Is WebP better than PNG?

WebP is generally better for the web because it produces smaller files — 25-35% smaller than PNG at equivalent quality. However, PNG has universal browser support and simpler encoding. WebP is better for bandwidth-sensitive sites; PNG is better when legacy browser compatibility matters.

Does WebP support transparency like PNG?

Yes — WebP supports full alpha channel transparency, identical to PNG-32. A logo with a transparent background saved as WebP retains perfect transparency while often being 30-50% smaller than the equivalent PNG. Both lossless and lossy WebP modes support alpha channels.

Which format produces smaller files — PNG or WebP?

WebP consistently produces smaller files. Lossless WebP is typically 25-35% smaller than PNG for the same image. Lossy WebP achieves even greater savings — 50-70% smaller than PNG with minimal visible quality loss. For photographs, the difference is most dramatic; for flat-colour graphics, the gap narrows.

Is WebP supported in all browsers?

WebP is supported in approximately 97% of browsers worldwide — including Chrome, Firefox, Safari 14+, Edge, Opera, and Samsung Internet. The main gap is older Safari versions (pre-14) and some legacy browsers. For production use, serve WebP with a PNG fallback via the <picture> element.

Will I lose quality converting PNG to WebP?

Lossless WebP preserves every pixel exactly, just like PNG — zero quality loss. Lossy WebP discards some visual data but achieves much smaller files. Our WebP compressor lets you choose between lossless mode (pixel-perfect output) and lossy mode (adjustable quality slider) so you control the trade-off.

When should I stick with PNG instead of WebP?

Stick with PNG when you need guaranteed compatibility with all browsers, including older Safari versions (pre-14), legacy enterprise browsers, and users who disable modern features. PNG is also preferred when your workflow demands simple PNG encoding without extra conversion steps, or when your CDN or CMS does not support automatic WebP delivery.

Comparison Format guide

PNG vs WebP compression.

PNG and WebP are both excellent for web images, but they take different approaches to compression. PNG is universally compatible and lossless by nature. WebP delivers smaller files with optional lossy encoding. Here is how they compare.

Quick comparison

Feature	PNG	WebP
Compression type	Lossless (deflate)	Lossless + lossy (VP8L / VP8)
File size	Larger baseline	25-35% smaller (lossless), 50-70% smaller (lossy)
Transparency	Full alpha channel	Full alpha channel (lossless + lossy)
Colour depth	24-bit + 8-bit alpha, indexed 8-bit	24-bit + 8-bit alpha
Animation	APNG format (limited support)	Animated WebP (single file)
Browser support	100% universal	~97% (Chrome, Firefox, Safari 14+, Edge)
Encoding speed	Fast	Moderate (slower for lossless)
Metadata support	EXIF, ICC, text chunks	EXIF, ICC, XMP
Best for	Legacy compatibility, indexed colour, icons	Modern web, bandwidth-sensitive sites, photos

When to use PNG

PNG is the safest choice when image compatibility must be guaranteed across every browser, device, and operating system. Its lossless deflate compression preserves every pixel exactly — making it indispensable for screenshots with text, UI mockups, wireframes, and any image where sharp edges or fine typography matter. PNG also supports indexed colour palettes (PNG-8), which produce remarkably small files for simple graphics like icons, logos, and charts.

PNG's universal support means you never need fallback strategies, <picture> element gymnastics, or server-side content negotiation. It works in email clients, PDF generators, legacy CMS platforms, and every browser since the late 1990s. Use our PNG compressor to optimise your PNG files — it applies advanced filtering strategies and reduces palette size without visible quality loss for indexed images. For bulk optimisation, the bulk compressor handles thousands of PNGs in one batch.

When to use WebP

WebP is the modern choice for bandwidth-conscious websites. Developed by Google, it provides both lossless compression (via the VP8L codec) and lossy compression (via VP8, the same codec used in WebM video). Lossless WebP files are typically 25-35% smaller than equivalent PNGs, while lossy WebP can achieve 50-70% file size reduction with little perceptible quality loss. WebP also supports animation in a single file — a feat that requires clunky APNG or GIF-PNG workarounds with traditional formats.

WebP is supported by approximately 97% of browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari 14 and above, Edge, and Opera. For production deployment, serve WebP with a PNG fallback using the <picture> element — browsers that understand WebP receive the smaller file, while others get the PNG. Our WebP compressor supports both lossless and lossy modes with adjustable quality and transparency preservation. For large-scale workflows, the bulk compressor converts and optimises entire directories at once.

PNG vs WebP: file size comparison

A 512×512 brand logo with transparency: PNG-32 lossless: 12-25 KB. WebP lossless: 8-16 KB. WebP lossy (q90): 5-10 KB. Difference: Lossless WebP saves 30-35% over PNG with identical pixel-perfect quality.

A 1920×1080 screenshot of a dashboard with text and charts: PNG lossless: 800 KB - 1.5 MB. WebP lossless: 500 KB - 1 MB. WebP lossy (q90): 250-500 KB. Difference: Lossless WebP is 30-40% smaller; lossy WebP saves 60-70% with minimal text softening.

A 4000×3000 photograph of a landscape: PNG lossless: 12-20 MB (impractical for web use). WebP lossy (q80): 400-800 KB. Difference: WebP makes photographs viable where PNG would be too large. For photos, always use lossy WebP (or JPEG) rather than PNG.

The Verdict

For new web projects, WebP is the better format — it produces smaller files, supports transparency and animation, and works in 97% of browsers. The bandwidth savings are significant, especially for image-heavy pages like ecommerce product listings, photography portfolios, and news articles. PNG remains the right choice when universal compatibility is non-negotiable — email campaigns, intranet applications, enterprise CMS platforms, and any scenario where you cannot control the user's browser version. In practice, the best strategy is to serve WebP with a PNG fallback, giving modern browsers the performance benefit while ensuring every user sees your images.

Frequently asked questions

Is WebP better than PNG?

WebP is generally better for the web because it produces smaller files — 25-35% smaller than PNG at equivalent quality. However, PNG has universal browser support and simpler encoding. WebP is better for bandwidth-sensitive sites; PNG is better when legacy browser compatibility matters.
Does WebP support transparency like PNG?

Yes — WebP supports full alpha channel transparency, identical to PNG-32. A logo with a transparent background saved as WebP retains perfect transparency while often being 30-50% smaller than the equivalent PNG. Both lossless and lossy WebP modes support alpha channels.
Which format produces smaller files — PNG or WebP?

WebP consistently produces smaller files. Lossless WebP is typically 25-35% smaller than PNG for the same image. Lossy WebP achieves even greater savings — 50-70% smaller than PNG with minimal visible quality loss. For photographs, the difference is most dramatic; for flat-colour graphics, the gap narrows.
Is WebP supported in all browsers?

WebP is supported in approximately 97% of browsers worldwide — including Chrome, Firefox, Safari 14+, Edge, Opera, and Samsung Internet. The main gap is older Safari versions (pre-14) and some legacy browsers. For production use, serve WebP with a PNG fallback via the <picture> element.
Will I lose quality converting PNG to WebP?

Lossless WebP preserves every pixel exactly, just like PNG — zero quality loss. Lossy WebP discards some visual data but achieves much smaller files. Our WebP compressor lets you choose between lossless mode (pixel-perfect output) and lossy mode (adjustable quality slider) so you control the trade-off.
When should I stick with PNG instead of WebP?

Stick with PNG when you need guaranteed compatibility with all browsers, including older Safari versions (pre-14), legacy enterprise browsers, and users who disable modern features. PNG is also preferred when your workflow demands simple PNG encoding without extra conversion steps, or when your CDN or CMS does not support automatic WebP delivery.

Get started

Ready to compress your images?

Free. Unlimited. Your files never leave your device.