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What is WebP? Why You Should Convert Your Images to WebP

WebP is the modern image format that beats JPG and PNG in file size and quality. Here is what it is and how to use it.

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What is WebP?

WebP is an image format developed by Google and released in 2010. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency and animation. In lossy mode, WebP images are typically 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPGs at the same visual quality. In lossless mode, WebP files are typically 26% smaller than PNGs. All major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — support WebP as of 2024.

WebP vs JPG

For photographs, WebP lossy achieves better quality at smaller file sizes than JPG. A WebP encoded at similar visual quality to a JPG will be roughly 30% smaller. This means faster page loads, lower bandwidth costs, and better Core Web Vitals scores — all of which influence Google search rankings. If you are serving images on a website today, WebP is almost always the better choice over JPG.

WebP vs PNG

For graphics with transparency, WebP lossless beats PNG on file size while maintaining the same pixel-perfect quality. WebP also supports animation as a modern alternative to GIF, with far better compression and color depth. The main disadvantage of WebP over PNG is that some older software — Photoshop versions before 2020, certain email clients, and some print services — does not support WebP.

How to convert images to WebP on Docsdom

Upload any JPG or PNG image to the Image to WebP tool. The conversion runs in your browser using the Canvas API and produces a WebP file you can download immediately. Use the WebP version for your website's img tags or as a fallback alongside JPG using the HTML picture element for maximum browser compatibility.

When to stick with JPG or PNG

Use WebP for web delivery. Stick with JPG or PNG when: uploading to platforms that reject WebP (many social networks and stock photo sites still do not accept WebP uploads), delivering images via email where client support is unpredictable, or producing files for print workflows that require TIFF, JPG, or PNG specifically. For everything else — website images, web apps, progressive web apps — WebP is the right default.

Try it now — free, no account needed

Use the Image To WEBP tool directly in your browser. No uploads, no sign-up.

Open Image To WEBP