JPG VS ICO
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Joint Photographic Experts Group and Icon File.
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
ICO
icoStandard format used for computer icons and favicons.
Pros
- Contains multiple resolutions
- Standard for Windows/Web icons
Cons
- Limited use case
- Inefficient for general images
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 ICO wins
Choose ICO when your workflow prioritizes favicons or desktop icons. It delivers contains multiple resolutions plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | JPG | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/jpeg | image/x-icon |
| Developer | Joint Photographic Experts Group | Microsoft |
| Release Year | 1992 | 1985 |
| Best For | Web images, Digital photography, Email attachments | Favicons, Desktop icons |
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 ICO deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .jpg glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use ICO for favicons 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.