WebP vs JPEG vs PNG: Image Compression Compared

Choosing the right image format can cut your page weight in half — or double it if you choose wrong. JPEG, PNG, and WebP each solve different problems, and understanding the trade-offs saves bandwidth, improves load times, and keeps your images looking sharp.

This guide compares all three formats with real compression benchmarks, quality analysis at different settings, and clear guidance on when to use each one.

Format Overview

JPEG (1992)

JPEG has been the default photograph format for over three decades. Developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, it uses lossy compression that discards image data the human eye is unlikely to notice. JPEG excels at compressing photographs with complex color gradients and fine detail.

Strengths: Small file sizes for photos, universal support, adjustable quality levels. Weaknesses: No transparency, no animation, visible artifacts at high compression, quality degrades with each re-save.

PNG (1996)

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was created as a patent-free replacement for GIF. It uses lossless compression, meaning every pixel is preserved exactly. PNG is the standard for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image requiring transparency.

Strengths: Lossless quality, full alpha transparency, crisp edges on text and graphics. Weaknesses: Large file sizes for photographs, no native animation (APNG exists but has limited adoption).

WebP (2010)

Google developed WebP to replace both JPEG and PNG with a single, more efficient format. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, plus transparency and animation. It consistently delivers smaller files than JPEG and PNG at equivalent visual quality.

Strengths: Smaller than JPEG and PNG, supports transparency and animation, both lossy and lossless modes. Weaknesses: Slightly slower to encode than JPEG, not supported by some legacy software (though browser support is now excellent).

Compression Benchmarks

The following benchmarks compare typical file sizes across formats for common web image scenarios. All measurements use equivalent visual quality settings.

Feature	JPEG	PNG	WebP (Lossy)	WebP (Lossless)
Typical photo compression ratio	10:1 to 20:1	2:1 to 3:1	15:1 to 25:1	3:1 to 4:1
Transparency support	No	Yes (alpha)	Yes (alpha)	Yes (alpha)
Animation support	No	Limited (APNG)	Yes	Yes
Browser support (2026)	100%	100%	97%+	97%+
Max color depth	24-bit (16.7M colors)	48-bit (281T colors)	24-bit (16.7M colors)	24-bit (16.7M colors)
Compression type	Lossy only	Lossless only	Lossy	Lossless

Real-World File Size Comparison

Here is what typical web images look like across formats at equivalent visual quality:

Image Type	JPEG	PNG	WebP	WebP Savings vs. JPEG
Photo (1920x1080)	250 KB	2.5 MB	175 KB	30% smaller
Photo (800x600)	85 KB	900 KB	55 KB	35% smaller
Screenshot (1200x800)	180 KB	350 KB	120 KB	33% smaller
Logo with transparency	N/A	45 KB	28 KB	N/A (vs. PNG: 38% smaller)
Product photo (800x800)	120 KB	1.2 MB	80 KB	33% smaller

Key takeaway: A 5 MB JPEG photograph typically becomes a 3.2-3.5 MB WebP at equivalent quality. For web-sized images already compressed to reasonable quality, WebP delivers 25-35% savings over JPEG and 60-80% savings over PNG for photographs.

Quality Comparison at Different Settings

Compression quality settings behave differently across formats. Here is what to expect at each level.

Quality 90 (High)

• JPEG at 90: Virtually indistinguishable from the original. File sizes are relatively large but acceptable for hero images. Minor artifacts may appear under extreme magnification but are invisible at normal viewing.
• PNG: Not applicable — PNG is always lossless. File size remains the same regardless.
• WebP at 90: Equivalent to JPEG 90 in perceived quality, but 20-30% smaller in file size. An excellent choice for hero banners and product images where quality is a priority.

Quality 75 (Medium-High)

• JPEG at 75: The sweet spot for most web images. Slight softening in fine details, but imperceptible at normal display sizes. Good for blog images, content photos, and product listings.
• WebP at 75: Matches JPEG 80-85 in perceived quality at the same file size as JPEG 75. This is the “default” setting for general web use. WebP’s compression algorithm preserves edges and contrast better than JPEG at this level.

Quality 50 (Aggressive)

• JPEG at 50: Visible artifacts appear, especially in smooth gradients (sky, skin tones) and around high-contrast edges. Block patterns become noticeable. Acceptable only for thumbnails or images where file size is critical.
• WebP at 50: Noticeably better than JPEG 50. Fewer blocking artifacts and better gradient preservation. Roughly equivalent to JPEG 60-65 in visual quality. Still usable for medium-sized content images where bandwidth is constrained.

Rule of thumb: WebP at quality N looks approximately as good as JPEG at quality N+10. So WebP 70 roughly matches JPEG 80 in perceived quality, at a significantly smaller file size.

Browser Support in 2026

Format support is no longer a practical barrier for any of these three formats:

• JPEG: Universal support across every browser, email client, and application ever built. The most compatible image format in existence.
• PNG: Universal support. Every browser and platform handles PNG without issue.
• WebP: Over 97% global browser support as of January 2026. Chrome, Firefox, Safari (14+), Edge, and Opera all support WebP. The only gaps are Internet Explorer (discontinued) and very old Safari versions.

What About AVIF?

AVIF is an emerging format based on the AV1 video codec. It offers 20% smaller files than WebP at equivalent quality, but encoding is significantly slower. Browser support stands at roughly 92% globally (Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16+, Edge). For a detailed comparison, see our HEIF and AVIF format guide.

AVIF is worth adopting as a progressive enhancement alongside WebP fallbacks, but WebP remains the safest “modern default” for broad compatibility.

When to Use Each Format

Use JPEG When

• Serving photographs to audiences that may include legacy systems
• Maximum compatibility is more important than optimal file size
• Your CMS or platform does not support WebP output
• Generating images in real-time where encoding speed matters (JPEG encodes faster than WebP)

Use PNG When

• The image requires transparency (logos, icons, overlays) and you cannot use WebP
• The image contains sharp text, line art, or technical diagrams where lossy compression causes visible artifacts
• You need pixel-perfect reproduction (screenshots, UI mockups)
• The image will be edited again later and you want to avoid generational quality loss

Use WebP When

• Delivering images on the modern web (97%+ browser support makes it safe for nearly all audiences)
• You want the smallest file sizes without sacrificing quality
• You need a single format that handles both photos and graphics with transparency
• Optimizing for page speed and Core Web Vitals scores

Decision Flowchart

1. Does the image need transparency?
   • Yes, and browser support matters broadly —> WebP (or PNG as fallback)
   • Yes, for legacy/print contexts —> PNG
   • No —> Continue
2. Is the image a photograph or complex illustration?
   • Yes —> WebP for web delivery, JPEG as fallback
   • No (it is a logo, icon, or screenshot with text) —> PNG or WebP lossless
3. Is maximum compatibility required?
   • Yes —> JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics
   • No —> WebP for everything

AVIF: The Next Contender

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) represents the next step in web image compression. Developed by the Alliance for Open Media — a group that includes Google, Mozilla, Apple, and Microsoft — AVIF is royalty-free and delivers roughly 50% smaller files than JPEG at equivalent quality.

Key advantages over WebP:

• 20% better compression efficiency
• HDR and wide color gamut support
• Better gradient handling (fewer banding artifacts)

Key limitations:

• Encoding is 10-100x slower than JPEG or WebP
• Browser support at ~92% is good but not yet WebP-level
• Some CMS platforms and image editors still lack full support

For a deep dive into AVIF capabilities and implementation strategies, read our AVIF image compression guide and the HEIF vs AVIF comparison.

Converting Between Formats

Switching formats is one of the fastest ways to reduce image file sizes. Use BulkImagePro’s converter to batch-convert images between formats directly in your browser.

Popular conversion paths:

• PNG to WebP — Reduce PNG file sizes by 60-80% for photos, 25-40% for graphics
• JPEG to WebP — Save an additional 25-35% over already-compressed JPEGs
• WebP to JPEG — Convert back to JPEG when you need maximum compatibility
• WebP to PNG — Extract lossless versions for editing workflows

For a broader overview of image formats and their use cases, see our guides on common image file formats and image formats for the web.

Batch conversion workflow:

1. Select up to 50 images in BulkImagePro’s converter
2. Choose your target format (WebP recommended for web delivery)
3. Set quality and optional maximum dimensions
4. Download the converted batch as a ZIP

Processing happens entirely in your browser. No images are uploaded to external servers.

FAQ

Is WebP better than JPEG?

For web delivery, yes. WebP produces files 25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent visual quality, and it supports transparency. With 97%+ browser support in 2026, WebP is the better default for nearly all web images. JPEG remains useful for maximum compatibility with legacy systems and email clients.

Does converting PNG to WebP lose quality?

It depends on the mode. WebP lossless conversion preserves every pixel while still reducing file size by 25-35% compared to PNG. WebP lossy conversion produces even smaller files but discards some data. For photographs stored as PNG, lossy WebP at quality 80-85 is visually identical and dramatically smaller.

Can I use WebP everywhere in 2026?

For websites, effectively yes. Over 97% of browsers support WebP, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari 14+, and Edge. The only notable gaps are Internet Explorer (discontinued by Microsoft) and Safari versions before 14. For email, JPEG and PNG remain safer choices since email client support for WebP varies.

What is the best image format for website speed?

WebP offers the best balance of file size, quality, and browser support for web speed. AVIF is even smaller but has slower encoding and slightly less browser coverage. For the fastest possible load times, serve AVIF with WebP fallback using the HTML picture element, and JPEG as a final fallback for older browsers.

Why are PNG files so much larger than JPEG?

PNG uses lossless compression, which preserves every pixel exactly. JPEG uses lossy compression, which discards data the human eye is unlikely to notice. For photographs, this difference is dramatic: a PNG photo might be 2.5 MB while the equivalent JPEG is 250 KB. PNG's advantage is perfect quality and transparency support, which is why it remains the standard for logos, icons, and screenshots.

Should I convert all my JPEG images to WebP?

For web delivery, converting to WebP is worthwhile. You will save 25-35% in file sizes with no visible quality loss. However, keep your original JPEG files as source copies. Converting from one lossy format to another introduces a small amount of additional quality loss, so always convert from the highest-quality source available.

What quality setting should I use for WebP images?

For most web images, WebP quality 75-80 provides an excellent balance of file size and visual quality. Use 80-90 for hero images and product photos where quality is critical. Use 65-75 for blog content images and thumbnails. Below 60, artifacts may become visible on detailed photographs.

---

Ready to optimize your images? Try BulkImagePro’s free compressor to batch-compress images in any format, or use the format converter to switch between WebP, JPEG, and PNG. No signup required.

For a complete walkthrough of compression methods and settings, see our image compression guide.