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Image Format Comparison Hub

Confused between JPEG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF? We've broken down the technical specifications, performance metrics, and use cases to help you choose the perfect format for your project.

Performance Audited 2026
Browser Support Verified

Technical Specifications

A side-by-side technical breakdown of modern and legacy web formats.

FeatureJPEGPNGWebPAVIF
Best ForPhotographs and complex images with lots of colors.Graphics, logos, and images requiring transparency.Modern web images. The current web standard.Maximum performance on modern networks.
CompressionLossyLosslessBothBoth
Transparency
Animation
Browser Support99%+ (Universal)99%+ (Universal)97%+ (Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox)90%+ (Recent Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

JPEG

Pros

  • Small file sizes for photos
  • Universal device support
  • Adjustable quality levels

Cons

  • No transparency
  • Compression artifacts on text
  • Generational loss (degrades with re-saves)

PNG

Pros

  • Zero quality loss
  • Full Alpha-channel transparency
  • Crisp text and sharp edges

Cons

  • Very large file sizes for photos
  • No support for animation (standard PNG)
  • Inefficient for complex imagery

WebP

Pros

  • 30% smaller than JPEG
  • Supports transparency and lossy
  • Supports animation (replaces GIF)

Cons

  • Slightly slower to encode/decode
  • Legacy browser support gaps (e.g. IE11)
  • Minor artifacts at low quality

AVIF

Pros

  • Up to 50% smaller than JPEG
  • Extreme quality retention at low sizes
  • Advanced features (HDR, 12-bit color)

Cons

  • Longer processing time
  • Lower browser support than WebP
  • Hardware decoding still maturing

Which Format Should I Choose?

A quick simplified guide for common web scenarios.

Photography

Use **WebP** for modern web performance. Fall back to **JPEG** only if you need 100% compatibility with older email clients.

Recommendation: WebP

Icons & Logos

Always use **SVG** for logos when possible. For complex icons with shadows, use **PNG** to maintain transparency.

Recommendation: SVG / PNG

Product Shots

Use **AVIF** for the highest quality product images at the lowest byte size. It ensures your store loads fast even on mobile.

Recommendation: AVIF

What Users Say

Sarah Mitchell
Senior UI/UX Designer

"SnapResizer has become an essential tool in my design workflow. The batch processing saves me hours each week, and the quality preservation is outstanding. Client projects that used to take hours now take minutes."

James Chen
E-commerce Manager

"We process hundreds of product images daily. SnapResizer's consistent output and format conversion have reduced our image processing time by 70%. The team loves how intuitive it is."

Emily Rodriguez
Social Media Director

"The social media presets are a game-changer. We maintain perfect dimensions across all platforms without the usual back-and-forth. The privacy features give us peace of mind with client content."