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WebP vs PNG

Comparing Web Picture Format and Portable Network Graphics - which format should you use?

	WebP	PNG
Full Name	Web Picture Format	Portable Network Graphics
Extension	.webp	.png
MIME Type	image/webp	image/png
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

PNG Pros

+Lossless compression - no quality loss
+Full alpha transparency support
+Wide browser and software support
+Good for graphics, logos, screenshots

PNG Cons

-Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs
-No animation support (use APNG or GIF)
-Not ideal for print (use TIFF or PDF)
-No EXIF metadata support

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 PNG when...

-Website graphics and logos
-Screenshots and UI mockups
-Images requiring transparency
-Digital art and illustrations

Learn more about WebP Learn more about PNG