What Is a WebP File?Pros, Cons and How to Open or Convert WebP
A clear explanation of WebP — how it compares to JPG and PNG, its current browser support, and how to open or convert WebP files.
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation. At equivalent quality, WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than JPG and noticeably smaller than PNG. All major browsers support WebP, making it a popular choice for web performance optimization — though some older software may still require conversion.
What Is WebP?
WebP was introduced by Google in 2010 with the goal of replacing JPG, PNG and GIF with a single, more efficient format. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, alpha transparency and animation. Using WebP on the web can meaningfully reduce image file sizes and speed up page loads — one of the most straightforward performance wins available.
Browser compatibility today
Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari have all supported WebP for several years. That said, some older image viewers, office applications and legacy systems still don't recognize it — in those cases you may need to convert to JPG or PNG to view or edit locally.
WebP: Pros and Cons
- ~25–35% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality — faster web pages
- One format covers lossy, lossless, transparency and animation
- Supported by all major modern browsers
- Some older software and operating systems cannot open WebP directly
- Lossless WebP may not match PNG for the most demanding archival use cases
- Size advantage is less dramatic for very high-quality photos
WebP vs JPG / PNG
| Dimension | WebP | JPG / PNG |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Generally smaller | Larger |
| Transparency | Supported | PNG only |
| Animation | Supported | Not supported |
| Compatibility | All major browsers; occasional issues with older apps | Universal across virtually all devices |
| Best for | Web performance optimization | Universal sharing / print |
When to Use WebP
Web image optimization
Use WebP for faster load times and lower bandwidth usage.
Transparency with small file size
Use WebP as a smaller alternative to transparent PNGs.
Sharing with unknown recipients
Stick with JPG or PNG when sharing to devices or apps you cannot control.
Convert & Learn More
WebP FAQ
It wins on file size and feature set, but has slightly lower compatibility. Choose WebP for web performance; stick with JPG for sharing or when recipients may be using older software.
Yes. WebP has a lossless mode, making it a solid choice for graphics that need to be preserved faithfully. For the most demanding archival use cases, PNG remains a safe fallback.
Drag it into any modern browser — it will display immediately. For software that doesn't support WebP, convert it to PNG or JPG first. Widantoo can do this locally in your browser.