Tech Comparisons
PNG vs WebP
WebP is the modern image format designed by Google to supersede PNG and JPEG. But is it ready to replace PNG completely?
| Feature | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless compression with larger file sizes. | Both lossy and lossless compression. 25-35% smaller than PNG. |
| Transparency | Full alpha channel support. | Full alpha channel support with better compression. |
| Browser Support | Universal support across all browsers. | 97%+ modern browser support (not IE11). |
| Animation | Not supported (requires APNG). | Supports animation natively. |
| Quality | Pixel-perfect lossless quality. | Near-identical quality with smaller file sizes. |
PNG Pros & Cons
Pros
- Universal browser support
- Pixel-perfect quality
- Widely supported by image editors
- No licensing issues
Cons
- Larger file sizes
- No animation support
- Slower page load times
WebP Pros & Cons
Pros
- 25-35% smaller file sizes
- Both lossy and lossless modes
- Native animation support
- Excellent transparency compression
Cons
- No IE11 support
- Limited support in older tools
- Requires fallback images for legacy browsers
Verdict
WebP is the superior choice for modern websites due to significantly smaller file sizes and excellent quality. Use PNG as a fallback for legacy browsers or when working with tools that don't support WebP yet. With 97%+ browser support, WebP is ready for production use with proper fallback strategies.