Guide
WebP vs JPEG: Which Format Saves More Space?
February 14, 20256 min read
The Format War
JPEG has been the web's standard photo format for 30+ years. WebP, developed by Google, promises 25-35% smaller files at equivalent quality. But is it always better?
WebP Advantages
- Smaller files: 25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
- Supports transparency: Unlike JPEG, WebP handles alpha channels (bye, PNG)
- Animation support: Replace animated GIFs with much smaller WebP animations
- Browser support: Now supported by 96%+ of browsers globally
When JPEG Still Wins
- Maximum compatibility: Every device, OS, and application supports JPEG
- Email attachments: Many email clients don't render WebP inline
- Print workflows: Print shops and design apps prefer JPEG/TIFF
- Very low quality settings: JPEG sometimes looks better than WebP at extreme compression
Real-World Tests
We compressed 100 photographs at quality 80 in both formats:
- Average JPEG size: 245 KB
- Average WebP size: 178 KB
- Average savings: 27.3%
- Visual difference: Imperceptible (SSIM > 0.97)
Try It Yourself
Our Image Compressor lets you output in both JPEG and WebP formats. Upload your images, try both formats, and compare the file sizes and quality yourself.