When you need the whole picture at a glance, here is how the common image formats compare — followed by a short note on when each one wins.
The comparison chart
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Animation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Lossy | No | No | Photographs |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | No | Graphics, logos, screenshots |
| WebP | Both | Yes | Yes | Modern web all-rounder |
| AVIF | Both | Yes | Yes | Smallest high-quality files |
| GIF | Lossless (256 colours) | Basic | Yes | Legacy animation, chat/email |
| SVG | Vector | Yes | Yes (CSS/JS) | Logos, icons, illustrations |
When each format wins
- JPG — the smallest easy choice for photographs where you don't need transparency.
- PNG — anything with sharp edges or transparency that must stay pixel-perfect.
- WebP — the safest modern default; smaller than JPG and PNG with broad support.
- AVIF — when you want the absolute smallest files and can add a fallback.
- GIF — only where a platform requires it; otherwise use video.
- SVG — logos and icons that must stay razor-sharp at any size.
The one-line takeaway
Photos → JPG/WebP/AVIF. Graphics → PNG/WebP. Scalable art → SVG. Animation → video, not GIF. When unsure, WebP is rarely the wrong answer.