JPG vs TIFF
How do JPG and TIFFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.jpg
Full guide →Joint Photographic Experts Group
JPG (also known as JPEG) is the most widely used image format for photographs and complex images. It uses lossy compression to significantly reduce file size while maintaining acceptable visual quality.
.tiff
Full guide →Tagged Image File Format
TIFF is a flexible, high-quality image format widely used in publishing, photography, and archival. It supports lossless compression, multiple layers, and high bit depths, making it the standard for professional imaging.
| Specification | JPG | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joint Photographic Experts Group | Tagged Image File Format |
| Extension | .jpg | .tiff |
| MIME type | image/jpeg | image/tiff |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | Joint Photographic Experts Group | Aldus Corporation (now Adobe) |
| Year introduced | 1992 | 1986 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
JPG advantages
- Very small file sizes for photographs
- Universally supported everywhere
- Adjustable compression quality
- Ideal for web and email sharing
JPG limitations
- Lossy compression — quality degrades with each save
- No transparency support
- Not suitable for text or sharp-edge graphics
- Artifacts visible at high compression
TIFF advantages
- Lossless quality — industry standard for print
- Supports layers, pages, and metadata
- High bit depth (up to 64-bit)
- Flexible compression options
TIFF limitations
- Very large file sizes
- Not supported in web browsers
- Complex format with many variations
- Slow to process compared to simpler formats
Which should you use?
Choose JPG for smaller file sizes, especially for photos and web content. Choose TIFF when you need lossless quality, transparency, or pixel-perfect output.
Best uses for JPG
Best uses for TIFF
Convert between JPG and TIFF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.