WebP vs PNG
Both WebP and PNG support full transparency and lossless compression. WebP adds a lossy mode and usually produces smaller files, while PNG offers universal compatibility and is the standard for editing and exchanging graphics.
Short answer
On a website, WebP is usually the better choice: lossless WebP is commonly around a quarter smaller than PNG, and lossy WebP with transparency can be dramatically smaller for photographic cut-outs. Keep PNG for editing, for sharing with others, and for anywhere WebP isn’t accepted.
| WebP | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy or lossless, chosen when saving | Lossless only |
| Quality | Lossless mode is pixel-exact; lossy mode approximates | Always pixel-exact |
| Transparency | 8-bit alpha in both lossy and lossless modes | 8-bit or 16-bit alpha |
| Animation | Yes, widely used | APNG, less common |
| File size for photos | Lossy: a small fraction of PNG | Very large |
| File size for graphics | Lossless often around 25% smaller than PNG | Baseline; good with optimization |
| Browser support | All current browsers | Universal |
| Editing and re-saving | Lossless mode is safe; lossy mode degrades | Safe to re-save indefinitely |
| Color depth | 8 bits per channel | 8 or 16 bits per channel |
| Best for | Web delivery of graphics and cut-outs | Editing, exchange, screenshots, print-ready graphics |
Lossless WebP vs PNG
When both formats store exact pixels, WebP’s lossless codec usually wins on size. It uses several tricks PNG lacks: a cache of recently used colors, back-references to pixel runs anywhere above, and transforms that separate color channels before compression. Screenshots and flat graphics typically come out noticeably smaller, with no visual difference at all.
PNG still has advantages: 16-bit channels, wider support in editors, and the ability to be optimized further without any change to pixels. An optimized PNG closes some, but usually not all, of the gap.
Lossy WebP with transparency
This is where WebP has no real PNG equivalent. A product photo with its background removed must be a large truecolor PNG to keep its soft edges. As lossy WebP, the photo part is compressed like a JPG while the alpha channel stays lossless, often making the file many times smaller with clean edges.
Which should I use?
Pick by destination and by whether you will edit again:
- Logos and icons on your website: lossless WebP, or SVG if you have vector artwork
- Cut-out product photos on an online store: lossy WebP at quality 80–90
- Screenshots for documentation pages: lossless WebP for the site, PNG for the source files
- Graphics you send to a designer or printer: PNG
- A WebP downloaded from a site that your editor won’t open: WebP to PNG keeps transparency
Converting PNG to WebP
PNG to WebP keeps transparency and uses a quality slider with a default of 85, which gives lossy output well suited to photos and cut-outs. For flat graphics, compare the result with the original at full size before replacing it, and keep the PNG as your master. Our PNG to WebP guide covers settings in more detail.
Switch between WebP and PNG
PNG to WEBP
Swap heavy PNG files for WebP on your website without losing transparent backgrounds.
CONVERT · WEBP → PNGWEBP to PNG
Turn WebP images into PNG when you need to edit them, keep a transparent background, or use them in…
COMPRESS · WEBPCompress WEBP
Re-encode WebP images at the quality you choose to make them lighter for the web.
COMPRESS · PNGCompress PNG
Cut PNG screenshots, icons and graphics down by reducing them to a smaller color palette.
Questions
Does WebP support transparency like PNG?
Yes. WebP has a full 8-bit alpha channel in both its lossless and lossy modes, so soft shadows and anti-aliased edges look the same as in a PNG. Lossy WebP with alpha is especially efficient for photos with removed backgrounds.
Is WebP lossless?
It can be. WebP has a dedicated lossless mode that stores every pixel exactly, as PNG does, as well as a lossy mode. The file extension is the same for both, so the choice depends on how the image was saved.
Will converting PNG to WebP reduce quality?
Only if lossy WebP is used. With a quality setting around 85, photos and cut-outs look the same at normal viewing size. Sharp text and pixel art can show slight softening in lossy mode, so check those or keep them as PNG.
Should I keep my original PNG files?
Yes. PNG is the better format for editing and exchanging graphics, and it is accepted everywhere. Treat WebP as the delivery copy for your website, generated from the PNG masters whenever they change.