WebP is the better image format for most websites in 2026. It produces files that are 25% to 34% smaller than JPG at equivalent visual quality, and it is now supported by 97% of browsers in use worldwide. JPG is still the safer pick when you need universal compatibility, print-ready files, or the simplest export from a camera or photo editor.
That short answer does not tell the whole story. The format you pick quietly shapes your featured image size, your Core Web Vitals, your storage bill, and how well your pages rank. This guide breaks down the real differences between JPG and WebP, shows you when each one wins, and walks through two easy ways to convert JPG files to WebP on your computer or inside WordPress.
If you are still confused about the JPG and JPEG naming, read our JPG vs JPEG comparison first, then come back here.
What is JPG?
JPG, also written as JPEG, stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. The format was standardised in 1992 and has been the default image format on the web and in digital cameras for more than three decades.
JPG uses lossy compression. That means it makes files smaller by permanently throwing away image data that the human eye is less likely to notice. The trade off is simple: smaller files, slightly lower quality, and the quality drop gets worse every time you re-save the same image.
Two compression types to know before we go deeper:
- Lossy compression: Shrinks files by discarding some image data. You get a smaller file but a permanent loss in quality.
- Lossless compression: Shrinks files without throwing away any data. Files stay bigger but quality stays perfect.
Wondering why the extension is .jpg and not .jpeg? It goes back to early Windows versions like Windows 95, 98, and ME, which limited file extensions to three characters. The creators shortened .jpeg to .jpg for compatibility, and both extensions now refer to the same format.
JPG is still the most recognised image format on the web because it opens on every device, every browser, every operating system, and every photo app ever built. That universal support is its biggest strength.
Suggested Reading: JPG vs JPEG Comparison [Everything You Need To Know]
What is WebP?
WebP is a modern image format that Google released in September 2010. It was built specifically for the web, with the goal of replacing JPG, PNG, and GIF with a single format that handles all three use cases.
WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, so you can pick the right balance of quality and file size for each image. It also supports transparency (like PNG) and animation (like GIF), which makes it a true all rounder.
Before WebP, you had to pick PNG for transparent backgrounds or GIF for animation, and no single format handled both at a reasonable file size. WebP fixes that. It is a better choice than GIF for animated assets because it produces much smaller files at the same quality.
WordPress added native WebP support in version 5.8, released in July 2021. Before that release, you needed a plugin to upload or serve WebP files. Today you can drop WebP images into the media library exactly like you would a JPG.
Every major browser in current use supports WebP, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, Brave, and Samsung Internet. Most image editors, including Photoshop (via a plugin or native support from version 23.2), Affinity Photo, GIMP, and Figma, can export to WebP directly.
JPG vs WebP Compared
Here is a side by side comparison of JPG and WebP on the factors that actually affect your website:
| Factor | JPG | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy only | Lossy and lossless |
| Image Quality | Good, but shows artefacts at high compression | Generally better, especially on detailed or textured images |
| Transparency | Not supported | Supported (alpha channel) |
| Animation | Static only | Supports animation |
| Browser Support | 100% of browsers in use | 97% of browsers in use |
| File Size | Larger files | 25% to 34% smaller at the same quality |
| Loading Speed | Slower, more bytes to download | Faster, fewer bytes to download |
| SEO Impact | Neutral to slightly negative on large pages | Positive, helps Core Web Vitals |
| WordPress Support | Native since forever | Native since WordPress 5.8 (July 2021) |
JPG vs WebP: Image Quality
JPG produces good image quality at moderate compression but starts to show visible artefacts (blockiness, fuzzy edges, colour banding) once you push the quality slider below about 70%. It also degrades every time you re-save, so editing a JPG multiple times compounds the damage.
WebP was designed with the web in mind and holds its quality better under heavy compression. On images with fine detail, like product photos, screenshots, or text overlays, WebP usually looks cleaner than a JPG of the same file size.
WebP also gives you a choice of lossy or lossless compression. Pick lossless when you need perfect pixel accuracy (logos, UI screenshots, diagrams) and lossy when you need the smallest possible file (hero images, backgrounds, galleries).
Transparency and animation are where WebP clearly pulls ahead. JPG supports neither, so if you want a transparent PNG style image or an animated GIF replacement, WebP handles both in a single file at a fraction of the size.
Read Further: How to Fix Blurry Images in Elementor [SOLVED]
JPG vs WebP: File Size
File size is where WebP wins outright. According to Google’s WebP compression study, WebP files are 25% to 34% smaller than JPG files at equivalent visual quality. In practice, a 500 KB JPG hero image usually drops to 330 KB to 375 KB when converted to WebP, with no visible quality loss.
That saving compounds. On a blog post with 10 images, you might shave 2 MB to 3 MB off the total page weight. On an eCommerce category page with 40 product thumbnails, the saving easily reaches 8 MB to 12 MB per page. Less bytes means faster loads, lower bounce rates, and better Core Web Vitals scores.
JPG still has a narrow edge in one scenario: very small thumbnails (under 30 KB) where JPG’s decades-old encoder is highly optimised. In most real-world cases above that threshold, WebP is smaller.
Which is Faster: JPG or WebP?
WebP is faster on almost every real website. Smaller files mean fewer bytes over the wire, which directly translates to faster Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and better mobile performance.
WebP achieves this through predictive encoding, a technique that guesses pixel values based on neighbouring pixels and only stores the difference. Less stored data means a smaller file and faster decoding in the browser.
What is predictive encoding?
Also called delta encoding, predictive encoding compresses images by predicting each pixel’s value from its neighbours and storing only the prediction error. This dramatically reduces file size with no visible quality loss.
In Google PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse audits, one of the most common “Opportunities” is “Serve images in next-gen formats”. That recommendation is specifically asking you to switch JPG and PNG files to WebP or AVIF. Following it usually delivers a 5 to 15 point performance score improvement on image heavy pages.
When Should You Still Use JPG?
WebP is the default winner for the web, but JPG still makes sense in specific situations:
- Print and client delivery: Printers, stock photo sites, and most design clients expect JPG. WebP is still rare outside the browser.
- Email: Many email clients, especially older Outlook versions, do not render WebP. Stick with JPG for email marketing.
- Legacy systems: Internal tools, older content management systems, and some photo editors still do not handle WebP.
- Camera originals: Cameras shoot JPG (or RAW). Keep the JPG original and generate WebP copies for the web.
The best practice is to keep JPG as your archive format and use WebP as your delivery format. Store the master JPG, serve the WebP.
Which is the Best Image Format for WordPress?
For WordPress specifically, WebP is the better choice for uploaded images and served images. WordPress has supported WebP natively since version 5.8, so you can upload .webp files directly, and they work with the Media Library, Gutenberg blocks, and page builders like Elementor.
Here is a simple decision rule you can follow:
- Blog post images, hero banners, galleries: Use WebP. Faster loads, better Core Web Vitals, identical visual quality.
- Product photos: Use WebP for the catalogue and zoom views. Keep the JPG or PNG master in case you need to edit later.
- Logos and UI elements with transparency: Use WebP (lossless) instead of PNG.
- Animated elements: Use animated WebP instead of GIF.
- Email and print assets: Stick with JPG or PNG for maximum compatibility.
If you run a lot of existing content in JPG, you do not have to re-upload everything by hand. An image optimisation plugin can generate WebP copies automatically and serve them to supported browsers while falling back to JPG for the rare visitor on an unsupported browser. Popular options on the WordPress.org repository include WebP Express, Imagify, and ShortPixel.
Remember to balance file size against image quality. Aim for file sizes under 200 KB for most content images and under 500 KB for hero banners, and keep a visible quality check so nothing looks soft or blocky on a retina display.
How to Convert Images from JPG to WebP (2 Easy Methods)
Here are two simple ways to convert a JPG into a WebP file. Use the online converter when you need it once or twice, and use an image optimisation plugin when you want WordPress to handle it automatically.
Method 1: Use an Online Image Converter
Online converters are the fastest way to turn a handful of JPG files into WebP. Pixelied is a free, no signup option that converts between PNG, SVG, JPEG, WebP, and more. Other good picks include Squoosh (built by Google), CloudConvert, and Convertio.
Step 1. Select your current image format, then pick the output format. To go from JPG to WebP, choose JPG under “Convert” and WebP under “To”.
Step 2. Upload your JPG file and click Start Conversion. Give it a few seconds, then download the WebP copy. Upload the WebP to WordPress exactly like you would any other image.
Method 2: Rename the File Extension (Windows)
This method works only when the underlying image data was already saved in WebP but given a .jpg extension, which happens occasionally with downloaded files. For a true JPG file, renaming the extension will not actually change the format and can break the file. Only use this method if you know the source is WebP in disguise.
Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder that contains your image.
Step 2. In the top navigation, click View > Show > File name extensions to enable extension visibility.
Once extensions are visible, you can see each file’s real type. In this example the file is Nature.jpg.
Step 3. Rename the file from Nature.jpg to Nature.webp and press Enter. Windows will ask you to confirm the extension change. Click Yes.
Note: Always duplicate the original file before changing the extension. If the source was not actually a WebP file underneath, the rename will corrupt it and the file will stop opening in your apps.
Step 4. Right click the file and check Properties. The Type of file should now read .webp.
For any real JPG conversion you need an encoder, which is what online converters and optimisation plugins provide. For batch conversion on your own machine, free tools like Squoosh (web), ImageMagick (command line), or XnConvert (desktop) handle dozens of files at once.
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Wrapping Up
JPG and WebP both deserve a place in your workflow, but they play different roles in 2026. JPG is the compatible archive format that works everywhere, including print, email, and legacy systems. WebP is the delivery format for the web, with 25% to 34% smaller files, better compression quality, transparency, and animation all in one file.
For a WordPress site today, the practical answer is almost always: upload WebP, keep the JPG master somewhere safe, and let an image optimisation plugin handle fallbacks for the 3% of browsers that still need JPG. Your Core Web Vitals, hosting bandwidth, and search rankings will all thank you.
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