and all current major browsers can display them.
This guide compares the four formats in practice and shows when converting a whole folder is worth it.
How to do it, step by step
- Add images. Open Bulk Image Tools, choose Convert and add your files.
- Pick the output format. Choose JPG, PNG, WebP or AVIF. AVIF only appears if your browser can save it.
- Set quality. Use 80-90 for photos. PNG ignores the quality setting because it is lossless.
- Convert and download. Press Convert and download the files or the ZIP.
JPG (JPEG): the universal photo format
JPG is lossy, tiny for photos and accepted almost everywhere, including old software, email clients and government forms. It has no transparency, and repeated saving degrades quality. Choose JPG when compatibility matters more than size.
PNG: lossless and transparent
PNG keeps every pixel and supports transparency, which makes it the right choice for logos, icons, UI screenshots and text-heavy graphics. Photos saved as PNG are very large, often five to ten times a JPG. Converting a photographic PNG to WebP or JPG is one of the biggest easy savings you can make.
WebP: the best all-rounder for the web
WebP supports lossy and lossless compression plus transparency. Google reports lossy WebP files are about 25-34% smaller than comparable JPGs, and lossless WebP is smaller than PNG. Every current major browser displays it. The remaining downside is older desktop software and some upload forms that still reject it.
AVIF: smallest files, slower to create
AVIF usually beats WebP on size at the same quality, especially for smooth gradients, and supports transparency and HDR. Encoding is slower and uses more memory, and not every browser can save AVIF from a canvas, so the converter only offers it when your browser supports it. For huge batches, WebP is the faster choice.
Quick decision guide
Website photos: WebP (or AVIF with a JPG fallback). Product photos for marketplaces: JPG. Logos, icons and screenshots: PNG, or lossless WebP. Anything with transparency that needs the smallest size: WebP. Forms that say "JPG only": JPG. When in doubt, convert a copy to WebP and compare the size and the look.
QUICK TIPS
- ✓ Convert photographic PNGs to WebP or JPG; it is the biggest easy win.
- ✓ Keep PNG or lossless WebP for text and sharp edges.
- ✓ Check that your upload form accepts WebP before converting.
- ✓ JPG cannot hold transparency; pick a background colour when converting.
Frequently asked questions
Is WebP better than JPG?+
Is AVIF better than WebP?+
Can I convert PNG to JPG in bulk?+
Do all browsers support WebP and AVIF?+
Does converting lose quality?+
Sources and further reading
Cite this page: Clipaist Editorial, "PNG vs JPG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format Should You Use?", Clipaist, October 2026. https://clipaist.com/guides/png-vs-jpg-vs-webp-vs-avif/
Clipaist Editorial
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