Formats
What Is WebP? The Web Image Format Explained
WebP is Google's image format for faster websites. How it compares with JPG and PNG, why your downloads end up as .webp, and when to convert it.
· 2 min read · ConvertPixels Team
WebP is an image format Google introduced in 2010 to make the web faster. Today it's everywhere - which is why so many images you save from websites arrive as .webp files.
What makes WebP different
WebP can do almost everything JPG, PNG and GIF do, in one format:
- Lossy compression for photos, like JPG - but smaller
- Lossless compression for graphics, like PNG
- Transparency, even in lossy images
- Animation, like GIF, with far better quality
How much smaller?
Google's own studies found lossy WebP files about 25-34% smaller than comparable JPGs, and lossless WebP about 26% smaller than PNG. On an image-heavy page that's a real speed difference, and page speed affects both visitors and search rankings.
WebP vs JPG vs PNG
| WebP | JPG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photos | Excellent, smallest | Good | Large files |
| Graphics and text | Good | Poor | Excellent |
| Transparency | Yes | No | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No | No |
| Compatibility | All browsers; some apps | Everything | Everything |
The catch: compatibility outside the browser
Browsers love WebP, but plenty of software doesn't: older versions of Photoshop and Microsoft Office, many upload forms, some print services and messaging apps. That's when you convert:
- WebP to JPG for photos you'll email, print or upload
- WebP to PNG to keep a transparent background
Should your website use WebP?
Yes. Convert your photos with JPG to WebP and graphics with PNG to WebP. Most content management systems and CDNs can also serve WebP automatically. For the very smallest files, look at AVIF - newer, even more efficient, and supported by all current browsers.
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