What is a WebP Image? What are its Benefits Over JPEG and PNG?

WebP is a modern image format created by Google to help websites and apps load faster while using less data. It does this by making image files smaller without dramatically lowering the picture quality. 

You’ve likely seen WebP images already, even if you didn’t know it — on blogs, news sites, business sites, online stores, and social media.

But what makes WebP different from JPEG or PNG, which have been around for many years? And how can you take advantage of it on your site? Let’s dive in.

How image formats work

Before we get into WebP, it’s useful to understand how image formats work. When you save a photo or graphic, the format you choose determines:

• How much space the file takes up
• How quickly it loads on a website
• Whether the background can be transparent
• Whether the image maintains its full level of detail

There are two types of compression: lossy and lossless. Lossy compression removes some data to make the file smaller. This may lower image quality. Lossless compression keeps all the data. This keeps quality high but makes the file larger.

What is WebP?

WebP is an image format developed by Google in 2010. It was designed to replace JPEG, PNG, and GIF formats by offering smaller file sizes without sacrificing too much quality.

WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, so it can shrink images in flexible ways depending on your needs. For example, it can:

• Create high-quality images with smaller file sizes
• Support transparency (like PNG)
• Support animation (like GIF)
• Keep metadata, such as EXIF data
• Work with modern browsers and many editing tools

In short, WebP is built to handle everything JPEG and PNG do, but more efficiently.

Feature	WebP	JPEG	PNG
Best For	All-purpose web images	Photographs, complex images	Graphics, logos, icons
Compression	Lossy & Lossless	Lossy	Lossless
File Size	Smallest	Medium	Large
Transparency	Yes (Alpha Channel)	No	Yes
Animation	Yes	No	No
SEO Impact	Positive (site speed)	Neutral	Negative (slows pages)

JPEG vs. WebP: What’s the difference?

JPEG is one of the most common image formats. While it can be a good option for photos, it has limits. Here’s how WebP compares to JPEG:

Compression and file size: WebP images are usually 25% to 35% smaller than the same image saved as a JPEG. This means that WebP uses less bandwidth and loads faster on websites.

Image quality: Both formats use lossy compression. WebP keeps more detail at the same file size. JPEG images may show visible compression artifacts, such as blurring or blocking.

Transparency: JPEG doesn’t support transparency, while WebP does. This makes WebP better for graphics or images that need to blend into backgrounds.

Metadata: WebP can store EXIF and XMP metadata. JPEG also supports metadata, but WebP has better support for structured formats.

Browser and tool support: JPEG is supported almost everywhere. WebP is now supported across all major browsers and design tools. Older systems may still lack full support, but this is becoming more and more rare.

PNG vs. WebP: What’s the difference?

PNG is used for images that need to stay sharp or that have transparent backgrounds, like logos, icons, or interface elements. Let’s compare PNG and WebP:

Compression and file size: PNG uses lossless compression by default. Files are large, especially for detailed images. WebP supports lossless and lossy compression. WebP lossless images are usually 20% to 25% smaller than PNGs.

Transparency: Both formats support transparency. WebP uses more efficient methods for transparent images, reducing file size without losing detail.

Animation: PNG does not support animation. WebP can support animated images, which makes it a possible replacement for GIFs as well.

Color and detail: PNG is better for flat colors and simple graphics. WebP handles both photos and illustrations well.

The benefits of using WebP

Here are the main reasons to use WebP instead of JPEG or PNG:

Faster websites

Smaller file sizes mean that images load faster. This improves the user experience and can boost your site’s performance across search engine rankings.

Lower storage and bandwidth costs

Hosting many large images can get expensive. WebP files take up less space and use less bandwidth when visitors view them.

Good browser and platform support

WebP works in:

• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Microsoft Edge
• Opera
• Android and iOS apps
• CMS platforms like WordPress

Support is strong enough that you can use WebP as a primary format for most projects.

When you might not want to use WebP

There are still a few cases where JPEG or PNG may be the better option. They’re best for:

Compatibility with legacy systems

Some older email clients, PDF tools, or printers may not support WebP. If you’re targeting such systems, JPEG or PNG may be safer.

Maximum quality and preservation

For professional photography, TIFF or PNG might be better to preserve every bit of image data. WebP may not be ideal if compression is not acceptable.

Photo editing

Some image editors still don’t support WebP well. If you need to open and re-save images many times, use formats with full support across your tech stack.

How to convert images to WebP

There are several ways to convert JPEG or PNG images into WebP, depending on how you manage your content:

Use Jetpack Boost (recommended for WordPress)

If you run a WordPress site, the simplest way to deliver WebP images is by using Jetpack Boost. 

It includes a free image CDN that automatically:

• Optimizes your uploaded images
• Converts them to WebP
• Delivers them through a global content delivery network (CDN)

You don’t have to manually convert or re-upload anything. Just activate the feature, and Jetpack Boost handles the rest in the background. Your site stays fast and lightweight without needing extra plugins or technical steps.

This is one of the fastest ways to improve performance on WordPress, especially if you work with lots of media.

Online tools 

If you only need to convert a few images, free online tools are quick and easy:

• Squoosh (by Google)
• CloudConvert
• Ezgif

Simply upload your image, select your compression settings, and download the WebP version.

Desktop apps

With design tools like Photoshop and GIMP, you can quickly export images to WebP. You may need to install a plugin or enable the feature in your settings, though, so check the software’s documentation for details.

You can also use batch conversion tools like:

• XnConvert
• ImageMagick

These are useful when you need to convert a large group of images at once.

Command-line tools

If you’re a developer or manage a large site, command-line tools like cwebp (from Google) or ffmpeg can automate the conversion process. These tools offer more control over compression quality, transparency, and metadata handling.

How does WebP affect SEO?

Faster page speed is a known ranking factor, and because WebP images are smaller, they directly improve your Core Web Vitals scores. However, the SEO conversation is more nuanced.​

Positive SEO effects:

• Improved Page Speed: Smaller images lead to faster load times and better LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) scores.
• Better User Experience: Faster loading reduces bounce rates, a positive UX signal for Google.

Potential SEO risks & how to mitigate them:

• Image Search Rankings: Simply replacing old JPEG/PNG images that already rank in Google Images can cause you to lose that equity. Solution: When you switch to WebP, ensure you implement 301 redirects from the old image URLs (e.g., image.jpg) to the new ones (image.webp).
• Browser Compatibility: Around 5-6% of web users may be on older browsers that don’t support WebP. Showing them broken images is a major negative UX signal. Solution: Use the <picture> HTML element to provide a fallback to JPEG or PNG. A good WordPress plugin will handle this for you automatically.​

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <source srcset="image.jpg" type="image/jpeg">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="A descriptive alt tag for the image.">
</picture>

The bottom line: Why WebP is worth considering

WebP solves a common problem: how to keep images looking sharp while using less data. It gives you smaller file sizes, fast load times, and support for features like transparency and animation.

It won’t replace every format in every case. But switching to WebP can make your content faster and easier to manage.

Frequently asked questions

What is a WebP image and why does it matter for my website?

A WebP image is a picture file created by Google. Its main function is to reduce the size of image files on websites without a noticeable loss in visual quality. This is important because smaller images help websites load much faster.

A quicker website provides a better experience for visitors. Search engines like Google tend to favor websites that load fast. Therefore, using WebP can contribute to better search rankings because of the speed improvement it offers.

Is WebP always better than JPEG for photos?

For images displayed on the web, WebP is frequently a better choice than JPEG. When compared at a similar visual quality level, a WebP file is typically much smaller than a JPEG file. This size difference helps your website pages load more quickly.

For professional photography that requires the highest possible image quality for printing, photographers might still use formats such as TIFF. However, for any image you plan to use online, WebP offers an excellent combination of high quality and small file size.

How do I use WebP if some browsers don’t support it?

You can solve this compatibility issue by using the HTML element. This tag allows you to provide multiple sources for a single image, letting the browser select the first format it supports.

You would list the WebP version first, followed by a JPEG or PNG version as a fallback. If a visitor’s browser recognizes WebP, it will load that file. If not, it will load the JPEG or PNG file instead. Many modern WordPress tools and plugins can automate this process for you, ensuring that all visitors see the images correctly.

What’s the easiest way to convert my WordPress images to WebP?

The most straightforward method for WordPress users is to install a plugin that specializes in image optimization. A plugin equipped with an Image CDN feature, like Jetpack Boost, can automatically convert both your existing images and any new ones you upload to the WebP format.

It then serves these optimized images from a fast global network. This type of plugin also handles the fallback for older browsers automatically, so you do not need to perform any manual coding or file conversions.

Can WebP images have transparent backgrounds like PNGs?

Yes, WebP images fully support transparency. This capability is one of its key strengths. Similar to PNG files, the WebP format includes an alpha channel that enables the creation of images with see-through backgrounds. This makes WebP a very versatile, all-in-one format for web graphics. You can use it for photographs, which typically use JPEG, and also for logos or icons that require transparency, which traditionally use PNG.

Does WebP work for animated images like GIFs?

Yes, the WebP format supports animations, making it a superior alternative to the GIF format for most uses. Animated WebP files are generally much smaller than animated GIFs, which helps your pages load faster.

In addition, animated WebP supports 24-bit color with transparency, while GIFs are limited to 8-bit color and have limited transparency support. This means that your animations can appear much more vibrant and detailed when saved in the WebP format.

What is the difference between lossy and lossless WebP compression?

WebP provides two distinct types of file compression. Lossy compression reduces the file size by permanently removing some data from the image. This may cause a very slight reduction in quality, though the difference is often invisible to the naked eye.

Lossless compression reduces the file size without removing any data at all, ensuring the image quality remains identical to the original. Lossless WebP files are larger than lossy ones but are still frequently smaller than PNG files.

If I use a CDN for my images, do I still need to think about WebP?

Yes, you should still consider it. Many modern Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) include a feature that automatically converts your images to WebP on the fly. When a visitor’s browser requests an image, the CDN checks if that browser supports WebP.

If it does, the CDN serves the smaller, faster WebP version. If not, it delivers the original format, such as JPEG. This optimization happens automatically. Using a CDN with WebP support is one of the most effective strategies for accelerating your website.

How does WebP help with Google’s Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are metrics that Google uses to evaluate the user experience of a webpage. One of the most critical metrics is Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), which measures how long it takes for the largest image or block of text on the screen to become visible.

Because WebP images have smaller file sizes, they load much faster. This directly leads to an improved LCP score. A better LCP score signals to Google that your page offers a good user experience, which can positively impact your search engine rankings.