WebP is an image format created by Google in 2010 to make web pages load faster. It can be lossy like JPEG or lossless like PNG, supports transparency and animation, and usually produces smaller files than both. Every current browser displays it, but many desktop programs, upload forms and print services still do not accept it — the converter above turns WebP into JPG in your browser.
WebP compared with JPG, PNG, GIF and AVIF
| WebP | JPG | PNG | GIF | AVIF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lossy compression | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Lossless compression | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (256 colours) | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes | No | Yes | On/off only | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No | No (APNG aside) | Yes | Yes |
| Typical size for a photo | Small | Reference | Much larger | Not suited | Smallest |
| Opens everywhere (apps, forms, printers) | Not yet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Less than WebP |
Why you keep getting .webp files
Most large websites serve their images as WebP because smaller files load faster on phones. When you save an image from a page, you therefore often get a .webp — even if the site uploaded it as JPG or PNG. Some sites even send WebP to browsers that support it and JPG to the others, from the same address.
Where it still causes trouble: older versions of Windows Photos and Paint, Microsoft Office on some setups, many online forms (administration, job portals), print-on-demand and photo-printing services, and some messaging apps that send it as a file instead of a picture.
Which format to convert a WebP to
| Convert to | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| JPG | Photos to share, print or upload anywhere: the most compatible |
| PNG | Logos, screenshots or anything with transparency, or images you will edit again |
| GIF | Animated WebP that must play in an app that only knows GIF |
| Several images to send as one document |
Going the other way? Publishing your own photos as WebP makes your website lighter: JPG to WebP converts them in the browser.