What is WebP? Complete Guide to Google's Image Format
Understand Google's modern image format and how to work with WebP files
Convert WebP NowIf you have ever tried to save an image from a website, you may have noticed something unexpected: instead of a familiar .jpg or .png file, you ended up with a .webp file. You are not alone. WebP files are appearing more and more frequently across the internet, and many people are unsure what they are or how to work with them.
The WebP format is now used on millions of websites worldwide, from major e-commerce platforms to social media sites and news outlets. While this format offers significant advantages for web performance, it can create confusion when you need to use those images outside of a browser. You might need to edit a WebP image in older software, attach it to an email, or upload it to a platform that does not accept the format.
This guide explains everything you need to know about WebP: what it is, who created it, why websites love it, and most importantly, how to convert WebP files when you need a more universally compatible format.
What is WebP?
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google and first released in 2010. It was designed specifically for the web with one primary goal: to make images smaller without sacrificing visual quality. The format is based on technology from the VP8 video codec, which Google acquired when it purchased On2 Technologies.
What makes WebP stand out is its versatility. Unlike most image formats that specialize in one type of compression, WebP supports both lossy compression (like JPEG) and lossless compression (like PNG). This means a single format can handle photographs, graphics, icons, and everything in between.
WebP also supports transparency (alpha channels), which was previously only available in PNG and GIF formats. On top of that, WebP can handle animation, serving as a modern alternative to animated GIFs with dramatically smaller file sizes.
The performance benefits are substantial. According to Google's own studies, WebP lossy images are 25-34% smaller than comparable JPEG images at equivalent visual quality, and WebP lossless images are approximately 26% smaller than PNG images. This reduction in file size translates directly into faster loading times for websites.
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Animation | Typical File Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WebP | Lossy + Lossless | Yes | Yes | Smallest |
| JPEG | Lossy only | No | No | Medium |
| PNG | Lossless only | Yes | No | Large |
| GIF | Lossless (limited) | Yes (1-bit) | Yes | Large |
| BMP | None | Limited | No | Very Large |
Why Do Websites Use WebP?
The adoption of WebP across the internet has been driven by a combination of performance benefits and business incentives. For website owners, every kilobyte matters because smaller images mean faster page loads, lower bandwidth costs, and better user experiences.
Faster page loading: Images often account for the majority of a web page's total file size. By switching to WebP, websites can reduce image payloads by 25-34%, which directly improves load times. For users on mobile networks or slower connections, this difference is especially noticeable.
Better Core Web Vitals: Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor in search results. Metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) are heavily influenced by image sizes. Websites using WebP tend to score better on these metrics, which can improve their search engine rankings.
Universal browser support: All modern browsers now support WebP natively. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera all display WebP images without any issues. This was not always the case; Safari only added WebP support in 2020, but today browser compatibility is no longer a barrier for websites.
| Browser | WebP Support | Since Version |
|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Full support | Version 17 (2012) |
| Mozilla Firefox | Full support | Version 65 (2019) |
| Apple Safari | Full support | Version 14 (2020) |
| Microsoft Edge | Full support | Version 18 (2018) |
| Opera | Full support | Version 12 (2012) |
Reduced bandwidth costs: For websites serving millions of images per day, the file size reduction offered by WebP translates into significant savings on hosting and content delivery network (CDN) costs. This is a strong incentive for large-scale adoption.
The WebP Compatibility Problem
While WebP works perfectly in modern web browsers, it can cause headaches when you try to use WebP images outside of the browser. Despite its growing adoption, not all software and platforms have caught up with this relatively new format.
Older software: Many photo editing applications, especially older versions, do not recognize WebP files. If you try to open a WebP image in an outdated version of Photoshop, GIMP, or other editors, you may encounter errors or the file simply will not open. Some built-in image viewers on older operating systems also lack native WebP support.
Social media limitations: Certain social media platforms and online services still do not accept WebP uploads. When you try to upload a WebP file as a profile picture or post, the platform may reject it or display an error message asking for a JPEG or PNG instead.
Document editors: Word processors and presentation software sometimes struggle with WebP images. If you are creating a document in Microsoft Word or a slide deck in PowerPoint, inserting a WebP image may not work as expected, particularly with older versions of these applications.
Older operating systems: While Windows 10 and later, macOS Big Sur and later, and modern Linux distributions can preview WebP files natively, older operating systems may display WebP files as blank icons with no preview capability.
How to Open and Convert WebP Files
Opening a WebP file is straightforward if you are using it in a web browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all display WebP images natively, so you can view them without any additional software. Simply drag and drop a WebP file into your browser window, or double-click it if your system has a browser set as the default image viewer.
However, when you need to use a WebP image in other applications, converting it to a more widely supported format like JPG or PNG is often the best approach. Here are the most common scenarios:
- Convert to JPG for photographs and images where you do not need transparency. JPG is universally supported and keeps file sizes small. See our step-by-step WebP to JPG guide for detailed instructions.
- Convert to PNG for images that require transparency or when you need lossless quality. PNG preserves every detail and supports transparent backgrounds. Learn more in our guide to converting WebP to PNG.
- Convert to GIF, BMP, or ICO for specialized needs like simple animations, legacy system compatibility, or creating favicon icons.
WebP2Any makes this conversion process simple, free, and private. Unlike many online converters that require you to upload files to a remote server, WebP2Any processes everything directly in your browser using the Canvas API. Your images never leave your device, which means your files remain completely private. There is no file size limit, no watermarks, and no account required.
For a detailed comparison of when to choose JPG versus PNG for your converted files, read our WebP vs JPG vs PNG comparison.
Learn More
Now that you understand what WebP is and why it matters, explore these related guides to get the most out of your image conversions:
- How to Convert WebP to JPG -- A step-by-step tutorial for converting WebP images to the most widely compatible format.
- WebP vs JPG vs PNG: Which Format Should You Use? -- An in-depth comparison to help you choose the right output format for your needs.
- How to Convert WebP to PNG -- Learn when and how to convert WebP files to PNG, especially when you need transparency.
WebP is a powerful and efficient image format that has rightfully earned its place as the standard for web images. While its compatibility with non-browser software continues to improve, there will always be situations where you need to convert a WebP file to a different format. With WebP2Any, that conversion is instant, free, and completely private.