For years, JPEG has been the standard for web photos. But in the SEO world, a new question is emerging: is it time to switch? The WebP vs JPEG debate is critical for anyone serious about page speed and Core Web Vitals.
WebP is a next-gen image format developed by Google. It offers significantly better compression than JPEG, meaning it can create smaller files with the same level of quality. For SEO, this is a massive advantage. Smaller files mean faster load times, and faster load times mean better rankings.
Here’s the breakdown of WebP vs JPEG:
- File Size: WebP files are consistently 25-35% smaller than JPEGs of comparable quality. Winner: WebP.
- Quality: At equivalent file sizes, WebP often retains more detail than JPEG. Winner: WebP.
- Browser Support: JPEG has universal support. WebP is now supported by all modern browsers, but you still need a JPEG fallback for older versions. Winner: JPEG (for compatibility).
The SEO Verdict: For optimal SEO in 2025, you should serve WebP images to browsers that support them and provide a JPEG as a fallback. Many WordPress plugins and CDNs can do this automatically. Making the switch is a clear signal to Google that you prioritize performance.