Comparison

WebP vs JPG: Which is Better for Web Images?

WebP and JPG are both lossy formats — but one is significantly better for modern websites.

The quick answer

WebP is better than JPG for website images in almost every case. It produces smaller files at the same visual quality, supports transparency, and is supported by all modern browsers. The only reason to still use JPG is compatibility with older software or when you specifically need a JPG file.

File size comparison

This is where WebP wins most clearly. Google's own research shows that lossy WebP images are on average 25–34% smaller than equivalent JPG images. For a website with 50 images averaging 100KB each in JPG, switching to WebP could save 1.25–1.7MB per page load — a massive difference on mobile.

Property	WebP	JPG
File size	25-34% smaller	Baseline
Transparency	✓ Supported	✗ Not supported
Animation	✓ Supported	✗ Not supported
Browser support	95%+ modern browsers	Universal
Software support	Good, growing	Universal
Best for	Web publishing	Legacy compatibility

Image quality comparison

At the same file size, WebP consistently produces better visual quality than JPG. JPG compression introduces blocky artifacts especially around sharp edges and text. WebP uses more advanced compression algorithms that preserve image detail more effectively at small file sizes.

At high quality settings (90%+), both formats look excellent and the difference is nearly imperceptible. The real advantage of WebP shows at medium quality settings (75–85%) where WebP maintains cleaner results while JPG starts showing compression artifacts.

Browser support in 2026

WebP is supported by Chrome (since 2010), Firefox (since 2019), Edge (since 2018), Safari (since 2020), and Opera. This covers over 95% of all web users globally. For practical purposes, WebP is safe to use on any modern website.

When to still use JPG

Sending images via email to recipients using older email clients
Submitting images to platforms that don't accept WebP (some older CMSes)
Sharing images with colleagues or clients who use older image editors
Stock photography submissions that require JPG specifically

When to use WebP

All images published on your website or blog
WordPress uploads (supported since WP 5.8)
E-commerce product images
Any image where you want the smallest file size with great quality
Images with transparent backgrounds (JPG can't do this)

How to convert JPG to WebP for free

You can convert JPG files to WebP instantly in your browser using PicVerto — no upload, no signup, no software needed. Drop your JPG files in, set your quality, and download the WebP versions in seconds.

Convert JPG to WebP free View all free tools

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