Images are usually the heaviest thing on a web page, so the format you choose has a direct effect on load time, Core Web Vitals and bounce rate. In 2026 you have three practical choices for photographic images: JPEG, WebP and AVIF. Here is how they actually compare.
JPEG is the old reliable. It is supported literally everywhere and encodes fast, but its compression is dated — at the same visual quality it produces the largest files of the three.
WebP, from Google, typically produces files 25–35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, and it supports transparency (a PNG replacement) and animation (a GIF replacement). Support is now universal across modern browsers, which makes it the safe default for most websites.
AVIF is the newest and the most efficient. Built on the AV1 video codec, it routinely delivers files 50–70% smaller than JPEG at the same quality, with excellent handling of gradients and flat color where JPEG shows blocky artifacts. Browser support is now broad, though slightly behind WebP.
So which should you use? For maximum compatibility with strong savings, use WebP. For the smallest possible files on a modern audience, use AVIF and provide a WebP or JPEG fallback. Keep JPEG only when a system explicitly requires it — for example some government upload portals.
Rather than guess, measure. Farvixo's Image Compressor has a Compare Codecs view that encodes your specific image in each format and shows the exact resulting size and a side-by-side preview, so you can pick the best trade-off for that image.
All compression runs in your browser — batch a whole folder, set a target file size or social-media preset, and download without ever uploading your photos. Try it free with the Farvixo Image Compressor.