PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?

Choosing between PNG and WebP affects both how your images look and how fast your pages load. Here's how the two formats actually compare.

What is PNG?

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It's widely supported across every browser and device, which is why it's still the default choice for logos, icons, and graphics that need a transparent background.

What is WebP?

WebP is a modern image format developed for the web that offers significantly smaller file sizes than PNG or JPG at a comparable visual quality, while still supporting transparency. Nearly all modern browsers support WebP.

PNG vs WebP: key differences

• File size: WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than an equivalent PNG, which means faster page loads.
• Transparency: Both formats support transparent backgrounds.
• Compatibility: PNG has near-universal support, including in older software. WebP is supported by all current browsers but may not open in some older desktop image viewers.
• Compression: WebP supports both lossless and lossy compression, giving you more control over the size-versus-quality tradeoff than PNG.

When to use PNG

• You need maximum compatibility with older software or systems.
• The image will be edited further in tools with limited WebP support.

When to use WebP

• You're optimizing images for a website and want faster load times.
• File size matters more than universal legacy compatibility.

How to convert between the two

Use the PNG to WebP tool to shrink existing PNGs for web use, or WebP to PNG if you need broader compatibility for a specific image. Both run locally in your browser, so your images are never uploaded anywhere.

If you're not sure which format a batch of images should end up in, the general Image Converter supports converting between JPG, PNG, and WebP in one place.