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  3. WebP vs PNG vs JPEG: Which One Should You Actually Use?
If you’ve ever uploaded an image and thought, “Eh, JPEG is fine,” you’re not alone. Most people don’t even think about formats. I used to just toss whatever I had on my desktop into WordPress — PNG, JPEG, didn’t matter.

Then I realized those choices were quietly slowing my site down.

Here’s the thing: the format you pick really does make a difference. It affects site speed, SEO, and even how sharp your images look. So let’s break it down without overcomplicating it.

JPEG: Old Reliable

JPEGs are like the Toyota Corolla of image formats—everywhere, dependable, not flashy.
  • Perfect for photos and blog images.
  • Small file sizes keep pages fast.
  • The trade-off is compression—you lose a little quality, especially if there’s text in the image.

Most product photos or lifestyle shots? Stick with JPEG.

PNG: The Detail Freak

PNGs are heavy, but they don’t mess around with quality.
  • Great for logos, graphics, or anything that needs a transparent background.
  • They stay sharp, even with text and fine lines.
  • Downside: huge file sizes. Upload too many and your site crawls.

I still use PNGs for UI elements and logos, but never for blog hero images.

WebP: The New Kid Who’s Winning

WebP is Google’s answer to “why not both?” It’s lighter like JPEG but crisp like PNG.
  • Works for pretty much everything—photos, graphics, even transparent backgrounds.
  • Smaller files mean faster sites.
  • Only catch: a few older browsers don’t support it (though that gap is closing fast).

These days, I default to WebP if I can. Most CMSs or CDNs will handle conversion automatically.

How Pikwizard Fits In

If you’re sourcing images from free stock sites, Pikwizard is a solid choice. You’ll mostly find JPEGs and PNGs, which are easy to convert into WebP for faster load times. The best part? The images already look professional, so you’re not starting with sloppy, overused stock photos. Grab what you need from Pikwizard, optimize, and upload—it’s that simple.

My Rule of Thumb

  • JPEG for photos
  • PNG for logos/graphics
  • WebP wherever possible
  • Use Pikwizard to get high-quality free images that are already web-ready
You don’t need to be a developer to make the right call on image formats. Just pick the one that matches the job. A little thought here saves you headaches with speed, SEO, and user experience down the line — and Pikwizard makes it easy to start with good-looking images right away.