WebP vs JPEG vs PNG: Which Format Should You Use in Framer?In this article
- The Three Contenders
- Browser Support
- Real-World Comparison
- When to Use Each Format
- How to Convert in Skwiz
- Advanced WebP Settings
Choosing the right image format isn't just a technical decision - it directly impacts your site's performance, visual quality, and user experience. Yet most Framer designers default to whatever format their design tool exports, without considering whether it's actually the best choice.
Let's break down each format, when to use it, and how to make the switch painlessly.
The Three Contenders
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
The veteran. JPEG has been the web's default photo format since the 1990s. It uses lossy compression - meaning it permanently discards some image data to reduce file size.
Best for:
- Photographs and complex images with many colors
- Hero images, backgrounds, and portfolio shots
- Any image where small quality loss is acceptable
Not great for:
- Images with text overlays (text gets blurry)
- Graphics with sharp edges or flat colors
- Images that need transparency
- Images that will be edited again later (quality degrades with each save)
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG supports lossless compression - no data is lost. It also supports transparency (alpha channel), making it essential for certain use cases.
Best for:
- Logos and icons
- Screenshots with text
- Graphics with transparency
- Illustrations with flat colors and sharp edges
WebP
Developed by Google, WebP is the modern format that aims to replace both JPEG and PNG. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency, and even animation.
Best for: almost everything. Photos (lossy WebP is 25-35% smaller than equivalent JPEG), graphics with transparency (lossless WebP is 26% smaller than PNG), and any image where you want the smallest file size without visible quality loss.
Browser Support
This used to be the main argument against WebP. Not anymore.
| Browser | WebP Support |
|---|---|
| Chrome | Since 2014 |
| Firefox | Since 2019 |
| Safari | Since 2020 (macOS Big Sur / iOS 14) |
| Edge | Since 2018 |
As of 2026, WebP is supported by over 97% of all browsers globally.
Real-World Comparison
Here's what happens when you take a typical Framer hero image (2400x1600 photo) and export it in each format:
| Format | Settings | File Size | Visual Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Default | 4.2 MB | Perfect (lossless) |
| JPEG | Quality 85 | 420 KB | Excellent |
| WebP | Quality 85 | 290 KB | Excellent |
| WebP | Quality 75 | 195 KB | Good |
When to Use Each Format in Framer
Use WebP for:
- Hero images and backgrounds
- Portfolio and gallery images
- CMS content images (blog posts, product photos)
- Any photo or complex image
Use PNG for:
- Favicons and app icons
- Small UI elements where pixel-perfect edges matter
- Images with transparency AND sharp text
Use JPEG for:
- Very little in 2026. WebP beats it in almost every scenario.
- Maximum compatibility with legacy systems
How to Convert in Skwiz
- Load your images - scan your project, page, or CMS collection
- Select format - choose WebP, JPEG, or PNG from the format dropdown
- Adjust quality - use the quality slider (80-85 is the sweet spot for WebP)
- Preview - compare before/after to verify quality
- Replace - batch-replace all images in one click
Advanced WebP Settings
- Effort (0-6) - Higher values produce smaller files but take longer to encode. Use 4-6 for production.
- Lossless mode - For graphics and screenshots where you need pixel-perfect accuracy.
- Auto quality - Let the encoder choose the optimal quality level based on image content.