WebP vs. AVIF vs. JPEG: The 2026 Format Guide
The landscape of image formats has evolved rapidly. While JPEG was the unchallenged ruler for decades, new contenders like WebP and AVIF are changing the rules of web performance.
JPEG: The Universal Reliable Choice
JPEG (or JPG) has been around since 1992. Its primary advantage is absolute universal compatibility. Every browser, every phone, and every smart fridge can display a JPEG. It's a "lossy" format, meaning it's great for photos but struggles with text and sharp edges.
**Best for:** General photography where compatibility is more important than extreme file size savings.
WebP: The New Modern Standard
Developed by Google, WebP provides superior lossy and lossless compression. It also supports transparency (unlike JPEG) and animation (unlike PNG). Most modern websites have already switched to WebP because it is typically 25% smaller than an equivalent JPEG.
**Best for:** Almost everything on the web today. It's the "sweet spot" of performance and compatibility.
AVIF: The Future of Efficiency
AVIF is the newest major format, derived from the AV1 video codec. It offers incredible compression—often 50% smaller than JPEG. It supports high dynamic range (HDR) and better color depth. However, it requires more computer power to encode and decode, and some very old browsers still don't support it.
**Best for:** Cutting-edge websites looking for the absolute smallest file sizes possible.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | JPEG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Good | Very Good | Excellent |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility | 100% | ~95% | ~85% |
The Verdict
If you're not sure which to choose, **WebP is the winner.** It is supported by all modern versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, and the file size savings are massive. You can batch-convert your entire library to WebP right now using Resize.one's Converter tool.
Why Should You Care?
Google uses "Largest Contentful Paint" as a ranking factor. Smaller images (AVIF/WebP) load faster, which lowers your LCP score and improves your SEO. It's not just about saving data; it's about being visible on the first page of search results.
How to Transition
You don't have to choose just one. Many developers use a "fallback" strategy in HTML:
<picture>
<source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif">
<source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">
</picture>This tells the browser: "Try AVIF first. If you can't, try WebP. If you can't even do that, just show the old-school JPEG."
Conclusion
The time of JPEG-only websites is over. To stay competitive, you need to leverage the power of WebP and AVIF. Use Resize.one to prepare your images in these modern formats and watch your site's performance metrics soar.