GIF stores up to 256 colours, supports simple transparency and animation, and compresses without loss. JPG stores millions of colours with lossy compression and has no transparency or animation. Use JPG for photos and GIF only for short, simple animations; for still graphics, PNG has largely replaced GIF.
Here is the full comparison.
On this page
Key takeaways
- GIF is limited to 256 colours per frame; JPG supports millions.
- GIF supports animation and on/off transparency; JPG supports neither.
- JPG produces far smaller files for photos.
- For still graphics with transparency, PNG is usually better than GIF.
Steps shown in the video
- Click Choose GIF Files and select your GIF images
- Each file is listed with a preview and its size
- Click Convert to turn them into JPG files
- Download your JPGs (several come as one ZIP)
GIF vs JPG at a glance
| GIF | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | Up to 256 per frame | About 16.7 million |
| Compression | Lossless (LZW) | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes, on or off per pixel | No |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Best for | Short simple animations | Photos and complex images |
| Photo file size | Large, with banding | Small |
Why photos look worse as GIF
A photo contains thousands of shades. Squeezing them into 256 colours produces visible banding in skies and skin tones, or a dotted dither pattern. JPG keeps the smooth gradients and makes the file much smaller.
When GIF still makes sense
- Short looping animations, such as reactions or simple demos.
- Very simple graphics in places that only accept GIF.
- Legacy websites and email templates built around GIF.
For still logos and icons, GIF to PNG gives you more colours and smoother transparency at a similar size.
Converting between them
GIF to JPG saves each GIF as a full-size JPG with transparent areas on white; the step-by-step guide shows how. Animated GIFs keep only their first frame, as explained in GIF to JPG: transparency and animation.
Which format for common images?
| Image | Best format |
|---|---|
| Holiday photo | JPG |
| Company logo | SVG, or PNG |
| Short reaction animation | GIF, or video |
| Screenshot with text | PNG |
| Simple chart for a website | SVG or PNG |
GIF shows up mostly as legacy files today. When you find photos stored as GIF, converting them to JPG gives smaller files; for graphics, PNG keeps them crisp.
Converting between GIF and JPG
Going from GIF to JPG with GIF to JPG keeps the picture, fills transparent areas with white and keeps only the first frame of an animation. Going from JPG to GIF is rarely a good idea: squeezing a photo into 256 colours causes banding. For graphics that need transparency, convert to PNG instead with GIF to PNG.
GIF vs JPG: FAQ
Is GIF or JPG better quality?
For photos, JPG. GIF is limited to 256 colours, which causes banding in photos.
Which is smaller, GIF or JPG?
JPG, for photographs. For tiny flat graphics, GIF can be small too, but PNG usually beats it.
Can a JPG be animated?
No. Use GIF, or a video or animated WebP format.
Does JPG support transparency?
No. Transparent areas must be filled with a colour, usually white.
Should I use GIF for logos?
PNG is usually the better choice for still logos.
Why are old website images often GIFs?
In the early web, GIF was one of the few widely supported formats with transparency and animation.
Which format is better for a website photo?
JPG, or a modern format such as WebP. GIF is a poor choice for photos.
Can a GIF have millions of colours?
No. Each GIF frame is limited to a palette of 256 colours.
Should I convert my old GIF photos to JPG?
Usually yes. Photos stored as GIF are limited to 256 colours and tend to be large. Converting to JPG gives smaller files, though it cannot restore colours lost when the photo was first saved as GIF.
JPG for photos, GIF for simple motion
Pick JPG for photographs, PNG for still graphics, and GIF only when you need a short, simple animation.
