WebP vs JPEG vs PNG: which image format should you use?

When you save an image for a website, you usually pick from three formats: WebP, JPEG, or PNG. Choosing the wrong one means bigger files, slower pages, or images that look worse than they should. Choosing the right one is simple once you know what each format is good at.

Here is the short version, followed by the detail.

The quick answer

• Photographs and most website images → WebP, with JPEG as a fallback.
• Graphics that need a transparent background (logos, icons, screenshots with see-through edges) → WebP or PNG.
• Pixel-perfect graphics with sharp edges and flat color → PNG, or WebP.

For the majority of images on a typical site, WebP is the best default.

How the three formats differ

JPEG — the old reliable

JPEG (sometimes written JPG) has been the standard for photos for decades. It uses lossy compression, meaning it discards some detail to shrink the file. At sensible quality settings the loss is invisible, and JPEG is supported literally everywhere.

• Best for: photographs, and maximum compatibility with old software.
• Weakness: no transparency, and larger files than WebP at the same quality.

PNG — sharp and lossless

PNG uses lossless compression: it never throws detail away, so the image is pixel-perfect. It also supports transparency. The trade-off is file size — PNG photos are usually much heavier than JPEG or WebP.

• Best for: logos, icons, line art, screenshots, and anything needing a transparent background or crisp edges.
• Weakness: big files when used for photographs.

WebP — the modern all-rounder

WebP is a newer format designed for the web. It supports both lossy and lossless modes and transparency, and it is typically 25–35% smaller than JPEG at the same visual quality. Every modern browser supports it.

• Best for: almost everything — photos, graphics, and transparent images.
• Weakness: very old software outside the browser may not open it.

A side-by-side comparison

	JPEG	PNG	WebP
Compression	Lossy	Lossless	Lossy and lossless
Transparency	No	Yes	Yes
Typical file size	Medium	Large	Smallest
Best for	Photos	Graphics, transparency	Almost everything
Browser support	Universal	Universal	All modern browsers

Common situations

A photo for a blog post or hero banner. Use WebP. It will be noticeably smaller than the same JPEG with no visible quality difference.

A company logo with a transparent background. Use WebP for the smallest file, or PNG if you need it to open in older desktop programs.

A screenshot of an app. PNG keeps text and edges razor-sharp. WebP lossless does the same with a smaller file.

An image for an email or a very old system. Use JPEG (for photos) or PNG (for graphics) for the widest compatibility.

What about quality settings?

For the lossy formats (JPEG and WebP), you choose a quality level. A few rules of thumb:

• 75–85 is the sweet spot for photos — small files, no visible loss.
• Below ~60, you start to see blocky artifacts in detailed areas.
• PNG has no quality slider because it is lossless; if a PNG is too big, converting it to WebP is usually the fix.

How to convert between formats

You do not need desktop software to switch formats. A browser-based tool converts locally, so your image never leaves your device.

The most common move is turning a heavy JPG or PNG into a lean WebP. Use the free tool to convert an image to WebP — upload, choose a quality, and download a smaller file.

If you also want to crop or resize at the same time, the full image optimizer does format conversion, cropping, and compression in one step, with a live file-size preview.

The bottom line

Default to WebP for nearly everything: it gives you the smallest files without sacrificing quality, and modern browsers all support it. Reach for PNG when you need perfect edges or transparency in older programs, and keep JPEG for photos that must work with maximum compatibility. Pick the format to match the job, and your pages stay light and sharp.