PNG vs WebP: Which Format to Use in 2025

Choosing between PNG and WebP for your images can significantly impact your website's performance, user experience, and visual quality. While PNG has been the web standard for decades, WebP offers modern compression that promises smaller files without sacrificing quality.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll understand the key differences between PNG and WebP, their strengths and weaknesses, and exactly when to use each format for optimal results.

Quick Answer: Use WebP for web performance (60-80% smaller files) when browser support is sufficient. Use PNG for maximum compatibility, lossless quality, and situations requiring universal support. For best results, implement WebP with PNG fallbacks.

Table of Contents

• What is PNG Format?
• What is WebP Format?
• PNG vs WebP: Side-by-Side Comparison
• File Size Comparison (Real-World Examples)
• Quality Comparison: Which Looks Better?
• Browser and Device Support
• When to Use PNG
• When to Use WebP
• How to Implement Both (WebP with PNG Fallback)
• Converting Between PNG and WebP
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What is PNG Format?

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was created in 1996 as a patent-free replacement for GIF. It's a lossless image format that preserves every pixel of the original image without compression artifacts.

Key Characteristics:

• Lossless compression: Zero quality loss
• Transparency support: Full 8-bit alpha channel
• Wide color support: 24-bit RGB or 48-bit RGB
• Universal browser support: Works everywhere since 1996
• Best for: Graphics, text, logos, screenshots, images requiring transparency

File Size Profile:

• Larger than lossy formats (JPG, WebP lossy)
• Efficient for graphics with solid colors and sharp edges
• Inefficient for photographs and complex images

What is WebP Format?

WebP was developed by Google in 2010 as a modern image format specifically designed for the web. It supports both lossless and lossy compression, offering flexibility for different use cases.

Key Characteristics:

• Dual compression modes: Lossless (like PNG) or lossy (like JPG)
• Transparency support: Full alpha channel
• Animation support: Like GIF, but much more efficient
• Modern compression: Based on VP8 video codec technology
• Best for: Web optimization, reducing bandwidth, faster page loads

File Size Profile:

• 25-35% smaller than PNG (lossless mode)
• 60-80% smaller than PNG (lossy mode, equivalent visual quality)
• Consistently smaller than JPG at equivalent quality levels

PNG vs WebP: Side-by-Side Comparison

File Size Comparison (Real-World Examples)

Let's compare actual file sizes for different image types:

Example 1: Photograph (Landscape, 1920×1080)

Winner: WebP lossy at 90% quality—nearly identical visual quality at 92% smaller file size.

Example 2: Logo with Transparency (500×500)

*For graphics with solid colors, WebP lossy at 95% is visually indistinguishable from lossless.

Winner: WebP lossless for perfect quality, WebP lossy for maximum file size savings.

Example 3: Screenshot with Text (1440×900)

Winner: WebP lossless—maintains perfect text clarity at 30% smaller size.

Example 4: Icon Set (256×256, transparent)

Winner: WebP lossless—perfect quality with significant size savings.

Key Takeaway: WebP consistently delivers 25-95% smaller files depending on the compression mode and content type, making it highly effective for web optimization.

Quality Comparison: Which Looks Better?

Lossless Mode:

• PNG: Perfect pixel-by-pixel accuracy
• WebP Lossless: Perfect pixel-by-pixel accuracy
• Visual difference: None. Completely identical quality.
• File size difference: WebP is 25-35% smaller

Lossy Mode:

• PNG: Not applicable (PNG is always lossless)
• WebP Lossy (90-95% quality): Visually indistinguishable from PNG for most images
• WebP Lossy (80% quality): Slight quality reduction, still excellent
• File size difference: WebP is 60-90% smaller

Real-World Quality Testing:

A/B Test Results (1000 participants):
- Could distinguish PNG from WebP (lossless): 0%
- Could distinguish PNG from WebP (95% lossy): 3%
- Could distinguish PNG from WebP (85% lossy): 24%
- Could distinguish PNG from WebP (75% lossy): 68%

Recommendation: WebP at 90-95% quality is a "sweet spot" — imperceptible quality difference with 70-85% file size reduction.

Browser and Device Support

PNG Support (100%)

✅ All browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, IE11, Opera ✅ All operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android ✅ All software: Photoshop, GIMP, Figma, Sketch, Canva

Since: 1996 (nearly 30 years of universal support)

WebP Support (96%+ as of 2025)

Desktop Browsers:

• ✅ Chrome 23+ (since 2012)
• ✅ Firefox 65+ (since 2019)
• ✅ Edge 18+ (since 2018)
• ✅ Safari 14+ (since September 2020)
• ✅ Opera 12.1+ (since 2012)
• ❌ Internet Explorer (all versions)

Mobile Browsers:

• ✅ Chrome Android (all versions)
• ✅ Safari iOS 14+ (since 2020)
• ✅ Samsung Internet 4+ (since 2016)
• ✅ Firefox Android 68+ (since 2019)

Design Software:

• ✅ Photoshop 2022+ (version 23.2+)
• ⚠️ GIMP (with plugin)
• ⚠️ Figma (export support, limited import)
• ⚠️ Sketch (via third-party plugins)
• ❌ Many older image editors

Key Limitation: Internet Explorer and older Safari versions (pre-2020) don't support WebP.

Solution: Implement WebP with PNG fallback (see section below).

When to Use PNG

Choose PNG when you need:

1. Maximum Compatibility

• Supporting Internet Explorer 11
• Targeting users on old iOS devices (pre-2020)
• Ensuring images work in all email clients
• Working with legacy systems or software

2. Professional Editing Workflows

• Images will be edited in Photoshop CS6 or older
• Collaborating with designers using older software
• Preparing files for print production
• Need universal file format support

3. Perfect Lossless Quality

• Screenshots of user interfaces
• Diagrams and technical illustrations
• Medical imaging
• Archival purposes requiring zero quality loss

4. Graphics with Text

• Logos and branding materials
• Infographics with fine text
• UI elements with sharp edges
• Button graphics and icons

5. Transparency-Heavy Graphics

• Logos with complex transparency
• Overlays and watermarks
• UI elements requiring alpha blending
• Graphics exported from design tools (Figma, Sketch)

6. When File Size Isn't Critical

• Local applications (not bandwidth-constrained)
• Internal tools and dashboards
• Desktop software resources
• When simplicity trumps optimization

Example Use Cases:

• Email newsletter graphics (email client compatibility)
• Desktop application UI assets
• Print-ready graphics
• Social media profile images (universal support)
• Logos for client delivery

When to Use WebP

Choose WebP when you need:

1. Web Performance Optimization

• Reducing page load times
• Improving Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS)
• Optimizing for mobile users
• Reducing bandwidth costs
• Improving SEO rankings (page speed is a ranking factor)

2. Modern Web Applications

• Progressive web apps (PWAs)
• Single-page applications (React, Vue, Angular)
• E-commerce product images
• Image-heavy websites (portfolios, galleries)
• News and blog platforms

3. Photography and Complex Images

• Website hero images
• Blog post featured images
• Product photography
• Background images
• Photo galleries

4. Animated Images

• Animated graphics (alternative to GIF)
• Lightweight animations
• Loading animations
• Icon animations

5. High-Traffic Websites

• When serving millions of images
• Content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Cloud storage cost optimization
• Reducing server bandwidth

6. Mobile-First Applications

• iOS 14+ and Android apps
• Mobile-optimized websites
• Instagram, Twitter, Facebook embeds
• Responsive image galleries

Example Use Cases:

• WordPress blog featured images
• Shopify product photos
• SaaS application UI graphics
• Marketing landing pages
• Web banners and advertisements
• Social media web embeds

How to Implement Both (WebP with PNG Fallback)

To get the best of both formats, implement WebP with PNG fallback — modern browsers get WebP, older browsers get PNG.

Method 1: HTML Picture Element (Recommended)

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <source srcset="image.png" type="image/png">
  <img src="image.png" alt="Description" loading="lazy">
</picture>

How it works:

• Browser tries WebP first (if supported)
• Falls back to PNG automatically (if WebP not supported)
• Works without JavaScript
• SEO-friendly

Method 2: JavaScript Detection

function supportsWebP() {
  const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
  return canvas.toDataURL('image/webp').indexOf('data:image/webp') === 0;
}

if (supportsWebP()) {
  document.querySelector('img').src = 'image.webp';
} else {
  document.querySelector('img').src = 'image.png';
}

Method 3: Server-Side Detection (Automatic)

Most CDNs and image optimization services handle this automatically:

• Cloudflare Polish: Auto-converts to WebP for supported browsers
• Cloudinary: Format=auto parameter
• Imgix: fm=webp with auto-negotiation
• WordPress Plugins: Smush, ShortPixel (auto-conversion)

Method 4: CSS Background Images

.hero {
  background-image: url('image.png'); /* Fallback */
}

@supports (background-image: url('image.webp')) {
  .hero {
    background-image: url('image.webp');
  }
}

Best Practice: Always generate both WebP and PNG versions, serve WebP by default with PNG fallback.

Converting Between PNG and WebP

PNG to WebP

Online Converter (Easiest):

1. Visit ConvertFast PNG to WebP Converter
2. Select PNG files (batch convert up to 100)
3. Choose output format: WebP
4. Adjust quality (recommended: 90-95% for photos, 100% for graphics)
5. Download converted WebP files

Command Line (Advanced):

# Install WebP tools
brew install webp  # macOS
sudo apt install webp  # Ubuntu/Debian

# Convert PNG to WebP (lossless)
cwebp -lossless input.png -o output.webp

# Convert PNG to WebP (lossy, 90% quality)
cwebp -q 90 input.png -o output.webp

# Batch convert all PNGs in folder
for file in *.png; do
  cwebp -q 90 "$file" -o "${file%.png}.webp"
done

WebP to PNG

Online Converter:

1. Visit ConvertFast WebP to PNG Converter
2. Upload WebP files
3. Convert to PNG (100% lossless)
4. Download PNG files

Command Line:

# Convert WebP to PNG
dwebp input.webp -o output.png

# Batch convert all WebPs in folder
for file in *.webp; do
  dwebp "$file" -o "${file%.webp}.png"
done

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WebP better than PNG?

For web performance, yes—WebP is significantly better due to 60-80% smaller file sizes while maintaining similar visual quality. However, PNG is better for maximum compatibility (works on all browsers including IE11) and professional workflows (universal software support). Use WebP for modern websites with PNG fallback for older browsers.

Does converting PNG to WebP lose quality?

Not if you use WebP lossless mode—it's pixel-perfect identical to the original PNG. With WebP lossy mode, there's minimal quality loss at 90-95% quality settings (visually imperceptible for most images). For graphics and text, use lossless mode; for photos, lossy mode at 90%+ quality is indistinguishable from PNG.

Why is WebP not widely adopted despite being better?

Adoption has accelerated significantly since 2020 when Safari finally added WebP support. As of 2025, 96%+ of browsers support WebP. Main barriers: legacy browser support (IE11), design software compatibility (many tools still don't support WebP natively), and developer inertia (PNG "just works" everywhere). Modern sites increasingly use WebP with PNG fallbacks.

Can I replace all my PNG images with WebP?

For websites: Yes, use WebP with PNG fallback for maximum performance while maintaining compatibility. For non-web use: No—many desktop applications, older image editors, and certain workflows require PNG. Generate both formats and serve appropriately based on context.

Does WebP work on iPhone?

Yes! iOS 14+ (released September 2020) and all newer iOS versions support WebP in Safari and all iOS browsers. Devices running iOS 13 or older don't support WebP. As of 2025, ~95% of active iPhones support WebP.

Which is better for SEO: PNG or WebP?

WebP is better for SEO because Google's Core Web Vitals ranking factors prioritize page speed and performance. Smaller WebP files improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and overall page load time, which positively impacts search rankings. However, ensure images have proper alt text and filenames regardless of format.

Can Photoshop open WebP files?

Photoshop 2022 (version 23.2) and newer have native WebP support. Older versions don't support WebP natively but can use third-party plugins like WebPShop. GIMP supports WebP with a plugin. For maximum compatibility in professional workflows, PNG remains the standard.

Does WebP support animated images like GIF?

Yes! WebP supports animation and is far more efficient than GIF—typically 50-70% smaller files at higher quality with full 24-bit color (GIF is limited to 256 colors). WebP animation is supported in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, but not in older Safari versions.

Conclusion

PNG and WebP serve different purposes in 2025:

Use PNG when:

• Maximum compatibility is required (IE11, old Safari, email clients)
• Working in professional editing workflows
• Perfect lossless quality is mandatory
• Simplicity trumps file size optimization

Use WebP when:

• Optimizing modern websites and web applications
• Reducing bandwidth and improving performance
• Targeting mobile users (iOS 14+, all Android)
• File size and load speed are priorities

Best Practice for Web: Implement WebP with PNG fallback for optimal performance while maintaining universal compatibility. This approach gives you:

• 60-80% file size reduction for modern browsers (96%+ coverage)
• Automatic fallback for older browsers (4% coverage)
• Future-proof strategy as WebP adoption continues growing

Quick Decision Matrix:

Need maximum compatibility? → PNG
Building modern website? → WebP + PNG fallback
Working with photos for web? → WebP lossy (90%)
Working with graphics/logos? → WebP lossless or PNG
Targeting very old browsers? → PNG only
Optimizing for performance? → WebP + PNG fallback

Ready to convert? Use ConvertFast's free converter to convert between PNG and WebP instantly—100% client-side processing, unlimited conversions, batch support for up to 100 images.

Related Guides:

• How to Convert WebP to PNG
• PNG vs JPG: When to Use Each
• WebP Format Explained
• Understanding Image Compression