Image Format Comparison: HEIC vs JPG vs PNG vs WEBP

Understanding image formats is crucial for optimizing your digital content. Whether you're a photographer, web developer, or content creator, choosing the right format can significantly impact image quality, file size, and compatibility across different platforms.

Image Format Comparison Table

Format Compression Transparency File Size Compatibility Ideal Use Case
HEIC High efficiency lossy Yes Very Small Limited (Apple ecosystem) Mobile photography, storage optimization
JPG Lossy No Small Universal Photos, web images
PNG Lossless Yes Large Universal Screenshots, logos, graphics
WEBP Lossy/Lossless Yes Small Modern browsers Web optimization

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between JPG and PNG?

JPG uses lossy compression ideal for photographs, while PNG uses lossless compression and supports transparency, making it better for graphics and screenshots.

Which format keeps best quality?

PNG and TIFF maintain the highest quality as they use lossless compression. HEIC and WEBP can maintain high quality while achieving better compression than JPG.

What image format is smallest?

HEIC and WEBP typically achieve the smallest file sizes while maintaining good quality. JPG can also be very small but with more noticeable quality loss.