Is WebP lossy or lossless?

WebP supports both. Lossy mode works like JPEG — the smaller the file, the more quality is discarded. Lossless mode keeps every pixel intact, similar to PNG. JPEG is always lossy and re-saving it gradually degrades quality. PNG is always lossless but produces much larger files.

Which format should I choose — WebP, JPEG, or PNG?

For web pages, WebP is usually the smallest option: it can store photos the way JPEG does and transparency the way PNG does, in one format. Use JPEG when you need maximum compatibility on very old systems, and PNG when you need a lossless format that every image editor opens. WebP is the best default for sites that target modern browsers.

Will my files get smaller with WebP?

Usually yes. WebP compresses photos more efficiently than JPEG at the same visual quality, and transparent images far more efficiently than PNG. The exact amount depends on your image — a photo with rich detail saves more than a flat-colour graphic. You can test it with our converter: the size comparison shows up next to the download button.

Do all browsers support WebP?

All current major browsers do: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari 14 and later. Older browsers — Safari 13 and below, Internet Explorer — do not. If you serve those visitors, you can use a element to send WebP where supported and fall back to JPEG or PNG elsewhere.

Image to WebP Converter vs JPEG and PNG

WebP, JPEG, and PNG compared in plain words — compression, transparency, file size, and browser support.

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The three formats in one line each

WebP — the modern format: lossy for photos, lossless for everything else, plus transparency and animation, all with strong compression. JPEG — the photo workhorse: always lossy, no transparency, tiny files, opens everywhere. PNG — the lossless workhorse: pixel-perfect with transparency, but files stay large.

Compression behaviour

Lossy vs lossless JPEG and WebP-lossy discard detail as the file shrinks — you get to choose how much with our quality slider. PNG and WebP-lossless never discard a pixel, so the output is visually identical to the input. PNG's lossless compression is generally weaker than WebP's lossless mode, so the WebP file ends up smaller for the same image.

Re-saving Every time you save a JPEG, it degrades a little more. WebP-lossy behaves the same way. PNG has no such penalty — it is always exact.

Transparency and animation

Transparency PNG and WebP both store alpha (transparent) backgrounds. JPEG cannot — a "transparent" JPEG is actually white behind the image.

Animation WebP can animate, like GIF, in a much smaller file. Neither JPEG nor PNG supports animation at all.

Browser support

WebP works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari 14 and later — every current major browser. JPEG and PNG work in every browser, including old ones. If you still serve very old browsers, keep JPEG or PNG fallbacks via the picture element; otherwise WebP is safe to use on its own.

Which one should you pick?

Default choice for websites: WebP — it is the smallest format for photos and the right choice when you need transparency or animation.

JPEG: maximum compatibility or very old pipelines that don't recognise WebP.

PNG: when you need a lossless file that every tool on Earth opens — screenshots, charts, logos.

No numbers here are measurements — they depend on your image. Test with the converter: the size readout next to the download button shows exactly what WebP did to your file.