WebP vs JPG vs AVIF: Which Image Format Is Best for Websites?

If you run a website, the image format you choose affects how fast your pages load. If you just want to open or share a picture, it decides whether the file works at all. JPG has been the default for decades, but WebP and AVIF are now everywhere, and they behave quite differently.

Here is how the three compare, and which one to use in each situation.

The short answer

• JPG: the safe choice. It works everywhere, but the files are the largest of the three.
• WebP: a good all-rounder for websites. Smaller than JPG, supports transparency, and supported by all modern browsers.
• AVIF: usually the smallest files at similar quality, but slower to create and less supported outside browsers.

JPG: universal but old

JPG was designed in the early 1990s. It has no transparency and no animation, and its compression is less efficient than newer formats. What it does have is universal support: every phone, camera, editor, printer, email client and upload form can open a JPG. That is why it is still the format people ask for.

WebP: smaller files, wide support

WebP was created by Google to make web images lighter. It can compress in a lossy way like JPG or a lossless way like PNG, and it supports transparency and animation. In most cases a WebP image is noticeably smaller than a JPG of similar visual quality, often by about a quarter or more.

All current major browsers display WebP. The problems show up outside the browser: some older editors, photo galleries and upload forms still refuse WebP files, which is why people end up searching for ways to convert WebP to JPG.

AVIF: the newest and smallest

AVIF is based on the AV1 video codec. At similar quality it commonly produces files even smaller than WebP, and it supports transparency and wide color ranges. The trade-offs are that it takes longer to encode and that support in editors and devices is still catching up. Browsers handle it well, but a program from a few years ago may not open an AVIF file at all.

Comparison table

Feature	JPG	WebP	AVIF
File size	Largest	Smaller	Usually smallest
Transparency	No	Yes	Yes
Animation	No	Yes	Yes
Browser support	Everywhere	All modern browsers	All modern browsers
Editor and app support	Everywhere	Good, not universal	Still limited
Best for	Sharing, email, forms	Website images	Performance-focused sites

Which format should you use?

• Sending a picture to someone or uploading to a form: JPG. It will open for everyone.
• Images on your website: WebP is a safe upgrade from JPG and PNG. Consider AVIF if you want the smallest possible files and can offer a fallback.
• Logos and graphics with transparency: PNG or WebP. Both keep the see-through background.
• Archiving originals: keep the original file and make web copies from it.

Use a fallback on your website

If you serve AVIF or WebP, you can still support every visitor by listing formats from best to safest. The browser picks the first one it understands:

<picture>
  <source srcset="photo.avif" type="image/avif">
  <source srcset="photo.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="photo.jpg" alt="Describe the image">
</picture>

How to convert between these formats

• JPG to WebP and PNG to WebP for lighter website images.
• WebP to JPG and WebP to PNG when software or a form will not accept WebP.
• AVIF to JPG and AVIF to PNG for images saved from the web that your editor cannot open.

If you are still deciding between the older formats, see PNG vs JPG.

Frequently asked questions

Is WebP better than JPG?

For websites, usually yes: smaller files at similar quality, plus transparency. For compatibility, no. JPG still opens in more places than WebP.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

AVIF often gives smaller files at similar quality, but it is slower to encode and supported by fewer apps. WebP is the more practical choice for most people today.

Why can't I open an image I saved from a website?

Many sites serve WebP or AVIF to browsers that support them, so the file you save may be in one of those formats. Older editors and some upload forms cannot read them. Converting the file to JPG or PNG fixes that.

Will converting WebP or AVIF to JPG lower the quality?

JPG is a lossy format, so a small amount of detail can be lost, and the JPG will usually be larger than the original. For viewing and sharing the difference is rarely noticeable. Keep the original file if quality matters.

Have an image your software will not open? Try the AVIF to JPG converter or the WebP to JPG converter. Both are free and need no sign-up.