JPG vs PNG — which should you use, and how to convert

JPG and PNG are the two most common image formats on the web, and people constantly need to switch between them. Here's the honest, no-jargon difference — and how to convert either way in seconds.

The short answer

• Use JPG for photographs — it makes small files and photos look great.
• Use PNG for logos, icons, screenshots and anything with text or a transparent background — it stays crisp and supports transparency.

How they actually differ

JPG (or JPEG)

JPG uses "lossy" compression: it throws away detail your eye is unlikely to notice to make the file much smaller. That's perfect for photos, where tiny imperfections don't matter. The downsides: it can't store a transparent background, and sharp edges (like black text on white) can get fuzzy "artifacts".

PNG

PNG uses "lossless" compression: nothing is thrown away, so lines and text stay perfectly sharp, and it supports transparency. The trade-off is bigger files — a photo saved as PNG can be several times larger than the same photo as JPG.

When to convert JPG → PNG

• You need a transparent background (though note: converting a JPG to PNG won't magically remove an existing background — it just lets you add transparency in an editor).
• A website or app only accepts PNG.
• You're going to edit the image repeatedly and want to avoid quality loss each save.

When to convert PNG → JPG

• Your PNG photo is too large to upload or email.
• A form only accepts JPG.
• You don't need transparency and want the smallest possible file.

How to convert (free, no sign-up)

1. Open the EasyLife File Converter.
2. Choose JPG → PNG or PNG → JPG.
3. Drop in your image and click Convert & download.

What about file size?

If your goal is simply a smaller file, also try the Compress tool, which lets you target an exact size in KB. For most photos, JPG at 70–80% quality is the sweet spot between looks and size.

Convert an image now →