WebP was developed by Google to solve a specific problem: delivering high-quality images at smaller file sizes for the web. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, plus alpha transparency and animation — essentially combining the best features of JPG and PNG into a single format. But does it actually replace both?
Format overview
JPG has been the web's default photograph format since the 1990s. It uses lossy DCT compression, produces small files from complex images, and is supported by literally every image viewer, browser, and device ever made. Its weaknesses are no transparency support and generational quality loss when re-saving.
PNG was created as a patent-free replacement for GIF. It offers lossless compression and full alpha transparency, making it ideal for logos, icons, and screenshots. The downside is large file sizes for photographic content — a PNG photograph can be 5–10x larger than the same image as JPG.
WebP supports lossy compression (like JPG), lossless compression (like PNG), transparency, and animation. In lossy mode it typically produces files 25–35% smaller than JPG at equivalent visual quality. In lossless mode it outperforms PNG by 20–30% in file size.
Browser and tool support
As of 2026, WebP is supported by all major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Most modern image editing tools also handle WebP natively. The main gap is older software — some legacy applications and email clients still do not render WebP files. If you are sending images to recipients who might use outdated tools, JPG remains the safest universal format.
Practical recommendations
- Web photos and hero images: Use WebP for the best compression. Provide JPG as a fallback for older browsers if needed.
- Logos and icons with transparency: Use WebP (lossless) or PNG. Avoid JPG since it cannot handle transparency.
- Photographs for download/print: JPG at 85–95% quality is still the most compatible choice.
- Screenshots: PNG preserves text clarity. WebP lossless works too, but PNG has wider tool support for annotations.
- Email attachments: JPG for photos, PNG for graphics. Some email clients still struggle with WebP.
File size comparison
For a typical 1920×1080 photograph at high quality: JPG (85%) is roughly 300 KB, WebP (lossy, equivalent quality) is about 200 KB, and PNG is approximately 2 MB. For a simple logo with transparency: WebP (lossless) is about 8 KB, PNG is 12 KB, and JPG (which loses the transparency) is 15 KB but the background is filled in.
The format you choose depends on your audience and use case. WebP gives you the best technical performance in most web scenarios, but JPG and PNG remain relevant for compatibility, editing workflows, and print production.