WEBP — Modern Web Image Format
WEBP is an image format released by Google in 2010, engineered for the web. It supports lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation in a single format — and compresses meaningfully better than both JPG and PNG.
Since 2020 every major browser supports WEBP, and it's now often what you get when you save an image from a website.
What WEBP files are used for
- Website images — smaller files mean faster pages and better Core Web Vitals
- Replacing JPG for photos (~25–35% smaller) and PNG for graphics (often 50–80% smaller)
- Transparent images at sizes PNG can't match
Advantages
- Best-in-class compression among universally supported formats
- One format covers photos, graphics, transparency and animation
- Supported by every modern browser and CDN
Limitations
- Some desktop applications, older photo viewers and upload forms still reject it
- Not the native format of any camera — it's a delivery format, not a capture format
- For maximum-compatibility sharing, JPG and PNG remain safer
How to open a WEBP file
Any modern browser opens WEBP — drag the file into a browser window. If a desktop app refuses it, convert it: WEBP to JPG for photos, or WEBP to PNG when it has transparency.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a WEBP file on Windows?
Drag it into Chrome, Edge or Firefox to view it instantly. The Photos app on Windows 10 and 11 opens WEBP too, as long as the WebP extension from the Microsoft Store is installed (it usually is). For apps that refuse it, convert WEBP to JPG or PNG.
Is WEBP better than PNG and JPG?
For images on websites, almost always: WEBP files are about 25–35% smaller than JPG and often 50–80% smaller than PNG at the same visual quality. For printing, editing and sharing with older software, JPG and PNG remain more compatible.
Does WEBP support transparency?
Yes. WEBP supports a full alpha channel like PNG, so logos and cut-out images keep their transparent background. Convert WEBP to PNG, not JPG, when you need to keep that transparency.
Is WEBP a video format?
No, it is an image format, but it supports animation like GIF. Animated WEBP files look like short video clips, which is why stickers and some downloads arrive as .webp. Converting an animated WEBP to JPG or PNG keeps the first frame.
How do I save a WEBP image as JPG?
Upload the .webp file to the WEBP to JPG converter and download the JPG, which opens everywhere. If the image has a transparent background, choose WEBP to PNG instead.