Is WebP better than JPG?

For web use, yes: WebP produces files roughly 25–35% smaller than JPG at equivalent visual quality and also supports transparency and lossless modes. JPG remains useful mainly for compatibility with older systems.

Does converting JPG to WebP lose quality?

Any lossy-to-lossy conversion re-encodes the image, so convert from the best source you have and use quality 80% or above; at those settings the difference is not visible on normal displays.

Do all browsers support WebP?

Yes — all current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge, on desktop and mobile, display WebP natively.

Home › Blog › WebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Image Format Should You Use in 2026?

Image formats

WebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Image Format Should You Use in 2026?

By FileLocally Editorial · Published 15 July 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy

Quick answer: Use WebP for almost everything on the web (25–35% smaller than JPG at equal quality, supports transparency). Use PNG when you need lossless quality or are handing files to design tools. Use JPG only when a legacy system demands it.

The three formats in one table

Format	Compression	Transparency	Typical size vs JPG	Best for
WebP	Lossy & lossless	Yes	25–35% smaller	Websites, email, general sharing
JPG	Lossy	No	baseline	Photos for legacy systems, cameras
PNG	Lossless	Yes	Often 2–5× larger	Screenshots, logos, design handoff

Why WebP wins for the web

WebP was designed by Google specifically for web delivery. Its lossy mode predicts pixel blocks from their neighbours before encoding the difference, which is why it routinely produces files a quarter to a third smaller than an equivalent-quality JPG. Smaller images mean faster Largest Contentful Paint, and page speed is a confirmed ranking factor — so converting a media-heavy page to WebP is one of the cheapest SEO wins available.

Browser support stopped being an argument years ago: every current browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and their mobile versions — renders WebP natively.

When PNG is still the right call

Screenshots with text. Lossy compression smears fine text edges; PNG keeps them pixel-perfect.
Logos and UI assets during design. Repeated lossy re-saves compound quality loss; keep a lossless master.
Print workflows. Many print pipelines don't accept WebP.

When JPG still makes sense

Mainly compatibility: older CMS uploaders, government portals, and some email clients' inline preview still expect JPG. If a form rejects your WebP, convert it — that's a ten-second job with an in-browser converter.

How to convert without uploading your photos anywhere

Open the FileLocally Image Converter — it runs entirely in your browser.
Drop your images in, choose WebP (or PNG/JPG), and set quality. 80% is the sweet spot for photos; the live estimate shows your projected savings before you commit.
Click convert and download. Your originals never leave your device.

What quality setting should you use?

For photographs, 75–85% quality is visually indistinguishable from the original on normal screens while cutting the majority of the weight. Go lower (60–70%) for thumbnails and background images; go higher (90%+) only for hero imagery where you'll be zooming.

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