What is WebP and Should You Use It?

Published on January 12, 2025 | Updated January 12, 2025 | Reading Time: 12 minutes

Table of Contents

Introduction

WebP is a modern image format that has been gaining significant traction in web development over the past few years. Developed by Google, it promises smaller file sizes without sacrificing image quality, leading to faster page loads and improved user experience. But despite its advantages, WebP hasn't completely replaced traditional formats like JPG and PNG.

This comprehensive guide will help you understand what WebP is, how it compares to existing formats, its current browser support status, and most importantly, whether you should use it for your website or projects. We'll cover the technical aspects, practical considerations, and implementation strategies to help you make an informed decision.

What is WebP?

WebP (pronounced "weppy") is an image format developed by Google that provides superior compression for images on the web. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency and animation, making it a versatile replacement for multiple traditional formats.

Key characteristics of WebP:

WebP was designed to be the single format that could replace JPG, PNG, and GIF, providing better compression and more features in one unified format.

History and Development

Origins

WebP was first announced by Google in September 2010 as part of their ongoing efforts to make the web faster and more efficient. The format was derived from the VP8 video codec technology, which Google acquired through its purchase of On2 Technologies.

Development Timeline

Current Status

Today, WebP is a mature format with universal browser support. Major platforms including WordPress, Shopify, and content delivery networks (CDNs) have embraced WebP, making it easier than ever to implement. The format has proven its value in production environments across millions of websites worldwide.

How WebP Works

Lossy Compression

WebP's lossy compression uses predictive coding, similar to the VP8 video codec. It analyzes blocks of pixels and predicts what adjacent blocks will look like based on the blocks around them.

The process:

  1. Divides the image into macroblocks
  2. Predicts the content of each block based on surrounding blocks
  3. Stores only the differences between prediction and actual content
  4. Applies additional compression to the difference data
  5. Uses sophisticated filtering to minimize visual artifacts

This approach is more efficient than JPG's DCT-based compression, resulting in smaller file sizes at equivalent quality levels.

Lossless Compression

WebP's lossless mode uses a combination of techniques:

These techniques allow WebP to achieve 25-30% better compression than PNG while maintaining perfect pixel accuracy.

Transparency and Animation

WebP supports 8-bit alpha channel transparency with both lossy and lossless compression modes. For animations, it uses advanced frame prediction and compression techniques that typically produce files 3x smaller than animated GIFs with better image quality.

Advantages of WebP

1. Superior Compression

The primary benefit of WebP is its excellent compression efficiency:

Real-World Impact

Google reported that switching to WebP on their services reduced image data by 30%, resulting in billions of bytes saved daily and significantly faster page loads for users worldwide.

2. Faster Page Load Times

Smaller image files directly translate to performance benefits:

3. Versatility

WebP replaces multiple formats with a single solution:

4. Quality at Lower File Sizes

WebP maintains visual quality better than JPG at equivalent file sizes:

5. SEO Benefits

Faster page loads from WebP images improve SEO:

6. Cost Savings

Smaller file sizes mean lower operational costs:

Disadvantages and Limitations

Despite its advantages, WebP has some drawbacks to consider:

1. Encoding Time

WebP images take longer to create than JPG or PNG:

However, this is typically a one-time cost during image processing, and the benefits usually outweigh the encoding overhead.

2. Tool and Software Support

Not all image editing software fully supports WebP:

3. Social Media Limitations

Social media platforms have mixed WebP support:

4. Legacy Browser Issues

While modern browser support is excellent, some considerations remain:

5. No Progressive Rendering

Unlike progressive JPGs, WebP images don't support progressive loading where a low-quality preview appears first and gradually improves. However, this is rarely a significant issue in modern web development.

Browser and Platform Support

Current Browser Support (2025)

WebP now has excellent browser support across all modern browsers:

Browser Support Status Since Version
Google Chrome Full Support Chrome 23+ (2012)
Firefox Full Support Firefox 65+ (2019)
Safari Full Support Safari 14+ (2020)
Edge Full Support Edge 18+ (2020)
Opera Full Support Opera 12+ (2012)
Samsung Internet Full Support Version 4+ (2016)

Global browser support: Over 97% of all users worldwide can view WebP images as of 2025.

Operating System Support

Application Support

Major applications now support WebP:

Browser Support Status

With 97%+ global browser support, WebP is now safe to use for most websites with proper fallback implementation. The remaining 3% consists mainly of legacy browsers on outdated systems.

WebP vs JPG, PNG, and GIF

Feature WebP JPG PNG GIF
Lossy Compression Yes Yes No No
Lossless Compression Yes No Yes Yes (limited)
Transparency Full (8-bit alpha) No Full (8-bit alpha) Binary (1-bit)
Animation Yes No No (APNG exists) Yes
File Size (Photo) Smallest Small Large Very Large
File Size (Graphics) Small Medium-Large Small-Medium Large
Browser Support 97%+ 100% 100% 100%
Best Use Case Modern websites Photos, universal support Graphics, transparency Simple animations

Compression Comparison Example

For a typical website photo (1920x1080):

When to Use WebP

Perfect Use Cases for WebP

1. Website Images

WebP is ideal for all types of website imagery:

2. Mobile Applications

Excellent for mobile apps where bandwidth is premium:

3. Icons and Graphics

Replace PNG for graphics with transparency:

4. Animations

Superior alternative to animated GIFs:

5. Email Marketing

Reduce email size with WebP images:

When NOT to Use WebP

1. Social Media Uploads

Many platforms don't properly handle WebP:

2. Email Attachments

Some email clients have limited WebP support:

3. Print Materials

Printing software has limited WebP support:

4. Archival Storage

For long-term preservation, established formats are safer:

How to Implement WebP

1. HTML Picture Element (Recommended)

The best method uses the HTML <picture> element with fallbacks:

Example Code

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <source srcset="image.jpg" type="image/jpeg">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">
</picture>

Browsers that support WebP will load the .webp file, while others fall back to .jpg automatically.

2. Server-Side Content Negotiation

Servers can automatically deliver WebP to supporting browsers:

3. CDN Automatic Conversion

Many CDNs offer automatic WebP conversion:

4. WordPress Implementation

WordPress (5.8+) has built-in WebP support:

5. CSS Background Images

Use CSS with modernizr or feature detection:

Example CSS

.hero {
  background-image: url('image.jpg');
}

.webp .hero {
  background-image: url('image.webp');
}

Converting Images to WebP

Command-Line Tools

cwebp (Official Google tool):

Online Converters

Browser-based conversion tools:

Image Optimization Services

Automated services that handle conversion:

Quality Settings Recommendations

Convert Images to WebP Format

Use our free online PNG to WebP converter to optimize your images with superior compression and quality.

Convert to WebP Now

Should You Use WebP?

Yes, You Should Use WebP If:

Consider Alternatives If:

Implementation Strategy

Best approach for most websites:

  1. Start with new images going forward
  2. Convert high-traffic pages first
  3. Implement proper fallbacks using picture element
  4. Monitor performance improvements
  5. Gradually convert remaining images
  6. Always keep original high-quality source files

Recommended Approach

Use WebP as your primary format with JPG/PNG fallbacks using the HTML picture element. This gives you the benefits of WebP for 97% of users while ensuring everyone can view your images.

Conclusion

WebP is a mature, well-supported image format that offers significant advantages over traditional formats like JPG and PNG. With 25-35% smaller file sizes, universal modern browser support, and versatile features including transparency and animation, WebP is an excellent choice for web images in 2025.

Key takeaways:

The answer to "Should you use WebP?" is a clear yes for most modern web projects. The format's maturity, broad support, and significant performance benefits make it the logical choice for image optimization in 2025 and beyond. While JPG and PNG remain important for specific use cases and maximum compatibility, WebP should be your default format for web images.

Start incorporating WebP into your workflow today, and you'll see immediate benefits in page load times, bandwidth usage, and overall site performance. The web is constantly evolving, and WebP represents the current best practice for image delivery on the modern internet.