WebP vs PNG vs JPEG: Which Image Format Should You Use?

Images account for 50% of the average website's weight. Choosing the wrong format can slow down your site and hurt your SEO.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

• Best for: Photographs, complex images with many colors.
• Pros: Small file size, universal compatibility.
• Cons: Lossy compression (quality degrades), no transparency.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

• Best for: Logos, icons, screenshots, images with text.
• Pros: Lossless compression (sharp quality), supports transparency.
• Cons: Large file size for photographs.

WebP (Web Picture)

• Best for: Almost everything on the web.
• Pros: Superior compression (26% smaller than PNG, 25-34% smaller than JPEG), supports both transparency and animation.
• Cons: Older browsers (Internet Explorer) don't support it.

Base64 Encoding

Sometimes, you might want to embed an image directly into your code as a string. This is called Base64 encoding. It reduces the number of HTTP requests but increases the file size by about 33%.

Tools for Developers

• Need to convert an image to a code string? Use our Image to Base64 Converter.
• Have a Base64 string and want to see the image? Use our Base64 to Image Converter.

Conclusion

For modern websites, WebP is the winner. It offers the best balance of quality and file size. However, understanding all formats is crucial for optimization.