WebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
WebP is Google's modern image format, and it beats JPG and PNG on file size. But smaller is not always better — each format has a job it does best. Here is the honest comparison, so you can pick the right one instead of guessing.
The three formats at a glance
JPG is the old workhorse for photographs. It is lossy, which means it throws away fine detail to keep files small, and every browser and app on earth opens it. It cannot do transparency.
PNG is lossless: it keeps every pixel exactly. It supports transparency, which makes it the format for logos, icons and screenshots. But its files are large, especially for photographs.
WebP does both jobs. It has a lossy mode that is typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG at the same quality, and a lossless mode with transparency that is usually smaller than PNG. Every modern browser supports it.
When to use each one
- Photographs on a website: WebP if you can, JPG if you need maximum compatibility.
- Logos and icons: PNG for the transparent original; WebP for the web version.
- Screenshots: PNG for the original, WebP to share it.
- Anything that must open everywhere: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics.
How to convert between them
Converting is free and takes seconds in your browser. Use the JPG to WebP converter to shrink a photo, the PNG to WebP converter for a graphic, or the WebP to PNG converter when you need a format every app accepts. Your files never leave your device.
The one catch with WebP
Some older apps — a few desktop editors, older phones, some upload forms — still do not accept WebP. If a site or an app rejects your file, convert it back to JPG or PNG. The conversion is lossless enough that you will not notice a difference.