What Is WebP? A Practical Guide to Converting Images to WebP

If you have ever run your website through a speed test, there is a good chance it told you to "serve images in next-gen formats". In most cases, that advice points to one format: WebP. It is one of the simplest changes you can make to speed up a business website, an online store or a blog, and it does not require a developer or expensive software.

This guide explains what WebP is, how it compares with JPG and PNG, where it works, and how to convert your existing images using our free WebP converter, which runs entirely in your browser.

What is WebP?

WebP is an image format developed by Google and released in 2010. Its purpose is simple: make images on the web smaller without making them look worse. A WebP file can be compressed in two ways:

• Lossy WebP works like JPG. It throws away some detail the eye is unlikely to notice, and it is ideal for photographs, banners and product shots.
• Lossless WebP works like PNG. It keeps every pixel exactly, which suits logos, icons, screenshots and graphics with text.

WebP also supports transparency (like PNG) and animation (like GIF), so a single format can replace all three in most situations.

WebP vs JPG vs PNG: how they compare

The main reason to use WebP is file size. Google's own testing found lossy WebP images are typically 25–35% smaller than JPEG images of comparable quality, and lossless WebP files are usually smaller than equivalent PNGs. Smaller files mean faster loading, especially on mobile data, which is how most Indian visitors reach your site.

WebP is not magic. A badly sized image is still a badly sized image. If you upload a 5000-pixel-wide photo to display in a 600-pixel box, converting it to WebP helps, but resizing it first helps far more.

Browser support for WebP

A few years ago, the big worry with WebP was Safari. That concern is now largely gone. Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Samsung Internet and Safari (from version 14 on macOS Big Sur and iOS 14 onwards) all display WebP images. For practically every visitor using a phone or computer from the last several years, WebP simply works.

If you need to support very old devices, the standard approach is the HTML picture element, which offers a WebP version first and falls back to JPG or PNG:

<picture>
  <source srcset="banner.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="banner.jpg" alt="Diwali sale banner" width="1200" height="600">
</picture>

Browsers that understand WebP load the smaller file; anything older quietly uses the JPG.

When should you use WebP?

In our experience building sites, WebP is the right default for nearly every image on a modern website. It is particularly worthwhile for:

• Homepage banners and hero images, which are often the largest files on a page and affect how quickly the page appears to load.
• Product photos on e-commerce stores, where a category page might show dozens of images at once.
• Blog images and featured images.
• Logos and icons with transparency, using lossless WebP instead of PNG.

There are a few cases where you might keep the original format: images you are emailing to people (some email clients handle WebP poorly), files for print, and images you send to a vendor or marketplace that only accepts JPG or PNG. Always keep your original high-quality files as a master copy.

How to convert images to WebP for free

You do not need Photoshop to create WebP files. Our free JPG and PNG to WebP converter converts images directly in your browser, so your files are processed on your own device. Here is how to use it:

1. Open the WebP converter tool on any modern browser.
2. Select or drag in the JPG or PNG images you want to convert.
3. Let the tool convert them to WebP.
4. Download the WebP files and compare the file sizes with your originals.
5. Check each image visually at the size it will appear on your site before uploading.

Tips for better results

• Resize before converting. Export images at roughly the largest size they will be displayed, perhaps double that for sharp retina screens, rather than straight from the camera.
• Use descriptive filenames such as cotton-kurta-blue.webp rather than IMG_4471.webp. It helps with image search.
• Keep alt text. Changing the format does not change the need for a meaningful description for accessibility and SEO.
• If a file is still heavy after conversion, run it through an online image compressor as well.

Using WebP on WordPress and Shopify

WordPress

WordPress has supported uploading WebP images in the media library since version 5.8. You can upload converted WebP files directly and use them in posts and pages like any other image. Many image optimisation plugins can also generate WebP versions automatically, but if you prefer fewer plugins, converting images yourself before upload keeps your site lighter. Check that your theme and any page builder you use display WebP correctly, which nearly all current ones do.

Shopify

Shopify's CDN automatically serves images in an optimised format such as WebP to browsers that support it, even if you upload JPG or PNG. That means Shopify store owners usually do not need to convert product images manually. Your effort is better spent uploading properly sized, well-lit, consistent product photos. Converting to WebP is still useful for images you host elsewhere, such as on a separate landing page or a custom-built site.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting to WebP reduce image quality?

With lossy WebP, some detail is discarded, just as with JPG, but at sensible quality settings the difference is usually not visible on screen. Lossless WebP keeps the image identical to the original. Always compare the result before replacing your images.

Will WebP images help my SEO?

Not directly as a ranking factor on their own, but faster pages create a better experience and contribute to page speed metrics such as Core Web Vitals, which Google does consider. Lighter images are one of the easiest speed improvements to make.

Is it safe to convert private images with an online tool?

Our WebP converter processes images in your browser, so the conversion happens on your own device. As a general habit, check how any online tool handles files before using it with sensitive images.

Need help with a faster website?

Image formats are one piece of a fast site; hosting, code, fonts and scripts matter too. If your website still feels slow after optimising images, our web development team can review it and fix the underlying issues, whether it is a custom site or a WordPress website.

BaalBo Infotech is based in Patna, Bihar, and works with businesses across India. If you would like a second opinion on your site's performance, get in touch with us.