What is WebP and Why Should You Use It?

WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides superior compression for both lossless and lossy images on the web. If you haven’t switched your website images to WebP yet, you’re leaving significant performance gains on the table.

What is WebP?

WebP is an image format that uses advanced compression techniques to create smaller files without sacrificing quality. It was introduced by Google in 2010 and has since become the de-facto standard for web image optimization.

WebP vs JPG vs PNG

Feature	JPG	PNG	WebP
Compression	Lossy	Lossless	Both
Transparency	No	Yes	Yes
Animation	No	No	Yes
File size	Medium	Large	Small
Quality	Medium	High	High

WebP files are typically:

25-35% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
26% smaller than PNG files

Browser Support

WebP is now supported by all modern browsers:

Chrome (since 2010)
Firefox (since 2019)
Safari (since 2020)
Edge (since 2018)
Opera (since 2013)

Over 95% of global users can view WebP images.

How to Convert to WebP

Use ViaConvert’s free PNG to WebP converter or WebP to PNG converter to switch between formats instantly in your browser.

Converting PNG to WebP:

Visit PNG to WebP
Upload your PNG image
Adjust quality settings if needed
Click Convert & Download

Should You Use WebP?

Yes, if:

You’re building or maintaining a website
Page speed is important to you
You want better Core Web Vitals scores
You care about bandwidth costs

Stick with JPG/PNG if:

You need maximum compatibility with old software
You’re sending images via email to non-technical users

Conclusion

WebP represents the future of web images. Its superior compression, transparency support, and animation capabilities make it the ideal format for modern websites. Use ViaConvert’s free tools to start converting your images today.