What Is WebP? A Plain-English Guide to the WebP Image Format
What is WebP? It is an image format built for the web. It makes pictures smaller than JPG and PNG while still supporting transparency and animation. Here is what that means for your files and your website.
Use our free WebP Converter tool to do this in just a few clicks. It runs in your browser, so your files stay private.
Key takeaways
- WebP was created by Google to make web images smaller and faster to load.
- One format can do lossy photos, lossless graphics, transparency and animation.
- All current major browsers display WebP, but some older apps and print services do not.
- Use WebP for websites and keep JPG or PNG for sharing, printing and editing.
What is WebP?
WebP is an image format developed by Google and introduced in 2010. Files use the .webp extension. It was designed for one job: delivering good-looking images with fewer bytes, so web pages load faster and use less data.
Its lossy mode is based on the compression used in the VP8 video codec, and it also has a lossless mode. That flexibility is why WebP can replace several older formats at once.
What WebP can do
| Feature | WebP | JPG | PNG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lossy compression | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lossless compression | Yes | No | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes | No | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No | No |
| Typical use | Websites and apps | Photos, sharing | Logos, screenshots |
Why websites use WebP
Images are often the heaviest part of a page. In Google’s published comparisons, lossy WebP is roughly 25 to 34% smaller than JPEG at the same measured quality, and lossless WebP is around 26% smaller than PNG (see Google’s WebP documentation). Your results depend on the image, so measure real files.
Smaller images mean faster loading, less mobile data and lower hosting bandwidth. They can also help loading metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint, which search engines take into account.
Where WebP works
All current major browsers can display WebP, and WordPress has accepted WebP uploads since version 5.8. Many image editors can now open and export it too.
The trouble starts outside the web. Some older desktop programs, email clients, print shops and upload forms still reject .webp files, which is why people often need to convert them.
Common problems with WebP files
- You save a picture from a website and your software cannot open it. Use WebP to JPG or WebP to PNG.
- A form or marketplace refuses the upload. Convert the file to JPG.
- You want to edit it. Convert to PNG for a lossless copy.
Should you use WebP?
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Images on your website | WebP |
| Photos you send to other people | JPG |
| Logos and graphics you will edit again | PNG, with a WebP copy for the web |
| Documents and print | JPG or PDF |
Rule of thumb: keep your original JPG or PNG files, and publish WebP copies on your website.
How to create WebP files
Use JPG to WebP for photos, PNG to WebP for graphics with transparency, or Image to WebP for mixed batches. A quality of about 80% is a good starting point, and you can compare the size of every result before you download it.
A short history of WebP
Google released WebP in 2010 as part of its effort to speed up the web. For years only some browsers could display it, so many sites avoided it. Support spread over time, and Safari added WebP in 2020, which made it safe to use for visitors on every current major browser.
Today WebP is a normal part of the web. Many content management systems, image services and design tools can create and display it, so a visitor rarely notices which format a page uses.
Lossy vs lossless WebP
WebP has two compression modes. Lossy mode discards some detail the eye barely notices and gives the smallest files, so it suits photos. Lossless mode keeps every pixel exactly and suits logos, screenshots and graphics with sharp edges.
| Mode | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Lossy | Photos and large images | Small files, with a little detail lost |
| Lossless | Logos, icons and screenshots | Exact pixels, larger files than lossy |
The AllWebP converters create lossy WebP at the quality you choose, which is the right mode for most website images.
Quick checklist before you switch
- Keep your original JPG and PNG files as masters.
- Convert at about 80% quality and compare the size shown for each file.
- Check a few images on your real page before replacing them all.
- Keep JPG or PNG copies for sharing, printing and older software.
WebP file basics
A WebP file uses the .webp extension and the image/webp type. Inside, it starts with a RIFF container, which is why a renamed file can often be recognised by its real content rather than its name. AllWebP checks the actual content of each file, not just the extension.
Animated WebP
WebP can store animation, which makes it an alternative to GIF with smaller files and better colour. Our converters work with still images, so for an animated file only the first frame is used.
WebP and website speed
Smaller images load faster, especially on mobile. If your pages show many photos, switching them to WebP is often one of the easiest speed improvements. See how to use WebP in WordPress for the practical steps.
Common myths about WebP
- Myth: WebP is only lossy. It also has a lossless mode.
- Myth: every program opens WebP. Support is wide in browsers but uneven elsewhere.
- Myth: WebP is always smaller. Usually, but you should check the real file size.
Quick glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lossy | Compression that discards some detail to save space |
| Lossless | Compression that keeps every pixel |
| Alpha | The transparency information in an image |
| Codec | The method used to compress and decompress the image |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WebP better than JPG?
For websites, usually yes, because files are smaller at similar quality. JPG is still more widely supported outside browsers.
Is WebP lossy or lossless?
Both. WebP supports lossy and lossless compression.
Does WebP support transparency?
Yes, including partial transparency, like PNG.
Can WebP be animated?
Yes. Animated WebP is an alternative to GIF, usually with smaller files.
Keep reading
WebP vs JPG compared: file size, quality, transparency, compatibility and when to use each. Learn which format is better for your images.
How to Open WebP Files on Any DeviceHow to open WebP files on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android. Use your browser, install an extension or convert the file to JPG or PNG.
JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format to UseJPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF compared: compression, transparency, animation and compatibility, with a simple guide to choosing the right format.