WebP vs JPEG: Which Format is Better for SEO?

You’ve probably heard the buzz about WebP being the “future” of web images, but you might be wondering if it’s actually better than good old JPEG for your website’s SEO.

The short answer? It depends on your specific needs, but WebP generally wins when it comes to SEO performance. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about the webp vs jpeg debate so you can make the right choice for your website.

Why Image Format Matters for SEO

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s talk about why your image format choice actually impacts your search rankings.

Google has been crystal clear about this: page speed is a ranking factor. When your images load faster, your entire page loads faster, which means:

Better user experience
Lower bounce rates
Higher search engine rankings
Improved Core Web Vitals scores

Your image format plays a huge role in how quickly your pages load, especially on mobile devices where most people browse the web today.

WebP vs JPEG: The Key Differences

File Size and Compression

Here’s where WebP really shines. WebP images are typically 25-35% smaller than JPEG images at the same quality level.

Let’s say you have a product photo that’s 100KB as a JPEG. That same image converted to WebP might only be 65-70KB while looking virtually identical to your visitors.

Those savings add up quickly when you have dozens or hundreds of images on your website. A faster-loading page means happy visitors and better SEO performance.

Image Quality

Both formats can produce high-quality images, but they handle compression differently:

JPEG uses lossy compression, which means some image data gets permanently removed to reduce file size. The more you compress, the more quality you lose.

WebP also uses lossy compression by default, but it’s much more efficient. You can achieve smaller file sizes with less quality loss compared to JPEG. WebP also supports lossless compression if you need it.

Browser Support

This used to be WebP’s biggest weakness, but not anymore. As of 2025, WebP is supported by:

Chrome (all versions since 2010)
Firefox (since 2019)
Safari (since 2020)
Edge (since 2018)

That covers over 95% of web users. The remaining browsers that don’t support WebP are mostly older versions that very few people use today.

Which Format Wins for SEO?

WebP Takes the Lead

WebP is generally better for SEO because of its superior compression and smaller file sizes. Here’s why:

Faster Loading Times: Smaller files mean faster page speeds, which Google loves. Every millisecond counts when it comes to user experience.

Better Core Web Vitals: WebP helps improve your Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) scores, which is one of Google’s key ranking factors.

Mobile Performance: With mobile-first indexing, having lighter images gives you a serious advantage on slower mobile connections.

When JPEG Still Makes Sense

Don’t throw away all your JPEGs just yet. There are still some scenarios where JPEG might be the better choice:

Legacy System Support: If you’re working with older content management systems or have specific technical constraints.

Photography Websites: For professional photography sites where every detail matters, JPEG might still be preferred by some photographers.

Existing Workflow: If you have thousands of existing JPEG images and limited resources for conversion.

How to Implement WebP for Better SEO

Start with New Images

For any new images you add to your website, consider using WebP format. Most modern image editing tools and content management systems support WebP creation.

Convert Existing Images Gradually

You don’t need to convert everything at once. Start with your most important pages:

Homepage images
Product photos
Featured blog post images
Images that appear above the fold

Use Fallback Options

Even though browser support is excellent, it’s still smart to provide JPEG fallbacks. You can do this using the HTML <picture> element:

<picture>

<source srcset=”image.webp” type=”image/webp”>

<img src=”image.jpg” alt=”Description”>

</picture>

This way, browsers that support WebP will load the WebP version, while older browsers get the JPEG fallback.

Converting Your Images to WebP

If you’re ready to make the switch, you’ll need a reliable way to convert your images. There are several options available, from online converters to desktop software.

For a quick and easy conversion, you can use our PNG to WebP Converter tool. It’s completely free and handles bulk conversions, making it simple to convert multiple images at once.

Real-World SEO Impact

Let’s talk numbers. Websites that switched from JPEG to WebP typically see:

20-30% reduction in image file sizes
10-15% improvement in page load times
Better Core Web Vitals scores, particularly for LCP
Reduced bandwidth costs for high-traffic sites

According to Google’s own research, WebP lossless images are 26% smaller than PNGs and WebP lossy images are 25-35% smaller than comparable JPEG images.

Best Practices for Both Formats

Regardless of which format you choose, here are some SEO best practices for web images:

Optimize Alt Text

Always include descriptive alt text for your images. This helps search engines understand your content and improves accessibility.

Use Descriptive File Names

Instead of “IMG_1234.jpg”, use names like “blue-running-shoes-nike.webp” that describe the image content.

Compress Appropriately

Don’t go overboard with compression. Find the sweet spot between file size and quality that works for your specific use case.

Consider Lazy Loading

Implement lazy loading to defer off-screen image loading, which can significantly improve initial page load times.

The Bottom Line

In the webp vs jpeg debate, WebP generally wins for SEO purposes thanks to its superior compression and smaller file sizes. The improved page speed and Core Web Vitals scores you’ll get from WebP images can give your website a real competitive advantage in search rankings.

That said, JPEG isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. If you’re just starting out or have limited technical resources, JPEG is still a solid choice that won’t hurt your SEO efforts.

The most important thing is to optimize your images properly, regardless of format. Compress them appropriately, use descriptive file names, and always include alt text. These fundamentals will have a bigger impact on your SEO than the format choice alone.

Ready to start optimizing your images for better SEO performance? The switch to WebP might be easier than you think, and the benefits for your website’s speed and search rankings are definitely worth considering.