Format comparison
WebP vs ICO
How do WebP and ICOcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.webp
Full guide →Web Picture Format
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides superior compression for images on the web. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency, and animation — all in one format.
.ico
Full guide →Icon File Format
ICO is the icon file format used by Windows for application icons and website favicons. It can contain multiple image sizes and color depths in a single file.
| Specification | WebP | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Web Picture Format | Icon File Format |
| Extension | .webp | .ico |
| MIME type | image/webp | image/x-icon |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | Microsoft | |
| Year introduced | 2010 | 1985 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
WebP advantages
- 25-35% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality
- Supports transparency like PNG
- Supports animation like GIF
- Both lossy and lossless modes available
WebP limitations
- Not supported by some older browsers
- Limited support in desktop editing software
- Less universal than JPG or PNG
- Maximum dimension of 16383x16383 pixels
ICO advantages
- Multiple sizes in one file
- Standard for Windows icons and favicons
- Widely supported by all browsers
- Small file sizes
ICO limitations
- Limited to small image dimensions
- Primarily Windows-focused format
- Being replaced by PNG favicons in modern web
- Complex internal structure for a simple purpose
Which should you use?
Both WebP and ICO have their strengths. WebP excels at website optimization and performance, while ICO is better for website favicons.
Best uses for WebP
Website optimization and performance
Progressive web apps
Image-heavy web applications
Replacing both JPG and PNG on modern sites
Best uses for ICO
Website favicons
Windows application icons
Desktop shortcuts
Taskbar and system tray icons
Convert between WebP and ICO
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.