Choosing the wrong image format can bloat your site by 300% or force you to sacrifice quality. In 2025, WebP is the clear winner — but when should you still use JPG or PNG?
We tested the same 1920×1280 photo across all three formats at identical visual quality. Here's what we found.
Format Breakdown: JPG, PNG, WebP
JPG — Joint Photographic Experts Group
- Best for: Photos, gradients, natural images
- Compression: Lossy (only)
- Transparency: No
- Browser support: 100% (since 1990s)
- Avg. size (1920px photo): 120 KB at Q80
PNG — Portable Network Graphics
- Best for: Logos, icons, screenshots, text
- Compression: Lossless
- Transparency: Yes (alpha channel)
- Browser support: 100%
- Avg. size (same photo): 1.2 MB
WebP — Google's Modern Format
- Best for: Everything on the web
- Compression: Lossy + Lossless
- Transparency: Yes
- Browser support: 97% (all modern browsers)
- Avg. size: 75 KB at Q80
File Size Comparison (1920px Photo, SSIM ≥ 0.96)
| Format | File Size | vs JPG | Quality (SSIM) | Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG (Q80) | 120 KB | — | 0.96 | No |
| PNG | 1.2 MB | +900% | 1.00 | Yes |
| WebP (Q80) | 75 KB | -37% | 0.97 | Yes |
| AVIF (bonus) | 55 KB | -54% | 0.95 | Yes |
Quick Decision Guide (2025)
Use for 95% of Web Images
- Photos & graphics
- Lossy + lossless
- Transparency supported
- 30–50% smaller than JPG
- 97% browser support
Logos & Graphics Only
- Icons, logos, text
- Sharp edges
- Full transparency
- Lossless only
- Avoid for photos
Legacy Only
- Old browsers
- Email attachments
- Print media
- No transparency
- Largest file size
Real-World Example: Product Photo
JPG: 120 KB
PNG: 1.2 MB
WebP: 75 KB
Browser Support in 2025
- WebP: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 14+, Android
- Not supported: Internet Explorer, old Safari (iOS < 14)
Solution: Use the `
<picture> <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp"> <img src="image.jpg" alt="fallback" loading="lazy"> </picture>
Conversion Tools (Free & Fast)
- ImageCompressor.live → Auto WebP output
- Squoosh → Manual control, AVIF too
- CloudConvert → Bulk conversion
- ImageMagick → CLI for developers
AVIF: The Future (Bonus)
AVIF uses AV1 video codec for images. It's 20–30% smaller than WebP, but support is still growing (Chrome, Firefox, not Safari yet).
Future-Proof Tip: Serve AVIF → WebP → JPG using `
Conclusion: WebP Wins in 2025
WebP is the best choice for 95% of web use cases. It combines:
- Smaller files than JPG
- Transparency like PNG
- Near-universal browser support
Only use PNG for logos or graphics with sharp text. Ditch JPG unless you're supporting ancient browsers.
Ready to switch? Use ImageCompressor.live — it converts to WebP automatically with one click.