WebP vs JPEG vs PNG: Best Image Format for 2025

Images are at the heart of the modern web. Whether you’re designing a product gallery, a blog post thumbnail, or a mobile app interface, visual content defines user experience. But high-quality images also come at a cost, larger file sizes, slower loading times, and increased bandwidth usage.

For years, web developers and designers relied on JPEG and PNG as their primary image formats. They were dependable, familiar, and widely supported. But as websites grew richer and devices more diverse, these older formats started to show their limits.

Then came WebP, a modern image format developed by Google, promising to deliver smaller file sizes without losing visual quality. In 2025, the debate continues: WebP vs. JPEG vs. PNG, which format should you use?

This article breaks down everything you need to know, comparing the three formats in terms of compression, quality, transparency, animation, browser support, and performance, so you can make the right choice for your projects.

A Brief History of Image Formats

Before diving into the comparison, it helps to understand where each format came from and why it exists.

JPEG: The Veteran of Digital Imaging

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) was introduced in 1992 as a standard for compressing photographic images. It quickly became the go-to format for digital cameras and web photos. Its main advantage was lossy compression, which dramatically reduced file sizes by discarding some image data that the human eye is less likely to notice.

However, JPEG wasn’t designed for transparency or sharp-edged graphics. It’s perfect for photos, but not for logos, icons, or illustrations that need clean edges or transparent backgrounds.

PNG: The High-Fidelity Successor

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was created in 1996 as an open replacement for GIF. It introduced lossless compression, meaning no data is lost when the image is saved. PNG supports transparency (alpha channels) and is excellent for crisp graphics, text overlays, and interface elements.

The trade-off? PNG files are often much larger than JPEGs, especially for photographs or gradient-rich visuals.

WebP: Google’s Modern Solution

WebP is the new generation in this trio. Released by Google in 2010 and powered by the LibWebP library, it was built to unify the best features of both JPEG and PNG. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency, and even animation, all in one format.

In short, WebP was designed for a faster web. It provides smaller file sizes, improved efficiency, and visual quality that rivals or exceeds older formats.

How Each Format Compresses Images

Compression is the key to image performance. Let’s explore how each format handles it.

JPEG Compression

JPEG uses lossy compression, based on a mathematical transformation called the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). It divides an image into small blocks, analyzes color frequencies, and removes details the eye won’t easily detect.

This leads to significant size reductions, often 60–80% smaller than raw bitmaps, but the trade-off is permanent data loss. Over-compression can cause visible artifacts such as blockiness, color banding, or blurriness.

Still, JPEG remains ideal for photographs with complex color gradients and textures, where slight losses are imperceptible.

PNG Compression

PNG uses lossless compression, preserving every pixel exactly as it was. It uses a method called Deflate, the same algorithm behind ZIP files, to reduce redundancy without removing data.

This makes PNG ideal for images that require exact reproduction, logos, text graphics, and UI elements. But for photos, PNG’s file sizes can balloon, sometimes five times larger than JPEG equivalents.

WebP Compression

WebP uses advanced compression derived from Google’s VP8 video codec, implemented via LibWebP. It can operate in both lossy and lossless modes.

In lossy mode, WebP uses predictive coding, similar to JPEG’s approach but more efficient. It predicts pixel values based on neighboring pixels, then encodes only the differences.

In lossless mode, it uses pattern matching, color caching, and entropy coding to find compact representations of image data.

The result is a format that can deliver images 25–35% smaller than JPEG and 20–25% smaller than PNG, with minimal or no visible quality loss.

Comparing Image Quality

Image quality is where the human eye often decides which format “looks better.”

JPEG Quality

JPEG images can look great at medium-to-high quality levels (usually 70–90%). But pushing compression too far quickly leads to visible degradation, especially in areas with sharp edges or text. Repeatedly saving a JPEG compounds this effect, as each save discards more data.

PNG Quality

PNG preserves exact detail. Text, icons, and graphics appear razor-sharp, with perfect color transitions. However, this perfection comes at the cost of larger files, especially in photographic content.

WebP Quality

WebP strikes a strong balance. At the same perceived quality level, a WebP image is significantly smaller than a JPEG or PNG. Its lossy mode retains natural gradients and soft edges without visible compression artifacts, while its lossless mode reproduces every pixel faithfully, just like PNG, but with better efficiency.

In visual comparisons, most users cannot distinguish between a WebP (quality 80) and a JPEG (quality 90), yet the WebP file may be 30% lighter.

Transparency and Alpha Channels

Transparency is critical for modern web design. Logos, overlays, and UI icons often need to blend seamlessly with various backgrounds.

JPEG does not support transparency. Any transparent region must be filled with a solid background color before saving.

PNG supports full alpha transparency, including semi-transparent pixels. This makes it the go-to for web graphics.

WebP supports transparency in both lossy and lossless modes, offering PNG-quality transparency at a fraction of the size.

In practice, WebP has become the new standard for transparent assets because it eliminates the need for large PNGs.

Animation Support

Animation has become a central part of modern web experiences, from loading indicators to product previews.

JPEG: No animation support.

PNG: Standard PNG does not support animation, though APNG (Animated PNG) exists as an extension.

WebP: Full animation support is built in. It allows smooth, high-color, and transparent animations that are 60–80% smaller than GIFs and more efficient than APNGs.

Because of this, many websites have replaced GIFs with animated WebP files to improve performance without sacrificing creativity.

File Size Comparison

Let’s look at typical compression results when the same image is saved in different formats.

Image Type	JPEG (Quality 85)	PNG	WebP (Lossy 80)	WebP (Lossless)
Photograph (landscape)	350 KB	1.2 MB	250 KB	900 KB
Logo with transparency	N/A	600 KB	180 KB	300 KB
Illustration	400 KB	850 KB	280 KB	320 KB

In almost every case, WebP offers smaller file sizes without sacrificing visible quality. This translates to faster load times, reduced server storage, and lower data usage, especially important for mobile users.

Browser and Platform Support

One of the biggest hurdles WebP faced in its early years was limited support. That’s no longer the case.

As of 2025, WebP is supported by all major browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. It’s also compatible with Android and iOS.

On the software side, tools like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, ImageMagick, Figma, and Canva natively handle WebP. Content management systems such as WordPress, Shopify, and Drupal use WebP automatically in image optimization workflows.

JPEG and PNG, of course, enjoy universal support across all devices and decades of legacy compatibility. For mission-critical backward compatibility, for example, emails or offline software, JPEG and PNG still have an edge. But for modern web applications, WebP is the clear choice.

Performance and SEO Impact

Website performance is directly tied to user experience and SEO. Google’s own studies show that even a one-second delay in page load can reduce conversions by 20%.

Images typically account for 50 – 70% of total page weight, meaning optimizing them can drastically improve performance.

Switching from JPEG and PNG to WebP can reduce overall page size by 25–35%, improving:

Loading speed: Faster page rendering.
Core Web Vitals: Better LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) and CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) scores.
SEO rankings: Google rewards faster websites.

User engagement: Lower bounce rates and higher retention.

That’s why Google, Amazon, and countless high-traffic platforms have adopted WebP as their standard image format across devices and regions.

Developer Workflow and Integration

From a developer’s perspective, adopting WebP is easier than ever. Google’s LibWebP provides command-line tools like cwebp and dwebp for encoding and decoding images. Popular libraries such as Sharp (Node.js) or Pillow (Python) include WebP support by default.

Most content delivery networks (CDNs), including Cloudflare, Akamai, and ImageKit, automatically serve WebP versions of images to compatible browsers. This means developers can integrate WebP optimization seamlessly without manually creating multiple versions.

However, developers targeting older systems or legacy browsers can still provide fallback formats using HTML’s <picture> element:

</picture>

This ensures backward compatibility while still taking advantage of WebP’s performance benefits where supported.

When to Use JPEG, PNG, or WebP in 2025

Choosing the right format depends on what kind of image you’re dealing with and where it will be used. Let’s look at practical use cases.

Use JPEG When:

You’re dealing with photographs or complex, colorful images.
File size matters, but universal compatibility is a must (e.g., email campaigns or old browsers).
Slight compression artifacts are acceptable.

Use PNG When:

You need pixel-perfect quality with no data loss.
The image includes transparency, text, or icons with sharp edges.
The file will be reused or edited frequently (PNG doesn’t degrade like JPEG).

Use WebP When:

You want the best overall balance of size, quality, and compatibility.
The site or app targets modern browsers.
You need transparency or animation without bloated file sizes.
You’re optimizing for speed, SEO, and bandwidth savings.

In 2025, the rule of thumb is simple: use WebP wherever possible, fall back to JPEG or PNG only when compatibility absolutely requires it.

The Future: Beyond WebP

While WebP dominates in 2025, the world of image compression is still evolving. Google is developing WebP 2, aiming for even better compression and HDR (high dynamic range) support. Meanwhile, the AVIF format, based on the AV1 video codec, promises even smaller files than WebP, though it’s slower to encode and not yet as widely supported.

Still, WebP remains the most practical modern choice, fast, efficient, and widely compatible. It’s the format that bridges old and new, offering tangible performance gains without breaking existing workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WebP better than JPEG and PNG?

Yes. WebP offers smaller file sizes with similar or better visual quality. It also supports transparency and animation, unlike JPEG.

Do all browsers support WebP in 2025?

Yes. All major browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, support WebP natively.

Should I replace all my images with WebP?

For modern websites, yes. However, if you serve legacy browsers, use the <picture> element for fallback compatibility.

Is WebP lossy or lossless?

Both. WebP supports lossy compression (like JPEG) and lossless compression (like PNG), allowing flexibility for different use cases.

What is the future of image formats after WebP?

Google’s upcoming WebP 2 and AVIF are emerging formats, but as of 2025, WebP remains the most practical, efficient, and widely supported option.

Conclusion

So, WebP vs. JPEG vs. PNG: which format should you use in 2025?

If performance, speed, and efficiency are your priorities, WebP is the clear winner. It offers superior compression, excellent quality, transparency, and animation, all in one lightweight package.

That said, JPEG and PNG still have their roles. JPEG remains a reliable standard for universal compatibility and quick sharing, while PNG is unmatched for detailed, transparent graphics.

But as browsers, CMSs, and CDNs continue to standardize WebP support, it’s safe to say that WebP is now the default format for a faster, cleaner, and more efficient web.

In 2025, the smartest choice is to embrace WebP today, and leave the heavier formats of the past behind.

12. Conclusion