TIFF vs JPG: what's the difference?
Short answer: TIFF is for scanning, printing and archiving at full quality; JPG is for sharing. Convert TIFF to JPG before you email or upload.
| TIFF | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tagged Image File Format | JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) |
| File extensions | .tif, .tiff | .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe |
| MIME type | image/tiff | image/jpeg |
| Introduced | 1986 | 1992 |
| Compression | None, LZW, Deflate or JPEG | Lossy |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | No (multi-page) | No |
| Typical file size | Very large | Small |
| Best for | scanning, professional printing, publishing and archiving | photographs, social media uploads and email attachments |
| Compatibility | Printers, scanners and pro editors; browsers (except Safari), phones and websites can't open it | Universal: every browser, phone, camera and image editor |
File size
An uncompressed TIFF can be 10-20 times bigger than a high-quality JPG of the same image.
Image quality
TIFF can be lossless and store 16-bit colour and multiple pages; JPG is lossy 8-bit.
Transparency and animation
TIFF: transparency yes, animation no (multi-page). JPG: transparency no, animation no.
Compatibility
TIFF: Printers, scanners and pro editors; browsers (except Safari), phones and websites can't open it.
JPG: Universal: every browser, phone, camera and image editor.
When to use TIFF
- Professional printing and publishing
- Archiving scans
- Multi-page scanned documents
When to use JPG
- Email, web and social media
- Phones and tablets
- Upload forms
Convert between TIFF and JPG
Frequently asked questions
Is TIFF better than JPG?
TIFF is for scanning, printing and archiving at full quality; JPG is for sharing. Convert TIFF to JPG before you email or upload.
Which is smaller, TIFF or JPG?
An uncompressed TIFF can be 10-20 times bigger than a high-quality JPG of the same image.
Which has better quality, TIFF or JPG?
TIFF can be lossless and store 16-bit colour and multiple pages; JPG is lossy 8-bit.
How do I convert TIFF to JPG?
Open the free TIFF to JPG converter, add your files and download the results. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.