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JPEG XL (JXL) is a modern image format with lossy and lossless modes, progressive rendering, and a distinctive ability to losslessly recompress existing JPEGs and later restore the exact original JPEG bitstream. It also supports features such as animation, transparency, HDR, and wide color gamut. Its main practical drawback is uneven browser support: the compatibility snapshot accessed October 3, 2026, still marks several current browser ranges as disabled by default or partial, so websites should provide fallbacks and test the browsers their visitors use.
What JPEG XL is and what it can do
JPEG XL is an image coding system standardized as ISO/IEC 18181. The JPEG organization describes it as designed for responsive web delivery and professional photography. It supports lossy encoding, lossless encoding, and lossless recompression of existing JPEG images. In the latter workflow, a JPEG can be transcoded to JPEG XL and later reconstructed as the exact same JPEG bitstream—a useful property for archives or storage systems that must preserve the original.
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JPEG XL also supports progressive coding, animation, alpha transparency, layers, thumbnails, wide color gamut, high dynamic range (HDR), and high bit depth. Its box-based container can carry metadata such as EXIF and JUMBF. The JPEG organization describes its reference software as free, open source, and royalty-free. Its overview characterizes compression ratios as “typically 20:1 to 50:1”; treat that as a general design description, not a guaranteed reduction for a particular image or a direct comparison with another format. JPEG organization: JPEG XL overview.
Why progressive coding can matter
Progressive rendering lets a browser display a developing image before all of its data has arrived. That can be useful for large images where showing an early approximation improves the loading experience. Whether it is worth using depends on the image, delivery setup, and decoder support available to your audience.
#1 Best Overall
JPEG XL and AVIF do not have one universal size winner
File size depends on the source image, encoder, settings, and quality target. In examples published by Jake Archibald on Mozilla Hacks on August 24, 2026, AVIF was smaller in two lossy comparisons: at SSIMULACRA 2 score 62.8, AVIF was 116 kB and JPEG XL 134 kB; at score 80, AVIF was 227 kB and JPEG XL 264 kB. In two lossless examples, JPEG XL was smaller: one measured 1.45 MB versus 1.76 MB for AVIF and 1.55 MB for lossless WebP; another measured 92 kB versus 164 kB for AVIF. These are particular examples, not general benchmark results. Jake Archibald’s Mozilla Hacks comparison.
Archibald summarized the trade-off this way: “JPEG XL: Excels at lossless imagery, progressive rendering, and further compressing JPEGs without quality loss.” He also wrote: “AVIF: Excels at web-quality photographic images, and images that have a mix of sharp edges and flat surfaces.” These are the author’s descriptions in that article, not a formal Mozilla standards position.
JPEG XL benefits and drawbacks
| Aspect | Benefit | Trade-off or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Lossy and lossless encoding | One format supports both types of image workflow. | Compression and quality outcomes vary by image and encoding settings; test your own files. |
| Existing JPEGs | Lossless recompression can reduce storage while preserving the ability to recover the exact original JPEG bitstream. | The benefit is specific to workflows that need exact JPEG recovery; it does not establish that every converted image will be smaller. |
| Progressive coding | Large images can begin rendering before the entire file downloads. | Browser support is uneven, and the file-size trade-off may not suit every image. |
| Advanced image features | Supports animation, transparency, layers, thumbnails, HDR, wide gamut, and high bit depth. | Applications may support only a subset of these features or only reading, not export. |
| Web delivery | Can be a useful option for suitable images and compatible clients. | Some browser versions do not decode it by default or provide only partial support, so fallbacks remain important. |
JPEG XL browser support in the October 2026 snapshot
The Can I use compatibility table accessed October 3, 2026 lists support by browser version as follows. The table identifies its usage-share statistics as StatCounter GlobalStats data for August 2026. Because support can change between releases, consult the live table before making a production decision. Can I use: JPEG XL support.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Browser | Version status reported in the October 3, 2026 snapshot |
|---|---|
| Chrome | 155–157 supported; 145–154 disabled by default. |
| Firefox | 158–160 supported; 90–157 disabled by default. |
| Safari | 17 through 27.1 and Technology Preview listed as partial support. |
| Edge | Version 154 listed as not supported. |
| Chrome for Android | Version 154 listed as disabled by default. |
| Safari on iOS | Versions 17–27.1 listed as partial support. |
| Firefox for Android | Version 157 listed as unsupported. |
The Can I use page displays a combined global usage figure of 14.63%, based on August 2026 usage-share data. That number is a browser-support table figure; it should not be interpreted as a direct measure of JPEG XL adoption or the share of people with working JPEG XL decoding.
Mozilla Hacks published an “Intent to Ship: JPEG XL” article on August 24, 2026. It says Firefox’s implementation uses Google Research’s Rust decoder jxl-rs and that Chrome also intended to ship. An intent-to-ship statement is not proof that every stable browser release supports the format; use the version-specific table above when assessing compatibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you use JPEG XL on a website?
Consider it when its particular capabilities solve a real need: for example, progressive display of large images, lossless storage or JPEG archive migration, or a workflow that needs features such as HDR or high bit depth. Do not choose it solely on the assumption that it will always produce smaller files than AVIF, WebP, or JPEG.
- Test representative images. Include the actual image types on your site—such as photographs, illustrations, and images with transparency—and compare file sizes at quality levels acceptable to your users.
- Keep a fallback. Use responsive image markup or server-side content negotiation to serve a format that clients without JPEG XL decoding can display.
- Verify the audience’s browsers and devices. Test real target versions, especially where the compatibility table reports disabled-by-default or partial support.
- Check the whole software workflow. Confirm that your editors, image libraries, metadata tools, and deployment pipeline can read or write the JPEG XL features you need.
Application support depends on the workflow
The libjxl project maintains a software-support list covering examples such as ImageMagick, libvips, ExifTool, Exiv2, operating-system integrations, editors, and viewers. Its entries distinguish between capabilities such as opening and export, and support can vary by version and feature. Check the exact application version and task rather than assuming that a product can handle every JPEG XL file or operation. libjxl software-support list.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsScreenshotNeo as an alternative for capturing web pages
If your goal is to capture a web page as an image or PDF—not to convert or deliver JPEG XL—ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server for developers. It returns PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF, rather than JPEG XL. A single GET request can capture a URL; its clean-shot process accepts cookie or consent banners like a visitor and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture. Those steps can be turned off. Bot checks, CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers.
For AI-agent workflows, ScreenshotNeo provides an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools. Its plans include 1,000 screenshots per month free with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Every feature is on every plan.
Or skip the browser setup
Use this cURL request to capture a page as WebP; replace YOUR_API_KEY with your API key. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options.
Quick Recap
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpCookie banners, popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. An MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. You get 1,000 screenshots a month free with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
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