GIF VS WebP
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Graphics Interchange Format and Web Picture Format.
GIF
gifSupports simple animations and limited color palette, a classic internet format.
Pros
- Simple animation
- Universal support
- Small size for simple graphics
Cons
- Limited to 256 colors
- No audio
- Inefficient compression for video
WebP
webpModern format providing superior compression for web performance.
Pros
- Superior compression (30% smaller than JPG)
- Supports transparency
- Supports animation
Cons
- Not supported by very old browsers
- Complex encoding
When GIF wins
Stay with GIF when you need memes or simple banners. Its strengths center on simple animation and a feature set native to CompuServe.
When WebP wins
Choose WebP when your workflow prioritizes modern websites or app assets. It delivers superior compression (30% smaller than jpg) plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | GIF | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/gif | image/webp |
| Developer | CompuServe | |
| Release Year | 1987 | 2010 |
| Best For | Memes, Simple banners, Loading spinners | Modern websites, App assets, Speed optimization |
Need to switch?
Where GIF still wins
Keep GIF when you need simple animation and workflows depend on memes / simple banners. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship WebP deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .gif glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use WebP for modern websites while archiving originals as GIF.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.