WebP vs PNG

For most websites, yes. WebP files are 25–35% smaller than PNGs at equivalent quality, which means faster page loads and better Core Web Vitals scores. WebP also supports transparency, making it a strong PNG replacement for web use.

Yes, WebP supports full alpha channel transparency just like PNG. In fact, WebP with transparency produces significantly smaller files than PNG with transparency, making it ideal for transparent web graphics.

As of 2024, WebP is supported by all major modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. However, very old browser versions may not support it. You can use the HTML picture element to provide PNG fallbacks.

WebP supports lossless compression, so converting with lossless settings preserves exact pixel data. With lossy WebP, there is some quality reduction, but it is typically less noticeable than equivalent JPEG compression at similar file sizes.

PNG remains the better choice for print workflows, professional design, archival purposes, email compatibility, and any context where you cannot control the viewing environment.