PNG has been the standard format for web graphics — logos, icons, screenshots, line art — since the late 1990s. WebP, introduced in 2010, includes a lossless mode that compresses ~25% smaller than PNG for the same image, with identical alpha transparency. For graphics on a modern website, WebP is the more efficient choice today.
The case for staying on PNG is largely about compatibility. PNG renders in every browser and every email client ever made. WebP is universal in modern browsers (since Safari 14 in 2020) but not in legacy systems or many email clients. For graphics that need to render anywhere — particularly logos and brand marks distributed widely — PNG remains the safer choice.
For animated graphics, WebP is dramatically better than PNG. Animated PNG (APNG) exists but isn't reliably rendered outside Firefox and Safari; animated WebP is well-supported in every modern browser. For animation on the modern web, neither PNG nor APNG is the right pick.
Spec comparison
| Property | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Both |
| Graphic type | Raster | Raster |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | Yes |
| HDR | No | No |
| Embeds EXIF | Yes | Yes |
| Browser coverage | 100% | 98% |
| Introduced | 1996 | 2010 |
File size comparison
Same 1200×800 illustration with transparency
PNG
PNG-24: ~140 KB
WebP
Lossless WebP: ~105 KB
WebP's lossless mode beats PNG by about 25% on typical graphic content. For palette-heavy or limited-colour graphics, PNG-8 can sometimes match WebP — but PNG-24 (the default 'save as PNG' output) is always larger.
Quality comparison
Both formats are lossless — both preserve every pixel exactly. There is no quality difference; the only meaningful difference is file size and browser/client compatibility.
When each one wins
Use PNG if…
- You need universal compatibility — email, legacy systems, downloadable files
- The image is a brand asset distributed widely
- Your build pipeline doesn't yet handle WebP natively
- You're using PNG-8 (palette-based) which can be smaller than WebP for very limited colours
Use WebP if…
- You control web delivery (your site, your CDN)
- File size matters — image-heavy pages, hero illustrations
- You need animated graphics (animated WebP beats APNG in every way)
- You're targeting modern browsers (~98% global coverage)
Recommendation
For modern websites, use lossless WebP for graphics. Use the <picture> element to serve a PNG fallback for legacy clients. Keep PNG as the master format in your design tools; export to lossless WebP for web delivery. The migration is essentially free — same quality, ~25% smaller files.
Frequently asked questions
- Is lossless WebP really smaller than PNG?
- Yes — about 25% smaller for typical graphic content. The savings come from WebP's more sophisticated palette and entropy coding. Both formats produce bit-identical decoded output (no quality difference).
- Should I switch all my PNGs to WebP?
- For graphics served from a website you control, yes. For brand assets distributed widely (downloads, partner kits, email-shared logos), keep PNG — its universal compatibility is worth the file-size penalty.
- Does WebP support transparency as well as PNG?
- Yes — full 8-bit alpha transparency, identical to PNG. WebP's transparency support has been universal since the format's launch.
- What about animated graphics?
- Use animated WebP. Animated PNG (APNG) exists but isn't reliably rendered outside Firefox and Safari. For cross-browser animated graphics on the modern web, WebP is the only mainstream choice.
- Will lossless WebP look the same as PNG?
- Yes — both are lossless, so both produce bit-identical decoded output. The only difference is the size of the file on disk and the compatibility of the client rendering it.