WebP is an image format developed by Google in 2010. Its core promise is simple: smaller files, same quality. In practice, WebP images are 25–35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent visual quality, and around 26% smaller than PNG for images with transparency. That matters because every kilobyte saved is loading time returned to the user.
How WebP achieves smaller files
WebP uses two compression modes:
- Lossy compression — based on VP8 video codec technology. It discards visual data the eye can't easily detect. Think of it as a smarter JPEG.
- Lossless compression — encodes pixels perfectly with no data loss. This replaces PNG for graphics, logos, and screenshots.
It also supports transparency (alpha channel) in both modes, and animation as an alternative to GIF. A single format covering all four use cases is a significant practical advantage.
WebP vs JPEG vs PNG
| Format | Lossy | Lossless | Transparency | Animation | Typical file size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Yes | No | No | No | Baseline |
| PNG | No | Yes | Yes | No | 150–200% of JPEG |
| GIF | No | Yes | Yes (1-bit) | Yes | Very large |
| WebP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 25–35% below JPEG |
Browser support in 2026
WebP is supported by all major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari (since 14), Edge, and Opera. Mobile support is universal. The only edge case is very old versions of Safari (pre-2020) — if your analytics show less than 1% of users on old Safari, you can safely serve WebP without a fallback.
When to use WebP
Switch to WebP when: - You're serving photos or product images on a web page - You have PNG icons or UI graphics with transparency - You're replacing an animated GIF with something smaller - Page speed is a priority (Core Web Vitals, LCP score)
Stick with JPEG/PNG when: - You need to send the image to someone via email or messaging apps that don't support WebP - Your image editing workflow doesn't support WebP natively - You're storing an original master file — lossless PNG or RAW is better for archiving
How to convert to WebP
On Converthor, you can convert: - JPG to WebP — for photos - PNG to WebP — for graphics and transparent images
Both converters run server-side and delete your file immediately after conversion. No account needed.
The takeaway
WebP is the right default format for the web. If your images are currently JPEGs or PNGs served on a website, converting them to WebP is one of the highest-value performance optimizations available — no code changes required, just a format swap.