Images are more than just “decoration” for your website. They affect everything — from page load speed and SEO rankings to whether a visitor stays or leaves your site within 3 seconds. But here’s the question: which format should you choose — WEBP or JPG? At first glance, they seem to do the same thing, but under the hood, the differences are huge. Let’s figure out which one is right for you.
What is JPG
JPG (or JPEG) is the classic image format that’s been around since 1992. It has survived decades of updates and remains the most widely used format on the web. JPG uses lossy compression, which means some data is removed to reduce file size.
This makes JPG lightweight and convenient, especially for photographs. But there’s a trade-off — heavy compression can lead to visible noise and loss of detail.
Advantages of JPG:
- Small file size with decent quality
- Supported by all browsers and devices
- Ideal for photos and realistic images
Disadvantages:
- Loss of quality with strong compression
- No transparency support
- No animation support
What is WEBP
WEBP is a newer image format created by Google in 2010 as a modern alternative to JPG and PNG. Its main goal is to preserve quality while reducing file size. WEBP supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency (like PNG), and even animation (like GIF).
The biggest advantage of WEBP is that it produces files up to 30–40% smaller than JPG while maintaining similar visual quality. That means faster page loads and happier users.
Advantages of WEBP:
- Smaller file size with the same quality
- Supports transparency and animation
- Improves site speed and Core Web Vitals
Disadvantages:
- Not supported by some older browsers
- Not all CMS platforms and plugins support it by default
WEBP vs JPG: Key Comparison
Parameter | WEBP | JPG |
---|---|---|
File size | 25–40% smaller | Larger |
Compression quality | Higher | Worse with heavy compression |
Transparency support | Yes | No |
Animation support | Yes | No |
Browser compatibility | Modern browsers | All browsers |
SEO and load speed | Better | Weaker |
When to Use WEBP and When to Use JPG
Choose WEBP if you want maximum loading speed, great quality at smaller sizes, and your users mostly browse with modern browsers. It’s perfect for websites where performance matters most: blogs, online stores, landing pages, and media platforms.
Stick with JPG if you need guaranteed compatibility with older devices or external services — for example, integrations that don’t support WEBP.
Pro tip: You can use both formats — serve WEBP to most visitors and automatically fall back to JPG for browsers that don’t support the newer format.
How to Switch to WEBP
- Use an online converter like FastConvert to quickly convert images to WEBP without quality loss or extra hassle.
- Set up automatic conversion in your CMS — for example, with plugins for WordPress.
- Implement a fallback strategy: the <picture> tag lets you load WEBP where it’s supported and JPG elsewhere.
Conclusion
WEBP is the future of web images. It makes pages lighter and faster, boosts SEO, and helps your site meet Core Web Vitals without headaches. JPG still has its place — as a reliable fallback and for compatibility with older systems.
If you’re building a website focused on speed, usability, and strong search rankings, the answer is clear: WEBP wins. But the ideal approach is to use both formats together to get the best of both worlds.