How to Convert JPG to WebP (And Why You Should)
Why convert JPG to WebP?
When you convert JPG to WebP, you get significantly smaller image files without any visible quality loss. This matters because smaller images mean faster page load times, and faster pages rank higher on Google. Furthermore, Google itself recommends converting JPG to WebP as part of its Core Web Vitals optimisation guidance.
In addition to smaller file sizes, WebP also supports transparency — something JPG cannot do. As a result, converting JPG to WebP gives you a format that is strictly better for web use in almost every situation.
When you convert JPG to WebP at equivalent quality, files are typically 25–35% smaller. For a website with 50 images averaging 200KB each, this saves around 2.5–3.5MB of page weight.
How much smaller are WebP files?
The exact savings when you convert JPG to WebP depend on the image content. However, here are typical results across different image types:
How to convert JPG to WebP — step by step
Converting JPG to WebP is completely free using our online tool. No software installation, no account, no upload to any server — everything runs in your browser.
Open the image converter
Go to our free image converter. The tool works on any device — desktop, tablet, or mobile.
Upload your JPG files
Drag and drop your JPG images onto the upload area, or click to browse. You can upload multiple files at once to convert JPG to WebP in bulk.
Select WebP as output format
Click the WebP button in the format selector. The tool will convert all your JPG files to WebP format.
Set quality to 80–85%
Use the quality slider to set 80–85% for web images. This gives you the best balance of file size reduction and visual quality when converting JPG to WebP.
Click Convert and download
Click Convert and download your WebP files instantly. If you converted multiple files, use the Download All button.
Which quality setting to use when converting JPG to WebP
The quality setting is the most important variable when you convert JPG to WebP. Here is a practical guide:
- 80–85% — the sweet spot for most web images. Files are significantly smaller with no visible quality difference.
- 85–90% — use this for large hero images or product photos where quality is critical.
- 75–80% — good for thumbnails and small images where the size saving matters more.
- Below 75% — avoid for general use as compression artifacts may become visible.
Always compare your converted WebP file visually against the original JPG before uploading to your website. Open both in separate browser tabs and zoom in to check for any quality difference at your chosen quality setting.
WebP browser support in 2024
One of the most common concerns when converting JPG to WebP is browser compatibility. However, this is no longer a real concern in 2024. WebP is supported by all major browsers:
- Chrome — supported since version 23 (2012)
- Firefox — supported since version 65 (2019)
- Safari — supported since version 14 (2020)
- Edge — supported since version 18 (2018)
- Samsung Internet — supported since version 4
As a result, over 97% of web users can view WebP images without any issues. Therefore, there is no practical reason to use JPG over WebP for web images in 2024.
Using WebP images in WordPress
After you convert JPG to WebP, uploading to WordPress is straightforward. Since WordPress 5.8, WebP images are natively supported in the media library. Furthermore, you can also use plugins to automate the process:
- ShortPixel — automatically converts uploaded images to WebP
- Smush — converts and serves WebP images automatically
- Imagify — bulk converts existing images in your media library to WebP
In addition to these plugins, most caching plugins like WP Rocket and LiteSpeed Cache also include WebP conversion features.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting JPG to WebP reduce quality?
At quality settings of 80% or above, there is no visible quality difference when you convert JPG to WebP. In fact, WebP can achieve better quality at smaller file sizes than JPG due to its more efficient compression algorithm.
Can I convert JPG to WebP without losing transparency?
JPG does not support transparency to begin with, so this is not a concern when converting JPG to WebP. However, if you are converting PNG to WebP, transparency is fully preserved — this is one of WebP's key advantages.
Is WebP better than AVIF?
AVIF achieves better compression than WebP but has slightly lower browser support. For most websites in 2024, WebP is the more practical choice because it works for 97%+ of users. However, if you want maximum compression and your audience uses modern browsers, consider converting to AVIF instead. Read our full format comparison guide for more details.
How long does it take to convert JPG to WebP?
With our free tool, conversion is essentially instant — most images convert in under a second because all processing happens locally in your browser with no upload step. Even bulk conversions of 20–30 images typically complete in a few seconds.