WebP vs PNG: Which Image Format Is Better for Your Website?
A comprehensive comparison of WebP and PNG formats — file size, quality, transparency, browser support, and when to use each for optimal web performance.
The Short Answer
WebP is better for most web use cases. It delivers 26% smaller files than PNG for lossless compression and up to 80% smaller for lossy — all while maintaining visual quality and transparency support.
But PNG still has its place. Let's break down when to use each.
File Size Comparison
This is where WebP shines brightest:
| Metric | PNG | WebP Lossless | WebP Lossy (Q80) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average file size | 100% (baseline) | ~74% | ~20-40% |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No (APNG exists) | Yes | Yes |
For a typical 1200x800 photograph, a PNG might be 2.5MB while the WebP equivalent at quality 80 would be around 150-400KB — a massive difference.
Quality Comparison
At quality settings of 75-85%, WebP and PNG are virtually indistinguishable to the human eye. The compression artifacts in WebP are so subtle that even professional photographers struggle to tell them apart in blind tests.
For lossless compression (quality 100%), WebP produces identical visual output to PNG — pixel for pixel — at a 26% smaller file size.
Browser Support
WebP is supported by 97%+ of browsers globally:
- Chrome (since 2014)
- Firefox (since 2019)
- Safari (since 2020)
- Edge (since 2018)
The remaining ~3% are legacy browsers that most websites no longer need to support.
When to Use PNG
PNG is still the right choice when:
- You need to edit the image repeatedly (PNG is always lossless)
- You're working in design tools that don't export WebP
- You need compatibility with very old software
- You're distributing images for print
When to Use WebP
WebP is the better choice for:
- Website images — faster load times, better Core Web Vitals
- E-commerce product photos — smaller files = faster pages = higher conversion rates
- Blog images and thumbnails — save bandwidth at scale
- Social media assets — smaller uploads, faster sharing
- Any web-facing image where performance matters
The Bottom Line
If your images are going on the web, use WebP. The file size savings directly improve your page load speed, which affects SEO rankings, user experience, and conversion rates.
You can convert your PNG images to WebP right now using PixelPress — it's free, instant, and your files never leave your browser.
Ready to Optimize Your Images?
Try PixelPress — free, fast, and 100% private image conversion.
Start Converting Images