Image Compression Compared: WebP vs JPEG vs PNG vs AVIF

Compression ratios vary by content type. Photographs, graphics, and illustrations compress differently in each format. Understanding the trade-offs helps you choose wisely.

Photographs (Natural Imagery)

Compression ranking: AVIF (best), WebP, JPEG. A typical 200KB JPEG becomes 100–120KB in WebP and 60–80KB in AVIF. AVIF wins for photos.

Graphics and Illustrations

Compression ranking: PNG (best), WebP, GIF, AVIF. Simple graphics compress better in PNG due to flat colors. WebP is smaller than GIF.

Transparency (Alpha Channel)

PNG and WebP support transparency. JPEG and AVIF do not (without extra complexity). For images needing transparency, PNG is the traditional choice, WebP is modern.

Animation

Compression ranking: WebP (best), AVIF, GIF. A 1MB GIF becomes 600KB WebP. GIF animation is inherently inefficient.

File Size Summary

JPEG 100KB → WebP 70KB, PNG 30KB (graphics), AVIF 60KB (photos). The "best" format depends entirely on content.

Practical Recommendation

Use AVIF+WebP for photographs. Use PNG for graphics and icons. Use WebP for animations. This covers 95% of web images.

Benchmark Your Content

Convert sample images to each format with QuickConvert and compare compression ratios for your specific content type.