PNG vs JPG: Which One is Better for Website Speed & SEO?
(2026 Guide)
The short answer: While PNG offers superior quality for graphics, JPG is generally better for website speed and SEO when dealing with photos.
However, for maximum performance in 2026, the modern WebP format is superior to both, and AVIF is emerging as the new leader in compression. The choice between image formats is a critical decision that directly impacts your site's load times, user experience, and search engine rankings. This guide breaks down the strengths of each format to help you make the best choice for your website in 2026.
Quick Comparison: JPG vs. PNG for Web Performance
| Feature | JPG (or JPEG) | PNG | WebP (Modern Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression Type | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy & Lossless |
| File Size | Small | Large | Very Small (25-35% smaller than JPG) |
| Image Quality | Good for photos; can show artifacts at high compression | Excellent, pixel-perfect | High (comparable to source at equivalent settings) |
| Transparency | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (alpha channel) | ✅ Yes |
| Best For | Photographs, complex gradients, blog post images | Logos, icons, screenshots, images requiring transparency | The all-around best choice for modern websites: photos, graphics, and UI |
| Browser Support | Universal (100%) | Universal (100%) | Excellent (~97% of global users) |
| Impact on Speed | Good | Moderate to Heavy | Excellent |
Detailed Analysis: Which Format Wins for Your Needs?
🏆 For Website Speed & Core Web Vitals: JPG (over PNG)
When it comes to loading speed, file size is the primary enemy. Since JPG uses lossy compression, it can dramatically reduce the file size of a photo compared to the lossless compression of PNG. Smaller files mean faster downloads, quicker Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), and better Core Web Vitals scores—all of which are direct ranking factors for Google.
🎨 For Image Quality & Transparency: PNG (over JPG)
PNG is the king of clarity. Its lossless compression means every pixel is preserved, making it the only choice for images that need to be razor-sharp, such as company logos, UI elements, and screenshots with text. Most importantly, PNG supports transparency, which JPG does not.
🚀 The 2026 Reality: WebP Beats Both
While the PNG vs JPG debate is important, the real winner for website speed in 2026 is WebP. Created by Google, WebP provides superior compression (both lossy and lossless) and supports transparency. You can typically reduce a JPG or PNG file size by 25-35% by converting to WebP without losing visible quality.
🔮 The Future: AVIF
AVIF (AV1 Image Format) is emerging as the next-generation format, offering even better compression than WebP. However, browser support, while growing, is not yet universal. For now, WebP remains the safest and most performant choice for production websites.
Step-by-Step: Optimize Your Website Images
Identify your image types
Photos → use JPG/WebP. Logos/graphics → use PNG/WebP. Check your site's images using Screaming Frog or GTmetrix.
Check current formats
Use browser dev tools or online crawlers to see what formats your site is currently serving.
Convert photos from PNG to JPG
This single step reduces file size 5-10x. Use tools like Squoosh or CloudConvert.
Convert to WebP for best performance
Use Squoosh, image optimization plugins, or build tools to generate WebP versions.
Implement picture element with fallbacks
Use HTML picture element to serve WebP to modern browsers while providing JPG/PNG fallbacks for older browsers.
Verify Core Web Vitals improvement
Check Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights to confirm improvements.
Tools needed: Squoosh, CloudConvert, image optimization plugin, browser dev tools
Estimated time: 15-30 minutes depending on site size
🎯 Quick Recommendations by Use Case
Product Photos / Blog Images
WebP (with JPG fallback)
Smallest file size, maintains good quality for photographs.
Logo / Icons with Transparency
WebP (with PNG fallback)
Supports transparency with much smaller file sizes than PNG.
Screenshots with Text
WebP or PNG
PNG ensures no compression artifacts near text; WebP is acceptable at high-quality settings.
Background Images
WebP (with JPG fallback)
Aggressive compression possible without noticeable quality loss.
💻 How to Implement in Next.js
// In your Next.js component, use the Image component with fallbacks:
import Image from 'next/image'
<Image
src="/image.webp"
alt="Description"
width={800}
height={600}
/><picture>
<source srcSet="/image.webp" type="image/webp" />
<source srcSet="/image.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
<img src="/image.jpg" alt="Description" loading="lazy" />
</picture>* Use the picture element for maximum browser compatibility
Which Format Should You Use?
Photos, Blog Images
Best for photographs, gradients
Logos, Screenshots
Sharp text, transparency needed
Everything (modern sites)
Best of both worlds, smaller files
File size targets: Aim for under 100KB for most web images, under 200KB for hero images. JPGs at 60-80% quality usually hit this. WebP can achieve similar quality at 30-50% smaller file sizes.
Common Problems and Fixes
My PNG files are huge
If it's a photo, convert to JPG (reduces size 5-10x). If it's a logo, optimize with TinyPNG or convert to SVG if vector. For web use, PNG should be under 50-100KB.
WebP not showing in some browsers
That's why you need fallbacks. Use the picture element with source tags. Old Safari (pre-14) and some older browsers need JPG/PNG fallbacks. Implementation code above shows how.
Images look blurry after conversion
You compressed too much. JPG at 60-80% quality is the sweet spot. For WebP, quality setting 75-85 usually matches JPG at 80-90. Test different settings. Also check if you resized incorrectly.
My site still slow after optimizing images
Images aren't your only problem. Check lazy loading, CDN usage, server response time, and JavaScript. Use Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights to find other issues.
Should I use PNG for retina/high-DPI displays?
No. Use SVG for logos/icons (vector = perfect scaling) or WebP at 2x resolution. PNG files become massive at high resolutions. Better to serve responsive images with srcset than rely on PNG for sharpness.
Questions People Actually Ask
Is PNG or JPG better for SEO?
JPG is generally better for SEO than PNG because it produces smaller file sizes for photographs, leading to faster page load times. However, for logos and graphics, PNG may be necessary. The best SEO practice is to use WebP with appropriate fallbacks. Google's algorithm prioritizes page speed, so smaller files = better rankings.
Does Google prefer WebP over JPG?
Google doesn't explicitly prefer one format over another, but it does prioritize page speed. Since WebP offers the best compression-to-quality ratio, using it indirectly helps your SEO by improving Core Web Vitals. Google even created WebP, so they clearly support it, but they won't penalize you for using JPG or PNG properly optimized.
Can I convert all my JPG/PNG images to WebP?
Yes, you can and should convert most of your images to WebP. Use the <picture> element to serve WebP to modern browsers while providing JPG/PNG fallbacks for older browsers. Tools like Squoosh, CloudConvert, or image optimization plugins can batch convert your images. Just keep originals as fallbacks.
What about file size limits for website images?
Aim for under 100KB for most web images, under 200KB for hero images. JPGs at 60-80% quality usually hit this. PNGs often exceed these limits, which is why they're not ideal for web photos. WebP can achieve similar quality at 30-50% smaller file sizes. Always check your Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) images - they should be under 100-200KB.
Does image format affect Core Web Vitals?
Absolutely. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is directly affected by image file sizes. A 500KB PNG vs a 50KB JPG of the same photo means 10x slower loading. That's the difference between a passing and failing LCP score. WebP makes this even better. Format choice is one of the easiest ways to improve Core Web Vitals.
What Actually Matters
- Photos → JPG or WebP. PNG is overkill and slow.
- Logos, screenshots → PNG or WebP. Need sharpness and transparency.
- WebP is the 2026 standard. 25-35% smaller than JPG with same quality.
- Always use fallbacks. Picture element for older browsers.
- File size target: Under 100KB for most images, under 200KB for hero images.
- Better Core Web Vitals = Better SEO. Google ranks faster sites higher.
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