What is WebP Format? The Complete Guide for 2026
What is WebP format?
WebP format is a modern image file format developed by Google and released in 2010. It was designed specifically for web use with the goal of producing smaller image files than existing formats like JPG and PNG, while maintaining equivalent visual quality.
WebP format files use the .webp file extension. Furthermore, WebP format supports both lossy compression (like JPG) and lossless compression (like PNG), as well as transparency and animation. As a result, WebP format can replace JPG, PNG, and even animated GIF in most web contexts with a single, more efficient format.
WebP format is a web image format by Google that achieves 25–35% smaller files than JPG and 26% smaller files than PNG at equivalent quality. It supports transparency, animation, lossy and lossless compression in a single format.
How WebP compression works
WebP format uses a compression method based on the VP8 video codec — the same technology used in Google's open-source WebM video format. This is fundamentally different from how JPG and PNG compress images, and it is why WebP format achieves better compression efficiency.
WebP lossy compression
WebP lossy compression uses predictive coding — it predicts what nearby pixels will look like based on the values of surrounding pixels and only stores the difference. Furthermore, it applies a transform that separates the image into luma (brightness) and chroma (colour) components, compressing them independently for greater efficiency. As a result, WebP lossy files are 25–35% smaller than equivalent quality JPG files.
WebP lossless compression
WebP lossless compression uses a combination of techniques including spatial prediction, colour space transformation, and LZ77 compression. It analyses patterns in the image data and represents them more efficiently than PNG's compression method. Consequently, WebP lossless files are approximately 26% smaller than equivalent PNG files.
Advantages of WebP format
WebP format offers several significant advantages over older image formats for web use:
Disadvantages of WebP format
Despite its advantages, WebP format has a few limitations worth knowing:
- Not universally supported — while WebP format works in all modern browsers, some older browsers and software do not support it. Internet Explorer, older versions of Safari (before 14), and some image editing applications cannot open WebP files natively.
- Slower encoding — creating WebP format files takes longer than creating JPG or PNG files. However, this is a one-time cost during image preparation, not something users experience.
- Not ideal for print — WebP format is designed for screen display. For print-ready files, PDF or TIFF remain more appropriate formats.
- Less software support — while support has improved significantly, some older photo editing and design tools still do not support WebP format natively. However, tools like Photoshop, GIMP, and Figma all support WebP format as of 2026.
WebP format browser support in 2026
WebP format browser support is now excellent. All major modern browsers support WebP format:
- Chrome — supported since version 23 (2012). Full support including animation and transparency.
- Firefox — supported since version 65 (2019). Full support including animation.
- Safari — supported since version 14 (2020) on macOS and iOS. Full support.
- Edge — supported since version 18. Full support.
- Samsung Internet — supported since version 4. Full support.
- Opera — supported since version 11.10. Full support.
As a result of this broad support, over 97% of web users worldwide can view WebP format images without any issues. In other words, the browser compatibility concern that existed in the early 2020s is no longer a practical barrier to using WebP format.
For maximum compatibility, use the HTML picture element to serve WebP format to browsers that support it, with a JPG fallback for older browsers. This ensures every visitor sees the image correctly while modern browser users benefit from WebP format's smaller file sizes.
WebP format vs JPG vs PNG
Here is how WebP format compares directly to JPG and PNG across the key metrics that matter for web use:
- File size vs JPG — WebP format is 25–35% smaller at equivalent quality. For a website with 50 images averaging 200KB each as JPG, switching to WebP format saves approximately 2.5–3.5MB per page.
- File size vs PNG — WebP format lossless is approximately 26% smaller than PNG. WebP format lossy is dramatically smaller than PNG for photographic content.
- Transparency — WebP format supports transparency like PNG. JPG does not support transparency at all.
- Quality — at the same file size, WebP format produces better quality than JPG due to its more efficient compression algorithm.
- Compatibility — JPG and PNG have universal compatibility. WebP format has 97%+ browser support but may not work in some older software.
For a complete comparison of all four major web image formats, see our detailed guide on JPG vs PNG vs WebP vs AVIF.
How to use WebP format on your website
Getting started with WebP format on your website is straightforward. Here are the main approaches:
Convert images to WebP format before uploading
The simplest approach is to convert your images to WebP format before uploading them to your website. Use our free image converter to convert JPG and PNG images to WebP format in bulk — no software needed, all processing in your browser.
Use WordPress plugins for automatic WebP conversion
If you use WordPress, plugins like ShortPixel, Smush, and Imagify automatically convert uploaded images to WebP format and serve them to browsers that support it. Furthermore, these plugins handle the JPG fallback automatically for older browsers.
Use a CDN with automatic WebP conversion
Many CDN services including Cloudflare automatically convert and serve images in WebP format to browsers that support it. As a result, you do not need to manually convert your images — the CDN handles it transparently.
Convert images to WebP format free
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Convert to WebP →Frequently asked questions
Is WebP format better than JPG?
For web use, WebP format is better than JPG in almost every way — smaller files, better quality at the same file size, and support for transparency. The only advantage JPG retains is universal compatibility with older software and browsers. For new websites targeting modern browsers, WebP format is the better choice.
Can I open WebP format files on my computer?
Most modern operating systems and software support WebP format files. Windows 10 and 11 can open WebP format files natively. macOS can preview WebP format files. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all display WebP format images. However, some older software may not support WebP format — in that case, convert the file to JPG or PNG first.
Does WebP format support transparency?
Yes — WebP format fully supports transparency (alpha channel), just like PNG. Furthermore, transparent WebP files are typically 3x smaller than equivalent PNG files with the same transparency. This makes WebP format an excellent replacement for PNG logos and icons on the web.
How do I convert images to WebP format?
Use our free image converter to convert JPG, PNG, or any other image format to WebP format instantly. Upload your images, select WebP as the output format, set the quality level, and download your converted files. No signup, no software installation, no file size limits.