WebP vs PNG: Which One Should You Use (and When Converting Makes Sense)

Short answer: use WebP for images on a website and PNG for anything you edit, print, archive or upload to a service that may not accept WebP. Both keep transparency. WebP is usually smaller, but "usually" is the key word, and there is one case where it can come out almost the same size or even bigger. The details are below.

Convert PNG to WebP

The difference in one table

The important line is the compression row. A PNG always stores every pixel exactly. A WebP can do the same (lossless mode) or throw away detail the eye barely notices (lossy mode) to get a much smaller file. Which mode you get depends on the tool that created the file.

How much smaller is WebP, really?

Google, which created the format, says lossless WebP files are about 26% smaller than PNG, and that lossy WebP with transparency is roughly three times smaller than the equivalent PNG.

We checked this with Ident Convert's own PNG to WebP settings (standard quality 80, transparency kept). This is a small sample, not a benchmark, but it shows the pattern:

Two things stand out. First, WebP was clearly smaller in all three cases. Second, the flat logo barely shrank at quality 80 (75% of the original), while the lossless version was 41%. Lossy compression is built for photos and gradients; on flat colors and sharp edges it can waste space. If your image is a logo or a diagram and you care about size, lossless WebP is the better option, and not every converter offers it.

When PNG is still the better choice

• You are going to edit the image again. Every re-save of a lossy file loses a little more detail. A PNG does not.
• It is going to print or be handed to a designer.
• The place you upload to rejects WebP. Many job portals, government forms, older CMS plugins and email clients still only accept JPG and PNG.
• It is a screenshot you must keep pixel-exact, for example for documentation or a bug report.
• You need one file that opens on any computer without checking the software.

When WebP is the better choice

• Images on a website or in an app. Smaller files load faster, and about 97% of browsers worldwide now support WebP according to caniuse. Chrome, Edge and Firefox have supported it for years, and Safari has full support from version 16.
• Large transparent graphics where PNG gets heavy.
• Animated images. An animated WebP is usually far smaller than the same GIF.

"Why did my image download as WebP?"

This is the most common reason people search for the topic. Many websites store images as WebP, and when you right-click and save, the browser saves the original file as it is, without converting it. If you need that picture in another program, convert it:

• WebP to PNG if you want to edit it or keep transparency: WebP to PNG
• WebP to JPG if it is a photo and you need the smallest widely-accepted file: WebP to JPG

One honest limit: converting WebP to PNG does not bring back detail that a lossy WebP already threw away. The pixels are copied exactly as they are, and the PNG is often larger than the WebP you started with. That is normal, not a problem with the conversion.

How to convert between them

1. Open the Ident Convert converter and upload your image.
2. Pick PNG or WebP as the output.
3. Download the result.

What happens to your image:

• PNG to WebP (page): transparency is kept. The output is lossy WebP at standard quality, so use it for web images, not for files you still need to edit.
• WebP to PNG (page): the output is lossless PNG with transparency, and animated WebP uses its first frame.
• JPG to WebP (page): a good way to shrink website photos.

Quick decision guide

Ask where the image will live:

• On a web page or in an app → WebP.
• In a design file, a document, a print job or an upload form → PNG (or JPG for photos).
• Not sure whether the destination accepts WebP → keep a PNG copy, since it works everywhere.

You can keep both: store the PNG as your master and export a WebP for the website.

Frequently asked questions

Is WebP better than PNG?

For websites, usually yes, because the files are smaller. For editing, printing and compatibility, PNG is still the safer format. Neither one is better in every situation.

Does WebP lose quality compared to PNG?

Only in lossy mode. Lossless WebP keeps every pixel, like PNG. Lossy WebP removes some detail to save space, and it is usually hard to see on photos and noticeable on sharp text or thin lines.

Does WebP support transparency?

Yes. Both lossless and lossy WebP can have a transparent background, so you can use WebP for logos and cut-out images on websites.

Can every device open WebP?

Modern browsers and phones do. Some older desktop programs, upload forms and print services do not, which is why people convert to PNG or JPG.

Are my images kept after converting?

No. Files are processed for the conversion and removed afterward. The Privacy Policy has the exact details.

Related guides

• How to Convert WebP to JPG or PNG
• How to Convert HEIC to JPG
• How to Convert JPG to PDF Online

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