What Is WebP and Should You Use It?

You have probably seen WebP mentioned in page-speed reports, or ended up with a .webp file you could not open. Here is what the format is, how it compares with JPG and PNG, and when it makes sense to use it.

What is WebP?

WebP is an image format developed by Google and first released in 2010. A single format covers lossy compression like JPG, lossless compression like PNG, transparency and even animation. Its main selling point is smaller files at similar visual quality.

WebP vs JPG vs PNG

• Versus JPG: WebP files are usually smaller at similar quality, while JPG still wins on universal compatibility.
• Versus PNG: WebP supports transparency too and is typically much smaller, especially for photos and detailed graphics.
• Lossless mode: WebP can also be saved losslessly, but most quick converters, including ours, save lossy WebP at 92% quality, which looks very close to the original.

Browser and WordPress support

All current major browsers can display WebP, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, which added support in 2020. WordPress has allowed WebP uploads since version 5.8, so you can use it in posts and pages.

Where you may run into trouble is older software, some print services, certain email clients and a lot of upload forms that only accept JPG or PNG.

When should you use WebP?

• Use WebP for website and blog images, where smaller files mean faster pages.
• Use JPG when sharing photos with other people, printing, or uploading to forms.
• Use PNG when you need a strictly lossless file for editing.

You can switch between them with our free converters: JPG to WebP, PNG to WebP and WebP to JPG. Keep your original files in case you need to convert again.

Frequently asked questions