When is WEBP better than PNG?
WEBP is better than PNG when there is limited storage; this is because lossless in WEBP results in high-quality images and 26% smaller image size compared to PNG. This attribute also makes WEBP more effective when optimizing web performance and speed. Due to minimized file sizes, WEBP files use low bandwidth compared to PNG, where high bandwidth is needed to open their large files.
WEBP is better than PNG when there is a need to use animated files. The advantage of WEBP is that it supports both lossless and lossy compression methods; a single animation can combine both lossy and lossless frames, making it a versatile format for different kinds of web content compared to PNG, which does not support animation.
When is PNG better than WEBP?
PNG is better than WEBP when all image colors and very fine details must be preserved including text. It is an excellent file format option for high-quality image displays and those that necessitate support for transparency.
The file format is ideal for complex visuals demanding transparent backgrounds, unlike WEBP. PNG is the best file format for uncompressed text images since it results in 3.06x smaller text images than WEBP.
One of the benefits of PNG that makes it better than WEBP is its images, which have sharp edges and lines, given that such features can emerge blurred in WEBP lossy compression.
Table Comparison
Aspect/Factor | PNG | WEBP |
Transparency | Supports transparent backgrounds, sharp-edged graphics, and alpha channels. | Offers support for alpha transparency varied and precise transparency levels. |
File Size | Generates larger file sizes | Offers smaller file sizes |
Image Quality | Very high image quality even with repeated lossless compression | High-quality images under lossless compression |
Performance | Decreases web responsiveness and increases image loading times due to its large file sizes. | Smaller file sizes increase web responsiveness and reduce image loading times |
Structure | Raster graphics file format supports 8-bit per channel and 16 million colors. It supports 256 colors and full-color non-palette images with 32-bit RGBA or 24-bit RGB colors. The optimal PNG file size is 2G x 2G pixels. It is a high-resolution format. | A raster graphics file format with a file size of 24 bits, supports a 24-bit RGB color bit depth, 8-bit per channel, and 16 million colors. The file format has an optimal pixel size of 16383 × 16383. Is both high and low resolution format.
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Animation | Does not offer native support for animation, which limits its usage to static images | Supports animation, by offering live, attention-catching content |
Storage | Uses VP8 and VP8L coding to store data. Needs more storage space for the compressed larger file sizes. Files are stored indefinitely. | Less storage space is needed because compressed WEBP files are smaller. Files are stored indefinitely. |
Compression | Uses lossless compression, which preserves image quality but leads to larger file sizes. | Uses both lossless and lossy compression, which results in significantly smaller images or files. |
Browser Support | Enjoys universal support across major platforms and browsers, which ensures consistent displays. | Supported mainly by major browsers including Opera, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome. Not supported by older browsers like Internet Explorer |
Differences and similarities between WEBP and PNG images
WEBP and PNG have four similarities: transparency support, compatibility with web browsers, lossless compression, and metadata support. They also have differences in compression techniques, image quality, application support, file size, and animation support.
Transparency
PNG and WEBP support transparency, making them ideal for logos, photographs, and graphics necessitating transparent backgrounds. Nonetheless, PNG is known for its alpha channel transparency, which allows for sharp-edged graphics and transparent backgrounds.
On the other hand, WEBP supports alpha transparency, which enables varied and precise transparency levels. It supports metadata, and color profiles as is the case of PNG.
File Size
Trade-offs exist with each file format concerning image file sizes. The lossless compressed PNG images are 26% larger than WEBP images. However, the lossy compression further reduces WEBP image sizes compared to PNG, with other image details deleted.
Very simple images and more complex or highly colored images may not compress under lossless conditions. Hence, specific consideration must be given to each image format size while selecting the file format.
Image Quality
WEBP and PNG use lossless compression, ensuring more complex image details and colors are preserved. This results in high-quality images in both cases, although WEBP offers the best balance between smaller file sizes and quality than PNGs' larger file sizes and high quality.
PNG works seamlessly for simple and complex images and delivers high-quality images. PNG high-quality images are popular among icons and logos. Conversely, WEBP is known for high-quality animations and graphics. The specific image qualities can impact WEBP and PNG in both cases.
Performance
WEBP can efficiently compress graphics and pictures while maintaining their high-quality features. Its images' compact sizes make them ideal for saving bandwidth, improving webpage loading speed, and providing a pleasant user experience compared to PNG.
PNG lossless compression, however, ensures that all image data and high-quality visuals are preserved. Even so, the high quality of PNG images comes at the cost of large file sizes. The file format is larger compared to WEBP, resulting in slow webpage loading time and more bandwidth consumption.
PNG offers versatility and excellent quality, but it is hardly the most efficient choice in terms of performance compared to WEBP.
Structure
PNG and WEBP are raster graphics file formats. Both support 8-bit per channel and 16 million colors. WEBP file format has an optimal pixel size of 16383 × 16383.
PNG has no size limit. The file is 140 GB or even larger. The optimal PNG file size is 2G x 2G pixels. PNG images are high-resolution formats, with 300 pixels per inch.
WEBP is both a low- and high-resolution format. Its image resolution depends entirely on the original image's resolution, encrypted into the WEBP format.
Animation
PNG does not support animation. WEBP file format combines efficient lossless and lossy compression, increasing its support for transparency and making it ideal for animated images and graphics.
Its unique advantage over PNGs becomes apparent in the context of animated content. WEBP file format surpasses the precincts of static pictures and boasts vigorous support for animations.
WEBP can deliver lively and attention-catching content for engaging and captivating website visitors. This gives it a competitive edge over PNG.
Storage
PNG files are comparatively larger compared to WEBP images. The larger bandwidths of PNG files lead to storage constraints, especially in constrained storage mediums such as mobile networks or file systems including hard disks.
WEBP, on the other hand, are smaller, necessitating simple and less storage space. However, both file formats can be stored indefinitely using the same mediums.
Compression
WEBP and PNG each make use of different image compression methods. PNG uses a lossless compression technique, which ensures that all image attributes are preserved during compression. This results in high-quality PNG images, although they are larger compared to WEBP.
WEBP, in contrast, uses both lossy and lossless compression techniques. The efficient and advanced compression algorithms used when minimizing image sizes preserve image qualities.
WEBP lossy compression minimizes image size by selectively deleting unnecessary file information. This results in smaller image sizes except for the slight loss in quality.
WEBP attains the best compression ratio compared to PNG, particularly for photographic images. Its lossless images are 26% smaller size-wise than PNG images.
The quality-preserving compression technique and smaller high-quality image size make WEBP a versatile choice for websites that strive to enhance the general user experience and faster loading time.
Browser Support
PNG is an older and well-established image format compared with WEBP. It enjoys universal support for all browsers, including Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
WEBP, however, is a relatively new file format introduced in 2010 and is only supported by all modern browsers, but not less popular or older browsers like Internet Explorer.
Users encounter compatibility issues when opening WEBP files in older/less popular browsers. WEBP images may not be displayed correctly in certain devices and older browsers.
WEBP browser support continues to increase, making it a noble option for web use particularly when a fallback to a new generally supported file format is offered.
Conclusion
PNG and WEBP file formats, each possess their weaknesses and strengths. WEBP offers smaller image or file sizes and enhanced web responsiveness or faster loading time. Such attributes make the WEPB file format ideal for online usage.
WEBP file format similarly supports animation and transparency, making it a versatile image format.
Conversely, PNG provides the highest quality files or images, albeit at the expense of larger file sizes. The file format equally supports an alpha channel and transparency. These features make PNG the preferred choice for logos and graphics necessitating transparent backgrounds.
Eventually, the choice between PNG and WEBP largely depends on the demands of the users' website. WEBP is the best choice when smaller file sizes and faster loading times are required.
On the other hand, the PNG file format is ideal when high-quality images are needed, and users hardly mind the bulk of the files involved. It is the most preferred file format choice when image quality can hardly be sacrificed.