WebP vs JPG/JPEG
Comparing Web Picture Format and Joint Photographic Experts Group — which format should you use?
| WebP | JPG/JPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Web Picture Format | Joint Photographic Experts Group |
| Extension | .webp | .jpg |
| MIME Type | image/webp | image/jpeg |
| Category | image | image |
WebP Pros
- +25-35% smaller than JPEG at same quality
- +Supports transparency (like PNG)
- +Supports animation (like GIF)
- +Supported by all modern browsers
WebP Cons
- -Not universally supported in older software
- -Lossy mode can produce different artifacts than JPEG
- -Limited support in print workflows
- -Some social media platforms don't accept WebP
JPG/JPEG Pros
- +Excellent compression for photographs
- +Universal support across all platforms
- +Adjustable quality/size tradeoff
- +Small file sizes for web use
JPG/JPEG Cons
- -Lossy — quality degrades with each save
- -No transparency support
- -Artifacts visible at low quality settings
- -Not ideal for text, logos, or sharp edges
Use WebP when...
- -Website images (best format for web)
- -Progressive web apps
- -Replacing both PNG and JPEG on websites
- -Animated images (better than GIF)
Use JPG/JPEG when...
- -Digital photography
- -Web images and thumbnails
- -Social media uploads
- -Email attachments