WebP vs PNG vs JPG: Best Image Format for Web 2024

The Battle of Image Formats

Images make up the bulk of most website's page weight. Choosing the right format is the easiest way to speed up your site and improve SEO. Let's compare the big three: JPG, PNG, and WebP.

1. JPG (JPEG)

The classic standard for photography.

• Best For: Photos, images with many colors and gradients.
• Pros: Smallest file size for photos (lossy compression). Widely compatible.
• Cons: No transparency. Artifacts appear if compressed too much. Text looks blurry.

2. PNG

The choice for graphics and transparency.

• Best For: Logos, icons, screenshots, images with text, transparent backgrounds.
• Pros: Lossless quality (crisp edges). Supports transparency.
• Cons: Large file size. Not recommended for photos.

3. WebP

The modern champion for the web. developed by Google.

• Best For: Almost everything on the web.
• Pros: Superior compression (25-35% smaller than JPG/PNG with same quality). Supports both lossy and lossless modes. Supports transparency.
• Cons: Older browsers (IE) don't support it (but who uses IE in 2024?).

Which Should You Use?

• Default to WebP: For 99% of web use cases, WebP is the winner. It offers the best balance of quality and size.
• Use JPG if you need maximum compatibility with very old software or strictly for print.
• Use PNG if you need pixel-perfect storage of charts or detailed graphics where file size is secondary.

Tools to Optimize Images

• Resize: Don't serve a 4000px wide image on a phone. Use our Image Downscaler to resize images before uploading.
• Crop: Remove unwanted edges to focus on the subject using the Image Cropper.
• Convert: Most modern design tools export to WebP directly.

Optimizing images is a low-hanging fruit for web performance. Start converting today!