JPG vs WebP: Which Should You Use?

File size at matched quality

In practice WebP lands 25–35% smaller than JPEG for the same perceived quality on photographs, and considerably smaller on flat graphics where JPEG struggles with sharp edges.

What WebP adds

• Transparency, which JPEG cannot do at all.
• Lossless mode, useful for graphics and screenshots.
• Animation, as a lighter alternative to GIF.

When to stay with JPEG

• Files you email or hand to a client who may open them in older software.
• Print workflows and stock submissions, which often require JPEG or TIFF.
• Uploads to platforms that re-encode anyway — the saving is lost.

A simple rule

Use WebP for anything you publish on a page you control, and JPEG for anything that leaves your control. Convert rather than re-export from the original when you only need the format changed.