Both formats store images, but they make opposite tradeoffs. JPEG throws away some information to get a much smaller file. PNG keeps every pixel exact, at the cost of a larger file. Neither is "better" — they're suited to different kinds of images.

JPEG: built for photos

Photographs have gradual colour transitions and natural noise that the eye doesn't track precisely, which is exactly what JPEG's compression is designed around. A JPEG at 85% quality is often 5–10 times smaller than the equivalent PNG, with a difference that's hard to spot at normal viewing size. This is why passport photos, ID photos, and most upload forms specifically ask for JPEG — smaller files move through their systems faster.

PNG: built for exactness

Screenshots, logos, diagrams, and anything with sharp edges or flat colour (especially text) benefit from PNG's lossless compression — JPEG's approach to smoothing colour transitions shows up as visible fuzz around sharp edges, which is obvious on text but much less noticeable on a photo of a face or a landscape. PNG also supports transparency, which JPEG doesn't.

A simple rule

If it came from a camera, JPEG. If it came from a screen — a screenshot, a graphic, anything with text or flat colour — PNG, unless file size is critical and some softness is acceptable.

Compress a JPEG to a specific file size while keeping its dimensions.

Open the photo tool

What about file size limits on forms?

A government portal or job application that caps uploads at, say, 200 KB is implicitly expecting JPEG for a photo — a PNG of the same photo can easily be several times larger for the same visual quality. If you're getting rejected for file size and you're uploading a PNG photo, converting to JPEG first is often the single biggest improvement available.

Frequently asked questions

Which format should I use for a passport or ID photo?

JPEG — nearly every passport, visa, and ID system expects it, and it keeps the file size well within typical upload limits.

Does converting PNG to JPEG lose quality?

For a photo, usually not noticeably — photos compress well under JPEG. For a screenshot or graphic with text, converting to JPEG can introduce visible fuzziness around sharp edges.

Use the Image Compressor to shrink a photo's file size while keeping its dimensions exactly as they are.