Quick verdict
WEBP is smaller, supports transparency, and is universally supported by modern browsers. Use WEBP for the web; keep JPG only when sharing with old software or platforms.
WEBP is Google's modern replacement for JPG. It compresses photos roughly 25–35% smaller at the same visual quality, and it also supports transparency and animation — features JPG never had.
So why hasn't WEBP replaced JPG everywhere? Two reasons: legacy software (older photo editors, some printers) still can't read WEBP; and many social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) silently re-encode every upload to JPG anyway.
For your own website, app, or storage — WEBP is the better choice in almost every case in 2026.
| Feature | WEBP | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| Typical file size | ~70% of JPG | Baseline |
| Compression | Lossy or lossless | Lossy only |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Browser support | 97%+ of browsers (since 2020) | 100% |
| Email clients | Limited (Outlook may fail) | Universal |
| Photo editors | Photoshop ≥ 2022, Lightroom, GIMP | All |
| Released | 2010 (Google) | 1992 (JPEG committee) |
Use WEBP when
- You control the website and want faster page loads + better Core Web Vitals scores.
- You need transparency without the file-size penalty of PNG.
- You're storing photos and want 30% less disk usage at the same quality.
- Your audience is on modern browsers (>97% of internet users today).
Use JPG when
- You're emailing a photo and want maximum compatibility.
- You're uploading to a platform that re-encodes anyway (most social networks).
- You're sharing with someone running old Windows 10 / older photo viewers.
- You need to print — most home printers handle JPG more reliably.
Convert between WEBP and JPG in your browser
FAQ
- Is WEBP better quality than JPG?
- At the same file size, yes — WEBP retains more detail. At the same quality target, WEBP is roughly 25–35% smaller. The visual quality difference at default settings is invisible to most viewers.
- Does WEBP work on iPhones?
- Yes. iOS 14+ (released 2020) supports WEBP natively in Safari, Mail, and Photos. Older iPhones may struggle.
- Why does my WEBP image look broken on someone else's computer?
- They are probably on an old Windows 10 build, an unupgraded Outlook, or using a legacy photo viewer. For those cases, convert to JPG before sending.
- Can I print a WEBP file?
- Many home printers and print shops don't accept WEBP. Convert to JPG or TIFF before printing.
- Does WEBP support transparency like PNG?
- Yes, lossless WEBP supports a full alpha channel, and lossy WEBP also supports transparency — neither of which JPG can do.