WebP vs. JPEG & PNG: The Best Image Format for E-commerce?
In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, the speed and quality of your website can significantly influence customer satisfaction and sales. One effective way to enhance both is by optimizing the images on your site. Enter WebP—a modern image format developed by Google that offers both lossy and lossless compression, aiming to reduce image file sizes without compromising quality. Even though WebP was released in 2010, I still receive requests and see a lot of websites using PNGs for images that require transparency and JPEGs.
Advantages of WebP in E-commerce
Faster Loading Times: WebP images are typically smaller in size compared to traditional formats like JPEG and PNG. This reduction in file size leads to quicker page load times, enhancing the user experience. Studies have shown that faster-loading pages can lead to higher customer satisfaction and increased sales.
Reduced Storage Costs: Smaller image files mean less storage space is required on your servers. For e-commerce platforms with extensive product catalogs, this can result in significant cost savings in terms of storage and bandwidth.
Supports Advanced Features: WebP supports both transparency (like PNG) and animation (like GIF), allowing for versatile image usage without the need for multiple file formats.
PNG version: 12 MB | JPEG version: 200 KB | WebP version: 81 KB
From JPEG to WebP, this is a 60% file size cut on images that do not require transparency.
Unfortunately, I can’t show a side-by-side comparison because as of this date, Squarespace doesn’t support WebP yet, but there is absolutely no distinguishable difference.
Disadvantages of WebP
Browser Compatibility: While support for WebP has grown, not all browsers display WebP images. Notably, older versions of Internet Explorer do not support this format. However, the majority of modern browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, do support WebP.
Quality Considerations: As with any lossy compression, there can be a reduction in image quality. While often negligible, this may be a concern for businesses that rely heavily on high-quality visuals, such as those in the fashion or art industries.
Browser Support for WebP
As of January 2025, WebP is supported by the following browsers:
Google Chrome: Version 32 and above
Mozilla Firefox: Version 65 and above
Microsoft Edge: Version 18 and above
Safari: Version 14 and above
Opera: Version 19 and above
This widespread support covers the vast majority of internet users, making WebP a viable option for most e-commerce platforms.
XnView MP
To convert your images to the WebP format efficiently and at no cost, consider using XnView MP. This free, versatile image viewer and converter supports over 500 image formats, including WebP, making it an excellent tool for e-commerce businesses aiming to optimize their website images. After all, WebP is around 15 years old.
Key Features of XnView MP:
Batch Conversion: Convert multiple images to WebP simultaneously, saving time and effort.
User-Friendly Interface: Navigate and operate the software with ease, even if you're not tech-savvy.
Cross-Platform Support: Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, catering to a wide range of users.
XnView MP interface
Conclusion
Implementing WebP images in your e-commerce site can lead to faster load times, reduced storage costs, and enhanced user experiences. However, it's essential to consider browser compatibility and potential quality implications. By weighing these factors, you can determine if WebP is the right choice for your online store.
