WebP vs JPG: Which Format Should You Use?
The Short Answer
At the same visual quality a WebP photo is typically 25–35 % smaller than a JPG, and WebP can also be transparent or animated. JPG wins on compatibility: there is no camera, printer, email client or website that does not take it.
WebP vs JPG Side by Side
| WebP | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | WebP: WebP | JPG: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) |
| File extension | WebP: .webp | JPG: .jpg, .jpeg |
| How it stores data | WebP: Lossy or lossless compression | JPG: Lossy compression |
| File size | WebP: small (lossy) | JPG: small (lossy) |
| Created by | WebP: Google, 2010 | JPG: Joint Photographic Experts Group, 1992 |
| Best for | WebP: website images, where smaller files mean faster pages | JPG: photographs, anything that must open everywhere, small files for email and the web |
| Watch out | WebP: older software, some email clients and many upload forms still reject it | JPG: no transparency, and each re-save loses a little more detail |
| Opens with | WebP: all current browsers; recent versions of Windows Photos, Preview, Photoshop and GIMP | JPG: every browser, phone, image viewer and editor |
Choose WebP When
- Photos on your own website
- Images that need transparency
- Saving storage or bandwidth at the same quality
Choose JPG When
- Sending photos to other people
- Printing
- Uploads to marketplaces, forms and older software
Convert Between WebP and JPG
More About Each Format
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, WebP or JPG?
At the same visual quality a WebP photo is typically 25–35 % smaller than a JPG, and WebP can also be transparent or animated. JPG wins on compatibility: there is no camera, printer, email client or website that does not take it.
When should I use WebP?
Photos on your own website. Images that need transparency. Saving storage or bandwidth at the same quality.
When should I use JPG?
Sending photos to other people. Printing. Uploads to marketplaces, forms and older software.
What is WebP?
WebP is a web image format from Google that is typically 25–35 % smaller than JPG at the same visual quality, and it supports transparency and animation. All current browsers display it.
What is JPG?
JPG is the standard format for photographs: it shrinks an image to a fraction of its raw size by discarding detail the eye barely notices. Every camera, phone, browser and printer can read it.
Can I convert between WebP and JPG?
Yes — free, in batches and without an account. Convert WebP to JPG, or Convert JPG to WebP with the converter linked on this page.