When you publish an image online — on a website, a blog or an image hosting service — the choice of format has a direct impact on visual quality, file size and browser compatibility. WebP, JPEG and PNG are the three most widely used formats on the web, but they do not serve the same purposes. Here is a full comparison to help you choose the right format for your use case.
JPEG: the universal standard for photos
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is the most common format for photographs and gradient-rich images. It uses lossy compression, meaning some data is discarded to reduce file size.
- Compression: lossy — quality decreases slightly with each re-compression
- Transparency: not supported
- Animation: not supported
- Compatibility: universal — all browsers, devices and software
- Best for: photographs, complex images with many colours
Good to know: JPEG lets you set the compression level on export. A quality level between 75 and 85% generally offers the best balance between file size and visual output for web use.
PNG: the reference for transparency and precision
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) uses lossless compression: no data is discarded, guaranteeing perfect quality. The trade-off is that files are often larger than equivalent-quality JPEGs.
- Compression: lossless — quality intact with every save
- Transparency: supported (alpha channel)
- Animation: not supported (except APNG, rarely used)
- Compatibility: universal
- Best for: logos, icons, screenshots, images with transparent backgrounds
WebP: Google's modern format
WebP was developed by Google as a long-term replacement for JPEG and PNG on the web. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency and animation — all with significantly smaller file sizes.
- Compression: lossy or lossless depending on settings
- Transparency: supported
- Animation: supported
- Compatibility: very good — supported by all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Best for: all types of web images, performance optimisation
Good to know: according to Google's own studies, lossy WebP produces files that are on average 25 to 34% smaller than JPEG at equivalent visual quality. In lossless mode, WebP is approximately 26% smaller than PNG.
WebP vs JPEG vs PNG comparison
| Criterion | JPEG | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| Average file size | Medium | Large | Small |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | No | Yes |
| Photo quality | Very good | Perfect | Excellent |
| Compatibility | Universal | Universal | Modern browsers |
| SEO / performance | Medium | Low | Excellent |
Which format to choose for your use case?
Choose WebP if…
- You publish images on a website or blog and want fast-loading pages
- You need both transparency and a small file size
- Your audience uses modern browsers (which applies to virtually all internet users in 2026)
- You are optimising for SEO and Google Core Web Vitals
Choose JPEG if…
- You share photos on platforms that do not support WebP
- You need maximum compatibility with older software
- You are sending images by email or embedding them in Office documents
Choose PNG if…
- You are exporting a logo, icon or graphic element with a transparent background
- Lossless quality is essential (screenshot, technical diagram)
- You cannot use WebP for compatibility reasons
How to convert images to WebP?
Many tools make it easy to convert JPEG or PNG images to WebP:
- Online: free converters let you drag and drop your images and get a WebP file in seconds
- Photoshop / GIMP: support WebP export natively or via plugin
- Squoosh (Google): free online tool that lets you visually compare quality before and after conversion with precise compression control
- ImageMagick (command line): batch conversion ideal for developers
Good to know: to host your images and share them easily online, a dedicated image hosting service lets you upload your files and instantly get a direct link usable anywhere — on your websites, forums or social networks — without having to manage storage or bandwidth yourself.