The short answer
WebP is the more modern format: it can do everything PNG can — lossless compression and full transparency — but produces noticeably smaller files. For the web, WebP is usually the better choice. PNG stays relevant where maximum compatibility with old software matters, or as a universally accepted fallback.
What PNG and WebP have in common
Both formats can store images losslessly — no pixel is discarded — and both support a full alpha channel for transparency. That makes both suitable for logos, icons, screenshots and graphics with sharp edges. The crucial difference is efficiency.
The key difference: file size
WebP compresses more efficiently than PNG. A lossless WebP is typically 20–30% smaller than the equivalent PNG, at identical quality. And WebP has a second trick PNG lacks: it can also compress lossily (like JPG). So a photo-heavy graphic can be saved as a small lossy WebP, while PNG would only offer the large lossless option.
| Property | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless compression | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Lossy compression | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Transparency (alpha) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Animation | ❌ No (APNG separate) | ✅ Yes |
| File size (graphic) | Larger | ~20–30% smaller |
| Browser support | Universal | All modern browsers |
When WebP wins
- On your own modern website — smaller files mean faster loads, and every current browser displays WebP.
- Logos and graphics with transparency — lossless WebP replaces PNG at a smaller size.
- Screenshots and UI graphics — sharp, transparent, and lighter than PNG.
When PNG stays the safer bet
- Maximum compatibility — very old software, some email clients or legacy systems may not render WebP.
- As a universal fallback — combined with WebP via the picture element, PNG catches the rare browser that can't handle WebP.
- When a tool in your workflow only accepts PNG.
The practical recommendation
For new web projects: use WebP, with a PNG fallback only where you truly need to reach very old software. WebP gives you PNG's strengths — lossless quality and transparency — at a smaller size, and adds lossy mode and animation on top. PNG remains the reliable, universally understood format when compatibility outranks file size.
💡 Tip: With JNRT Pixel you can compress PNG and convert PNG to WebP directly in the browser — no upload, free, and instant.
Conclusion
PNG and WebP solve the same jobs — graphics, transparency, lossless quality — but WebP does it with smaller files and more flexibility. Reach for WebP on the modern web, keep PNG as the compatibility safety net.