Is WebP a good format?

Yes, for the web: it produces smaller files than JPG and PNG and supports transparency and animation. It is less suitable for files you need to send to others or open in older software.

Why do images save as WebP when I download them?

Many websites serve WebP to browsers that support it to save bandwidth, so Save Image As gives you the WebP version. Convert it to JPG or PNG if you need a more compatible file.

Does converting WebP to JPG lose quality?

Converting a lossy WebP to JPG re-encodes it, which can add slight loss; at quality 85-90 it is rarely visible. Converting to PNG avoids additional loss but produces a larger file.

Is WebP better than AVIF?

AVIF usually compresses smaller, but WebP encodes faster and has slightly broader support in older software. Many sites serve AVIF with WebP or JPG as a fallback.

Google created WebP and released it in 2010. It is an open, royalty-free format.

What Is WebP? Pros, Cons and When to Use It

By the imgloom team · Updated October 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Quick answer

WebP is an image format developed by Google that supports lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation in one file type. According to Google, lossy WebP images are about 25-34% smaller than comparable JPEGs, which is why so many websites now serve WebP. It works in all modern browsers but is not yet accepted by every app or upload form.

Key takeaways

WebP was released by Google in 2010 and is based on the VP8 video codec.
It can replace JPG (lossy), PNG (lossless with transparency) and GIF (animation).
Google reports lossy WebP is 25-34% smaller than JPEG and lossless WebP about 26% smaller than PNG.
Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari 14 or later all display WebP.
Convert WebP to JPG or PNG when an app, editor or form will not accept it.

What is a WebP file?

A WebP file (.webp) is an image saved in Google's WebP format, designed to make web images smaller without visibly lowering quality.

Google announced WebP in 2010, building its lossy mode on the VP8 video codec, and later added a lossless mode, alpha transparency and animation. Because a single format covers what used to require JPG, PNG and GIF, it has become a common default for websites, content management systems and image CDNs.

How much smaller is WebP than JPG and PNG?

According to Google's WebP compression study, lossy WebP files were 25-34% smaller than JPEG files at equivalent visual quality, and Google reports lossless WebP files are about 26% smaller than PNGs.

Real-world savings vary by image and encoder settings, but switching a typical photo-heavy page from JPG to WebP noticeably reduces total page weight, which helps loading speed on mobile connections.

Pros and cons of WebP

WebP's strengths are size and versatility; its weakness is support outside the browser.

Pro: smaller files than JPG and PNG at similar quality.
Pro: supports transparency, so it can replace PNG for logos and cutouts.
Pro: supports animation, usually far smaller than an equivalent GIF.
Pro: supported by every major current browser.
Con: some older desktop software, print shops, email clients and upload forms do not accept .webp files.
Con: limited to 8-bit color and a maximum of 16383 x 16383 pixels, so it is not ideal for HDR or very large images.
Con: AVIF can compress smaller still for many photos, although it is slower to encode.

Which browsers and apps support WebP?

All current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Safari (version 14 and later) display WebP, as do Android and iOS.

Windows 10 and 11, recent macOS versions and popular editors such as Photoshop (2022 and later) and GIMP can open WebP too. Support is less consistent in older software, some office tools, and websites that whitelist only JPG and PNG uploads, which is the most common reason people need to convert WebP files.

When should you not use WebP?

Avoid WebP when the file is going somewhere that may not support it, such as email attachments, print services, official application forms or older software.

In those cases JPG (photos) or PNG (graphics) is the safer choice. WebP is also not an archival format for original photos; keep your camera originals and export WebP copies for the web.

How to open, convert or create WebP images

You can open a WebP image in any modern browser by dragging it into a tab, and convert it with free tools.

imgloom's WebP to JPG and WebP to PNG converters turn WebP files into formats every app accepts, and JPG to WebP and PNG to WebP create WebP files with a quality slider. They handle batches with a ZIP download and run entirely in your browser, so files are not uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Is WebP a good format?: Yes, for the web: it produces smaller files than JPG and PNG and supports transparency and animation. It is less suitable for files you need to send to others or open in older software.
Why do images save as WebP when I download them?: Many websites serve WebP to browsers that support it to save bandwidth, so Save Image As gives you the WebP version. Convert it to JPG or PNG if you need a more compatible file.
Does converting WebP to JPG lose quality?: Converting a lossy WebP to JPG re-encodes it, which can add slight loss; at quality 85-90 it is rarely visible. Converting to PNG avoids additional loss but produces a larger file.
Is WebP better than AVIF?: AVIF usually compresses smaller, but WebP encodes faster and has slightly broader support in older software. Many sites serve AVIF with WebP or JPG as a fallback.
Who created WebP?: Google created WebP and released it in 2010. It is an open, royalty-free format.