WebP Converter topic guide
WebP vs JPEG: when to use each
Direct answer
WebP is usually 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPEG at the same visual quality, and every modern browser reads it. JPEG still has legitimate uses: it works everywhere, every image tool opens it, and it is the format most non-web destinations still ask for. Use WebP for web delivery where you can serve a JPEG fallback. Use JPEG for email, photo printing and any destination that explicitly asks for it.
What this workflow handles
The decision is mostly about destination, not file size. If the file will be served from a website or web app, WebP wins on payload and is safe to serve because every browser since Safari 14 (2020) reads it. If the file leaves the web - email, print, a marketplace upload that rejects WebP, a desktop publishing tool - JPEG is the smaller-compatibility-risk choice. The Google Developers WebP page, the web.dev modern-formats guide and the MDN compatibility table are the first-party references that back the comparison.
Use the webp converter to convert a single image to WebP at the original pixel dimensions, then compare the byte counts in the result panel before keeping the output.
How to use it
- Decide where the image will live (web, email, print, social, marketplace).
- If it is for the web, run the source through the WebP Converter to produce a smaller WebP at the same dimensions.
- Keep the original (or a JPEG export) as the fallback for browsers and tools that cannot decode WebP.
- Compare the WebP and JPEG byte counts in the result panel - if the WebP is not actually smaller, ship the JPEG and skip the conversion.
- Reference both files from a <picture> element with a <source type="image/webp"> and a <source type="image/jpeg">, or from the simplest markup that matches the destination.
Frequently asked questions
Is WebP better than JPEG?
For web delivery, yes in most cases. Google's WebP documentation reports that WebP lossy images are 25 to 34 percent smaller than comparable JPEGs at the same SSIM-equivalent quality, and the web.dev modern-formats guide recommends WebP alongside AVIF for web performance work. For non-web destinations (email, photo printing, marketplace uploads) JPEG remains the safer default because it is accepted everywhere with no fallback needed.
Do all browsers support WebP?
Every modern major browser does: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (since version 14, released September 2020) and Opera. For older Safari or older client software, the MDN compatibility table is the canonical reference. The safe pattern for web pages is to ship WebP in a <picture> element with a JPEG <source> as fallback, so old browsers fall through to JPEG automatically.
Is WebP always smaller than JPEG?
No. WebP is usually smaller at the same visual quality, but the actual result depends on the image content. A small flat-colour icon can end up similar in size or slightly larger than the source JPEG because WebP carries per-frame metadata the source does not. Always compare the file sizes before keeping a converted file.
Can I use WebP in email or print?
Generally no. Most email clients (Gmail, Outlook desktop, Apple Mail) and most print pipelines still ask for JPEG, PNG or TIFF. WebP support in email is not consistent enough to rely on. The web.dev modern-formats guide recommends WebP for web performance work specifically, not for email or print.
Should I keep a JPEG fallback when I serve WebP?
Yes, especially if any of your visitors may be on older browsers, in a corporate environment with locked-down clients, or scraping your page with a tool that does not decode WebP. The WHATWG HTML Living Standard describes the <picture> element and <source type> fallback pattern that lets a browser pick the first format it supports, so a WebP-first, JPEG-fallback ship costs nothing for modern browsers and keeps old clients working.
Explore the webp converter topic cluster
Each guide answers a different format-decision question. Pick the one that matches your situation, then use the linked tool to produce the output you need.