WebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Image Format to Use
WebP, JPG, or PNG? Honest comparison of quality, file size, transparency, and browser support — plus exactly when to pick each format.
By Formatly
The short answer
- Photos on the web → WebP. Smaller than JPG at the same quality, with transparency to boot.
- Photos for maximum compatibility → JPG. When the file might end up in old software, email clients, or print workflows.
- Logos, icons, graphics with text → PNG or WebP. PNG for guaranteed compatibility; WebP for smaller files.
Now the honest details.
Head-to-head comparison
| WebP | JPG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| File size (photo) | Smallest — ~25-35% smaller than JPG at equal quality | Medium | Largest — often 3-5x WebP |
| Quality | Excellent lossy and lossless modes | Good lossy only | Perfect lossless only |
| Transparency | Yes (alpha channel) | No | Yes (alpha channel) |
| Animation | Yes | No | No (APNG is separate) |
| Browser support | All modern browsers | Universal | Universal |
| Editing software support | Good, improving | Universal | Universal |
| Best for | Web photos, web graphics | Photos needing max compatibility | Graphics, screenshots, editing masters |
WebP: the modern default
Developed by Google, WebP was designed to replace all three formats for web use — and it largely succeeds. Its lossy mode beats JPG on size at equivalent quality, its lossless mode beats PNG, and it handles transparency and animation. The only reason it isn’t the answer to everything is compatibility outside the browser: some desktop apps, email clients, and print pipelines still expect JPG or PNG.
For anything that lives on a website, WebP should be your first choice. Converting is easy — Formatly’s WebP optimizer handles conversion and compression in one step, in your browser.
JPG: the compatibility king
JPG is nearly 35 years old and still the most universally understood image format on earth. Every device, every app, every printer speaks JPG. Its weakness is efficiency: it’s a lossy-only format with no transparency, and WebP beats it on file size in every test that matters.
Use JPG when the file will travel — email attachments, client deliverables, uploads to services with strict format requirements, or anything destined for print. For a closer look at the two legacy formats, see our JPG vs PNG guide.
PNG: the precision format
PNG is lossless, which makes it perfect for graphics with sharp edges — logos, screenshots, diagrams, text overlays — where JPG’s compression artifacts would be visible. The price is file size: a photographic PNG can be enormous.
On the web, consider WebP as a PNG replacement for graphics too; WebP’s lossless mode is typically 25%+ smaller. But keep PNG in your toolbox for editing masters and anywhere compatibility is non-negotiable.
How they compare to newer formats
WebP isn’t the newest format on the block — AVIF compresses even further, though with slower encoding and patchier tool support. If you’re curious how the next generation stacks up, our WebP vs AVIF vs JPG comparison goes deeper.
Converting between them
Whatever you start with, switching formats takes seconds with Formatly’s free image converter — JPG to WebP, PNG to WebP, WebP to JPG, all processed locally in your browser with nothing uploaded. Pair it with the WebP optimizer when file size is the goal.
The decision cheat sheet
- Putting a photo on a website? WebP.
- Sending a photo to someone or printing it? JPG.
- Saving a logo, screenshot, or graphic? PNG (or WebP if it’s for the web).
- Unsure? WebP for web, JPG for everything else.
Pick the format for the job, not out of habit — and you’ll get faster pages and smaller files without thinking twice.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, WebP or JPG?
WebP, in most cases. It matches JPG's visual quality at roughly 25-35% smaller file sizes and supports transparency. JPG's only real advantage is universal compatibility with very old software.
When should I use PNG instead of WebP?
Use PNG for graphics where you need guaranteed compatibility — like files you'll edit in older desktop software — or when maximum simplicity matters. For the web, WebP usually replaces PNG at smaller sizes.
Does WebP support transparency?
Yes. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression with full alpha-channel transparency, so it can do everything PNG does at a fraction of the file size.
Do all browsers support WebP?
All modern browsers do — Chrome, Firefox, Safari (14+), and Edge. Only very old browsers lack support; the HTML picture element lets you serve a JPG fallback to those.
Should I convert all my JPGs to WebP?
For web use, yes — it's one of the easiest performance wins available. Keep your original JPGs archived as masters, and serve WebP versions on your site.