While WebP offers many advantages, it also comes with certain disadvantages that can limit its use:
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Limited Compatibility: One of the main drawbacks of WebP is its limited support on certain platforms and older browsers. While modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge support WebP, older versions of Safari and Internet Explorer may not. This means you may need fallback options like JPEG or PNG for cross-platform compatibility.
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Larger Lossless Files: While WebP excels in lossy compression, its lossless compression may result in larger files compared to other lossless formats like PNG, depending on the complexity of the image. This can be a disadvantage when file size efficiency is a priority.
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Not Ideal for Print: WebP is optimized for web usage but is not widely accepted in print or professional publishing workflows. Formats like TIFF or JPEG are still the standards for high-resolution prints.
In summary, while WebP is great for reducing file size and speeding up websites, it may not be the best choice for professional printing or for older platforms.
Read more about choosing the right image format here: Choosing the Right Image Formats: JPG, PNG, WEBP, TIFF.