Image Formats
PNG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format Should You Use?
A practical comparison of PNG, WebP, and AVIF for website images, transparency, screenshots, photos, and browser support.
Use PNG when you need a clean source file, exact pixels, or broad compatibility with design tools. Use WebP when you want smaller website delivery files with good browser support. Consider AVIF when you are optimizing heavily and can test the full publishing workflow.
Quick decision table
| Need | Better starting point |
|---|---|
| Transparent logo source | PNG |
| Website screenshot delivery | WebP |
| Product photo delivery | WebP or AVIF |
| Lossless editing | PNG |
| Aggressive page-weight reduction | AVIF after testing |
Try PNG to WebP when you have large PNG files and want a fast delivery copy.
FAQ
Is WebP always better than PNG?
No. WebP is often smaller for delivery, but PNG can be better for editable source files, tiny graphics, and exact lossless workflows.
Should I use AVIF for every image?
AVIF can be very efficient, but encoding can be slower and workflow support varies. Test it before making it the only format.