WebP vs JPG: Which Should You Use for Web Images?
Updated May 21, 2026
The short answer
Use WebP for images on a modern website — it produces smaller files than JPG at the same visual quality, and it supports transparency. Use JPG when you need a photo that opens everywhere, including older software and platforms that still do not accept WebP.
How they compare
| WebP | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossy only |
| Typical file size | 25-35% smaller | Baseline |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Browser support | All modern browsers | Universal |
| Best for | Web delivery | Photos shared anywhere |
File size and quality
WebP and JPG both use lossy compression for photos, discarding detail the eye is unlikely to miss. The difference is efficiency: at a matched quality level, a lossy WebP is typically 25-35% smaller than the equivalent JPG. On an image-heavy page, that is a real, measurable speed improvement.
JPG is no slouch — it has compressed photographs well for over thirty years — but its algorithm is older. WebP simply fits more quality into fewer bytes.
Transparency
JPG has no transparency at all. Every JPG has a solid rectangular background. If you need a photo or graphic with transparent areas, JPG cannot support them, but WebP can. That alone rules JPG out for logos, product cut-outs, and overlays.
Compatibility
JPG is the most widely supported image format. Every browser, phone, camera, printer, and editing program reads it. WebP is supported by every current browser, but some desktop software, older devices, and a handful of upload forms still reject it.
So the rule is simple: if the image lives on a web page, WebP's compatibility is good enough, and its size advantage is worth taking. If the image will be emailed, printed, or opened in unknown software, JPG removes all doubt.
Which should you use?
- Photos on your own website: WebP. Smaller files, faster pages.
- Photos you send to people or upload to varied platforms: JPG.
- Anything needing transparency: WebP or PNG.
Converting is quick and private — nothing is uploaded. Turn a JPG into WebP to shrink it for the web, or a WebP into JPG when you need universal compatibility. If you only need a JPG to be smaller, the image compressor or a compress-to-100KB tool will do it without changing format.
See also WebP vs PNG and the best image format for the web.