Best Image Formats for Web 2025: PNG vs JPG vs WebP vs AVIF

Why Image Format Matters

Images account for 50-70% of a webpage's total size. Choosing the right image format can dramatically reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality, improving page load times, SEO rankings, and user experience.

Image Format Comparison: Quick Overview

Format	Best For	Transparency	Animation	Compression	Browser Support
AVIF	Modern web (2025)	✓	✓	Excellent	90%+
WebP	Modern web	✓	✓	Very Good	95%+
JPG	Photos	✗	✗	Good	100%
PNG	Logos, graphics	✓	✗	Fair	100%
SVG	Icons, logos	✓	✓	Excellent	100%
GIF	Simple animations	✓	✓	Poor	100%

AVIF: The New King (2025)

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is the newest and most efficient image format. Based on the AV1 video codec, it offers superior compression compared to all other formats.

Advantages:

• ✅ 50% smaller than JPG at same quality
• ✅ 20-30% smaller than WebP
• ✅ Supports transparency and HDR
• ✅ Supports animation
• ✅ Better quality at smaller sizes

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Slower encoding/decoding than WebP
• ❌ Limited editing tool support
• ❌ Not supported on older browsers

When to Use AVIF:

• New websites targeting modern browsers
• When file size is critical (mobile-first sites)
• High-quality product photos
• With fallback to WebP/JPG for older browsers

WebP: The Reliable Choice

WebP has been the modern web standard since 2020. It offers excellent compression with great browser support.

Advantages:

• ✅ 25-35% smaller than JPG/PNG
• ✅ Supports both lossy and lossless compression
• ✅ Supports transparency and animation
• ✅ 95%+ browser support (all modern browsers)
• ✅ Fast encoding/decoding

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not supported in IE11 and older browsers
• ❌ Limited support in editing software (improving)

When to Use WebP:

• Default choice for modern websites in 2025
• Photos, illustrations, graphics
• When you need transparency
• As fallback for AVIF

JPG/JPEG: The Universal Standard

JPG has been the web standard for photographs for 30 years. While newer formats are better, JPG remains important for universal compatibility.

Advantages:

• ✅ Universal browser support (100%)
• ✅ Small file sizes for photos
• ✅ Supported by all tools and devices
• ✅ Progressive loading option

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Lossy compression (quality loss)
• ❌ No transparency support
• ❌ Artifacts with high compression
• ❌ Larger than WebP/AVIF

When to Use JPG:

• Photographs and images with many colors
• When you need maximum compatibility
• As final fallback in picture element
• Email newsletters and older systems

PNG: For Transparency and Graphics

PNG excels at graphics with transparency and images requiring lossless compression.

Advantages:

• ✅ Lossless compression (no quality loss)
• ✅ Excellent transparency support (alpha channel)
• ✅ Perfect for screenshots, logos, graphics
• ✅ Universal support

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Much larger file sizes than JPG for photos
• ❌ No animation support (use APNG instead)
• ❌ Overkill for simple graphics (use SVG)

When to Use PNG:

• Logos and graphics with transparency
• Screenshots and UI elements
• Images requiring lossless quality
• When WebP isn't supported but transparency needed

SVG: Scalable Vector Graphics

SVG is fundamentally different - it's vector-based, not raster. Perfect for graphics that need to scale.

Advantages:

• ✅ Infinitely scalable without quality loss
• ✅ Tiny file sizes for simple graphics
• ✅ Can be edited with code (CSS, JavaScript)
• ✅ SEO-friendly (text is searchable)
• ✅ Supports animation

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Not suitable for photos or complex images
• ❌ File size increases with complexity
• ❌ Can impact performance if too complex

When to Use SVG:

• Icons and simple illustrations
• Logos and brand graphics
• Infographics and diagrams
• Responsive graphics that need to scale