WebP vs AVIF vs JPEG: Which Image Format Should You Use?
The choice between image formats is one of the most common decisions web developers and content creators face today. With modern formats like WebP and AVIF challenging the decades-old JPEG standard, understanding the trade-offs has never been more important.
JPEG: The Reliable Standard
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) has been the standard format for photographs on the web since the mid-1990s. It uses lossy compression to achieve small file sizes and is universally supported by every browser, operating system, and image viewer in existence.
Strengths: Universal compatibility, mature ecosystem, predictable behavior. Weaknesses: No transparency support, no lossless mode, visible artifacts at low quality settings.
WebP: The Modern Workhorse
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google, first released in 2010. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as animation and transparency (alpha channel). WebP typically achieves 25-35% smaller file sizes than JPEG at equivalent visual quality.
Strengths: Excellent compression, transparency support, animation support, 97%+ browser support. Weaknesses: Slightly slower to encode than JPEG, not yet universal in native OS support.
AVIF: The Bleeding Edge
AVIF is the newest contender, based on the AV1 video codec. It achieves remarkable compression ratios — often 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality. It supports HDR, wide color gamut, and both lossy and lossless modes.
Strengths: Best-in-class compression, HDR support, wide color gamut. Weaknesses: Slow encoding speed, still growing browser support (~93%), larger memory usage during decoding.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | JPEG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy only | Lossy + Lossless | Lossy + Lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | Yes | Yes |
| File size | Baseline | 25-35% smaller | 40-50% smaller |
| Browser support | Universal | 97%+ | ~93% |
| Encoding speed | Fast | Medium | Slow |
Practical Recommendations
- Use WebP as your default for most web images. It offers the best balance of compression, features, and browser support.
- Use AVIF for hero images and other high-priority visuals where maximum compression matters and you can afford slower encoding.
- **Keep JPEG as a fallback** using the
<picture>element for the small percentage of users on older browsers.
- Use PNG for graphics that need lossless quality or transparency with sharp edges (logos, screenshots, UI elements).
PicTools makes it easy to convert between JPEG, WebP, PNG, and other formats directly in your browser. No file uploads, no quality loss from server-side processing — just fast, private conversion on your device.