GuideImage
WebP vs PNG vs JPG: which image format to use, and when
WebP vs PNG vs JPG compared: file size, quality, transparency, animation and browser support. Google measured WebP 25–34% smaller than JPG.
By xtoolsloops · Published
Quick answer
Last updated
Is WebP better than PNG and JPG?
For websites, usually yes. Google measured lossy WebP files 25–34% smaller than JPGs of the same quality and lossless WebP 26% smaller than PNGs, and WebP also handles transparency and animation. Keep JPG for sharing and printing, and PNG for editing masters or apps that cannot open WebP.
Three formats cover almost every image on the web. Picking the right one can halve your page weight without anyone noticing a difference.
The short comparison
| WebP | JPG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossy | Lossless |
| File size | Smallest | Small | Largest |
| Transparency | Yes | No | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No | Only as APNG |
| Browser support | All current browsers | Universal | Universal |
| Opens in every app | Most, not all | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Websites and apps | Photos you share or print | Editing masters, screenshots, crisp graphics |
How much smaller is WebP?
Google’s own study found:
- Lossy WebP is 25–34% smaller than JPG at the same visual quality.
- Lossless WebP is 26% smaller than PNG.
In practice the saving depends on the image. Big phone photos and uncompressed PNG screenshots shrink the most; small, already-optimised JPGs barely change.
When to use each
Use WebP when the image is going on a website, a web app or an online store. Smaller files load faster, which helps Largest Contentful Paint, and PageSpeed Insights stops flagging “Serve images in modern formats”.
Use JPG when you are emailing a photo, uploading somewhere that rejects WebP, or sending files to print.
Use PNG when you need a lossless master to keep editing, or a screenshot with small text that must stay pixel-sharp in apps that do not read WebP.
Quality settings that work
| Image | WebP quality |
|---|---|
| Photos | 75–85 |
| Product shots on white | 80–90 |
| Screenshots and text | 90+ or lossless |
| Logos and icons | Lossless |
Convert in your browser
The free image to WebP converter turns JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, AVIF and SVG files into WebP, up to 50 at a time, and shows exactly how many KB you saved per image. It runs on your device, so nothing is uploaded. Step-by-step instructions are in how to convert JPG and PNG to WebP, and if you need to go the other way, see how to convert WebP to JPG.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Does converting JPG to WebP lose quality?
Lossy WebP re-compresses the image, so a tiny amount of detail goes. At quality 75 to 85 it is invisible at normal viewing sizes. Converting from the original photo, not an already-squashed JPG, gives the best result.
Is WebP or PNG better for logos?
Lossless WebP gives you the same sharp edges and transparency as PNG in a smaller file. Keep a PNG or SVG master for editing, and serve WebP on your site.
Can every browser show WebP?
Every current one can: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Samsung Internet and Safari 14 and later. Some older desktop software, email clients and print services still prefer JPG or PNG.
What about AVIF?
AVIF often compresses even smaller than WebP but encodes more slowly, and a few older browsers and apps still cannot open it. WebP is the safer default today; AVIF is worth testing for large photo-heavy pages.
Is WebP good for printing?
Not really. Many print services and older design apps want JPG, PNG or TIFF. Convert back with a WebP to JPG converter before sending files to print.
How big is the WebP size limit?
A single WebP image can be at most 16,383 × 16,383 pixels. JPG allows 65,535 on a side and PNG far more, so very large panoramas may need to stay in those formats.
Try the Image to WebP Converter
Convert JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, AVIF and SVG images to WebP (or JPG/PNG) with adjustable quality and resizing. Batch up to 50 files and download a ZIP. Free, and images never leave your device.
Open the Image to WebP ConverterSources
- Google for Developers: An image format for the Web (WebP)
- Google for Developers: WebP compression study
- Can I use: WebP image format
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