JPG VS GIF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Joint Photographic Experts Group and Graphics Interchange Format.
JPG
jpgUniversal image format with lossy compression, perfect for photography.
Pros
- Small file size
- Universal compatibility
- Adjustable compression levels
Cons
- Lossy compression (quality degrades)
- No transparency support
- No animation
GIF
gifSupports simple animations and limited color palette, a classic internet format.
Pros
- Simple animation
- Universal support
- Small size for simple graphics
Cons
- Limited to 256 colors
- No audio
- Inefficient compression for video
When JPG wins
Stay with JPG when you need web images or digital photography. Its strengths center on small file size and a feature set native to Joint Photographic Experts Group.
When GIF wins
Choose GIF when your workflow prioritizes memes or simple banners. It delivers simple animation plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | JPG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/jpeg | image/gif |
| Developer | Joint Photographic Experts Group | CompuServe |
| Release Year | 1992 | 1987 |
| Best For | Web images, Digital photography, Email attachments | Memes, Simple banners, Loading spinners |
Need to switch?
Where JPG still wins
Keep JPG when you need small file size and workflows depend on web images / digital photography. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship GIF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .jpg glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use GIF for memes while archiving originals as JPG.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.