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WebP vs PNG vs JPEG: Complete Comparison
Choose the right image format for your website and understand the trade-offs between WebP, PNG, and JPEG.
Quick Decision Guide
Use WebP For:
- ✓ Modern web applications
- ✓ Mobile-first designs
- ✓ Fastest loading times
- ✓ Photos with transparency
- ✓ E-commerce product images
Use PNG For:
- ✓ Logos and brand assets
- ✓ Screenshots
- ✓ Graphics with transparency
- ✓ Perfect quality required
- ✓ Legacy browser support
Use JPEG For:
- ✓ Photographs
- ✓ Universal compatibility
- ✓ Email attachments
- ✓ Social media posts
- ✓ Print materials
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | WebP | PNG | JPEG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression Type | Lossy & Lossless | Lossless only | Lossy only |
| Transparency Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Animation Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ (APNG) | ✗ No |
| Browser Support | 97%+ (modern) | 100% (universal) | 100% (universal) |
| Best For | Modern web apps | Graphics & logos | Photographs |
| Photo File Size | Smallest (25-35% better) | Largest | Medium |
| Graphics File Size | Smallest | Small | Medium-Large |
| Quality Degradation | Minimal (adjustable) | None | Yes (re-saves compound) |
| Metadata Support | Limited | Extensive | Extensive (EXIF) |
File Size Comparison
Real-world example using a 2000×1500px photograph:
- Original: 8.5 MB uncompressed
- WebP (quality 85): ~320 KB (96% smaller)
- JPEG (quality 85): ~480 KB (94% smaller)
- PNG (optimized): ~3.2 MB (62% smaller)
WebP provides 33% better compression than JPEG for the same visual quality.
When to Use Each Format
Choose WebP When:
- Building modern web applications targeting current browsers
- Page speed and Core Web Vitals are critical
- You need the best compression for photos with or without transparency
- Mobile bandwidth is a concern
- You can implement fallbacks for older browsers
Choose PNG When:
- You need perfect, lossless quality (logos, diagrams, screenshots)
- Images contain text or sharp edges
- Transparency is required and you need universal support
- You're creating images for print or professional use
- The image will be edited multiple times
Choose JPEG When:
- You need maximum browser compatibility (100%)
- Images are photographs without transparency
- Sharing images via email or messaging apps
- Creating content for social media platforms
- Legacy system requirements
Migration Strategy: Moving to WebP
If you're considering switching to WebP, here's a safe migration path:
- Assess Browser Support: Check your analytics to see what % of users support WebP
- Use Picture Element: Implement WebP with JPEG/PNG fallbacks using
<picture> - Test Performance: Measure actual loading time improvements
- Gradual Rollout: Start with hero images and high-traffic pages
- Monitor: Track user experience metrics and error rates
Browser Support Details
WebP Support (97%+):
- Chrome: Since version 23 (2012)
- Firefox: Since version 65 (2019)
- Edge: Since version 18 (2018)
- Safari: Since version 14 (2020)
- iOS Safari: Since iOS 14 (2020)
- Android Browser: Since version 5.0 (2014)
Implementation Example
Use the <picture> element to serve WebP with fallbacks:
<!-- Responsive WebP with fallbacks -->
<picture>
<source
srcset="hero-800w.webp 800w, hero-1200w.webp 1200w"
type="image/webp"
sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 1200px">
<source
srcset="hero-800w.jpg 800w, hero-1200w.jpg 1200w"
type="image/jpeg"
sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 1200px">
<img
src="hero-1200w.jpg"
alt="Hero image description"
loading="lazy">
</picture>Compress All Formats
Try our free compression tools for all three formats. Compress WebP, PNG, and JPEG images online with up to 80% size reduction.