PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?
PNG and WebP are both common on the web, and both can show a picture with a transparent background. They are built for different priorities, though. PNG is designed to keep every pixel exactly as it was. WebP is designed to deliver good-looking images in as few bytes as possible. Knowing which priority matters for a given picture makes the choice easy.
How PNG works
PNG compresses images without discarding any information. Open a PNG, save it again, and you still have the same pixels. That makes it ideal for screenshots, line art, diagrams, logos and anything with sharp text. The cost is size: photographs and images with smooth gradients contain a great deal of detail, and PNG has to store all of it.
How WebP works
WebP, developed by Google, can compress images in two ways. Lossy WebP removes detail the eye is unlikely to notice, much like JPG, and produces very small files. Lossless WebP keeps every pixel, like PNG, but uses newer techniques to store them more efficiently. Both modes support transparency, and WebP can also hold animation.
Google’s own published comparisons report that lossless WebP images are roughly a quarter smaller than equivalent PNGs, and that lossy WebP is substantially smaller than comparable JPGs. Real savings depend on the picture, which is why it is worth testing your own images.
Side by side
| PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes, also in lossy mode |
| Animation | Not in standard PNG | Yes |
| File size for photos | Very large | Much smaller |
| Support in browsers | Everywhere | All current major browsers |
| Support in older software | Everywhere | Varies, so check before sending to others |
Which one should you choose?
Choose WebP when the image will be published on a website
Blog illustrations, product photos, hero banners and thumbnails all load faster as WebP, and visitors rarely notice any difference in quality. This is the main reason people convert their PNG files.
Choose PNG when you need an editing master or maximum compatibility
Keep PNG for source files you may edit again, for tiny icons where the size difference is trivial and for images that will be opened in older programs, printed or sent to people who may not have WebP support.
A practical workflow
Keep your original PNG or layered file. Export a WebP copy for the website, and name it clearly. If you ever need the other format back, you can use an image converter to switch it.
Common questions
Does WebP look worse than PNG? At sensible quality settings the difference is usually hard to see for photographs. For graphics with fine text, choose a higher quality or use lossless.
Can every browser show WebP? Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Safari can. Very old browsers cannot, which is rarely a concern today.
Will converting to WebP help my site? Smaller images mean less data to download, which generally helps page speed. Read how WebP affects website speed for the details.