Image Formats · 5 min read
What Is WebP? Complete Guide for Beginners
Learn what WebP is, why Google created it, how it compares to JPG and PNG, and when you should use WebP images.
Updated: 2026-07-07
Quick Answer: What is WebP?
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web. Using WebP, webmasters and web developers can create smaller, richer images that make the web faster without sacrificing quality.
| Feature | WebP | JPG | PNG |
|---|---|---|---|
| File Size | Extremely Small | Small | Very Large |
| Compression | Lossy & Lossless | Lossy | Lossless |
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No | No |
| Browser Support | All Modern Browsers | Universal | Universal |
| Best For | Websites, SEO, Performance | Photos, Offline Sharing | Logos, Crisp UI elements |
The History of WebP
WebP was first announced by Google in 2010. The core goal was to create an image format that could replace JPG, PNG, and GIF all at once. Google achieved this by basing WebP on the VP8 video codec format. Over the years, WebP gained traction as web performance became a ranking factor for search engines, and today, it is supported by almost all modern web browsers.
WebP vs JPG
JPG is the most common format for photographs. However, when comparing WebP to JPG, WebP almost always wins for web usage. WebP lossy images are 25% to 34% smaller than comparable JPG images at equivalent structural similarity (SSIM) quality indexes.
This means you can take a high-quality JPG photograph, convert it to WebP, and save a massive amount of file size without the human eye noticing any drop in quality.
WebP vs PNG
PNG is traditionally used when you need a transparent background or sharp, lossless quality (like a logo). WebP lossless images are 26% smaller than PNGs. Furthermore, WebP supports transparency (alpha channel) at a cost of just 22% additional bytes. This makes WebP a superior replacement for PNG on websites.
WebP vs GIF
GIF is famous for animations, but GIF files are notoriously huge and slow to load. WebP supports animation natively. Animated WebP files are significantly smaller than GIFs, use fewer colors, and decode faster in the browser. If you run a website with a lot of GIFs, converting them to animated WebP will drastically improve page load times.
When Should You Use WebP?
Use WebP whenever you are publishing images to the internet.
- Website Hero Images
- E-commerce Product Photos
- Blog Post Thumbnails
- Logos and UI elements on websites
- Animated graphics replacing GIFs
If your platform (like WordPress, Shopify, or a custom React app) supports WebP, it should be your default format.
When Should You NOT Use WebP?
Despite its amazing compression, WebP is not perfect for every situation. You should avoid WebP when:
- Offline Sharing: If you are emailing a photo to a non-technical family member, stick to JPG. Their default image viewer might not support WebP.
- Professional Photography: If you are providing high-resolution files to clients for printing or editing, use TIFF, RAW, or high-quality JPG.
- Legacy Systems: If you are building software for very old operating systems (like Windows 7 or older), WebP might cause issues.
WebP for Website Performance & SEO
Google uses "Core Web Vitals" as a ranking factor in search results. One of the main metrics is Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), which measures how long it takes for the largest image on your page to load.
Because WebP files are so small, they download incredibly fast over both WiFi and cellular networks. Switching your website from JPG/PNG to WebP is one of the fastest and most effective ways to improve your SEO and page speed scores.
How to Open WebP Files
If you download a WebP file to your computer, you might find that double-clicking it opens it in your web browser instead of your default photo viewer. This is because WebP was designed for browsers.
To open a WebP file natively on Windows or Mac, you can use modern photo viewers, but the easiest way to edit or share it offline is to simply convert it.
Which Format Should You Choose?
Choose WebP for everything related to websites, web applications, and SEO. Choose JPG for offline sharing, email attachments, and printing. Choose PNG only when you need lossless graphics for offline editing.
Need to Convert WebP Files?
If you downloaded a WebP file and can't open it, use Easy Converter Tool to easily change it to a standard format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WebP better quality than JPG?
At equivalent file sizes, WebP offers better visual quality than JPG. Alternatively, you can achieve the exact same visual quality as a JPG while reducing the file size by 30%.
Does WebP support transparency?
Yes! Unlike JPG, WebP supports an alpha channel for transparent backgrounds, making it a perfect replacement for heavy PNG files.
Why do WebP files open in my browser?
Because WebP was created for the web, many operating systems default to opening them in Chrome, Edge, or Safari. If you want to view them like normal photos, you can install a WebP codec or convert them to JPG.
Can I upload WebP to WordPress?
Yes. WordPress natively supports WebP uploads as of version 5.8 (released in 2021). You can upload WebP files directly to your media library just like you would with a JPG.
Can Photoshop open WebP?
Yes, modern versions of Adobe Photoshop natively support opening and saving WebP files. For older versions of Photoshop, you may need to install a free plugin or convert the file to JPG first.