WebP vs PNG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Updated May 21, 2026
The short answer
Use WebP when you want the smallest possible file size for images viewed in a web browser. Use PNG when you need a lossless original, guaranteed compatibility with every app, or when you are still working on the file rather than publishing it.
Both formats support transparency, and both can be lossless, so the real decision comes down to file size versus universal compatibility.
How they compare
| WebP | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossless only |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Typical file size (photos) | 25-35% smaller than PNG, lossy mode | Much larger for photos |
| Typical file size (flat graphics) | Roughly comparable, lossless mode | Roughly comparable |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Browser support | All modern browsers | Universal |
| App and editor support | Limited | Universal |
File size
This is WebP's main advantage. A lossless WebP is usually around 25% smaller than the same image as a PNG, and a lossy WebP can be far smaller still. Across a website with dozens of images, that difference adds up to faster pages and lower bandwidth costs.
PNG only compresses losslessly, so it can never match WebP's lossy mode in size. For photographs, especially, a PNG can be several times larger than a good WebP.
Quality and transparency
Both formats support transparency with a full alpha channel, so neither produces the jagged edges that GIFs do. A lossless WebP is pixel-identical to a PNG. A lossy WebP drops some detail to save space — usually invisible at a high quality setting, but worth checking on sharp text and hard edges.
Compatibility
PNG wins here. It opens in every browser, every operating system, and every image editor without a second thought. WebP is supported by all current browsers, but some older software, a few email clients, and the occasional upload form still cannot read it. If you are handing a file to someone rather than publishing it on the web, PNG is the safer choice.
Which should you use?
- Publishing graphics, logos, or screenshots on a website: WebP. The size saving is worth it, and every visitor's browser supports it.
- Sharing a file, archiving an original, or editing: PNG. Compatibility and lossless quality matter more than bytes.
- Photographs: consider JPG or WebP rather than PNG, which is inefficient for photos.
You can move between the two freely without uploading anything: convert WebP to PNG for compatibility, or PNG to WebP to shrink a file for the web. To squeeze a PNG without changing format, the image compressor helps too.
For the bigger picture, see the best image format for the web.