PNG vs WebP: which should you use?
PNG and WebP both support lossless quality and transparency, but WebP produces far smaller files. Here's when each one wins — and how to convert between them without uploading anything.
At a glance
| PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large | 25–35% smaller |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes (alpha) |
| Lossless mode | Always | Yes |
| Lossy mode | No | Yes |
| Browser support | Universal | All modern browsers |
| Best for | Compatibility, editing | Web delivery, speed |
When to use WebP
For anything served on the web, WebP is usually the better choice: it delivers PNG-quality transparency at a fraction of the size, which speeds up page loads and improves Core Web Vitals. Every current browser supports it.
When to stick with PNG
PNG remains the safe pick for maximum compatibility — email clients, older software, print workflows and tools that still reject WebP. It's also the standard interchange format when you're handing assets to another designer.
Tools used in this guide
Related guides
PNG vs WebP: which should you use? — FAQ
For web delivery, yes — WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller at the same visual quality and still support transparency. For universal compatibility, PNG is safer.