Does Base64 encoding increase the file size?

Yes. Base64 encoding typically increases the data size by about 33% compared to the original binary image file. Therefore, it is only recommended for very small images or icons.

Is my image uploaded to your server?

No. The conversion happens entirely locally in your web browser. Your image is never uploaded, ensuring complete privacy.

🖼️

Image Format Guide

Choose the right image format for every situation. Compare JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, and SVG to optimize your images for the web.

⚡ Quick Decision Guide

Photo → JPEG (or WebP/AVIF)

Logo/Icon → SVG (or PNG)

Screenshot → PNG (or WebP)

Animation → Video (or WebP)

Format Comparison

Format	Type	Transparent	Animation	Best For
JPEG/JPG	Lossy	❌	❌	Photos, complex images, gradients
PNG	Lossless	✅	❌	Logos, icons, screenshots, text images
WebP	Both	✅	✅	Web images (modern browsers)
AVIF	Lossy	✅	✅	Next-gen web images
GIF	Lossless	✅	✅	Simple animations, memes
SVG	None (vector)	✅	✅	Logos, icons, illustrations

Format Details

JPEG/JPG

.jpg, .jpeg

Compression: Lossy

File Size: Small-Medium

✅ Pros

• Universal support
• Small files for photos
• Adjustable quality

❌ Cons

• No transparency
• Quality loss on re-save
• Artifacts on edges

PNG

.png

Compression: Lossless

File Size: Medium-Large

✅ Pros

• Perfect quality
• Transparency
• No artifacts

❌ Cons

• Large file sizes for photos
• Not efficient for photos

WebP

.webp

Compression: Both

File Size: Small

✅ Pros

• 25-35% smaller than JPEG
• Transparency
• Animation support

❌ Cons

• Older browser support
• Less tool support
• Quality can be tricky

AVIF

.avif

Compression: Lossy

File Size: Smallest

✅ Pros

• 50% smaller than JPEG
• Great quality
• HDR support

❌ Cons

• Limited browser support
• Slow encoding
• New format

Recommended Formats by Use Case

Use Case	Format	Why
Product photos	JPEG → WebP → AVIF	Best compression for photos
Website logo	SVG (or PNG)	Scales to any size, transparent
Screenshot	PNG → WebP	Sharp text, no artifacts
App icon	PNG (multiple sizes)	Required by platforms
Loading spinner	SVG (or CSS)	Small, scalable, animatable
Hero banner photo	WebP/AVIF with JPEG fallback	Performance + compatibility
Meme/GIF	GIF → MP4/WebM for web	Video is smaller than GIF
Infographic	SVG (or PNG)	Text stays sharp

File Size Comparison (Same Image)

JPEG

100 KB

from 1000 KB

90% smaller

PNG

800 KB

from 1000 KB

20% smaller

WebP

70 KB

from 1000 KB

93% smaller

AVIF

50 KB

from 1000 KB

95% smaller

* Approximate compression for a typical photo at similar visual quality

Common Mistakes

Using PNG for photos

Problem: Files are 5-10x larger than needed

Fix: Use JPEG/WebP for photos, PNG for graphics

Saving JPEG multiple times

Problem: Quality degrades with each save (generation loss)

Fix: Keep original, export fresh each time

Not providing fallbacks

Problem: WebP/AVIF not supported in all browsers

Fix: Use <picture> element with fallbacks

Using GIF for long animations

Problem: Files can be 10MB+

Fix: Convert to MP4/WebM video

📦 Using Modern Formats with Fallbacks

Use the HTML picture element to serve modern formats with JPEG fallback:

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif">
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">
</picture>