Creator media glossary
What is WebP?
Short answer
An image format supporting lossy and lossless compression plus transparency; the quality and file size depend on the selected mode and source image.
Key takeaways
- WebP is Google's image format with lossy and lossless modes, transparency and animation.
- Files are about a quarter to a third smaller than JPEG, and 26% smaller than PNG for lossless.
- All current browsers support it; many social platforms and older apps do not.
- Convert WebP to JPEG for photos or PNG for graphics before uploading.
WebP explained
WebP supports both lossless compression (like PNG) and lossy compression (like JPEG) in the same format, plus an alpha channel, which is why it typically beats both older formats on file size for a comparable result. Browser support is now essentially universal.
The main reason to still use PNG or JPEG instead is compatibility with older tools and platforms that don't accept WebP uploads directly - check the target before assuming WebP works everywhere.
How WebP works
Google released WebP in 2010. Its lossy mode compresses an image the way the VP8 video codec compresses a single frame: blocks predicted from their neighbors, a transform, quantization and arithmetic coding. Its lossless mode, added in 2011, uses a separate set of tools (pixel prediction, color caching and entropy coding) designed for exact reproduction. Transparency and animation followed, so one format covers what JPEG, PNG and GIF do separately.
Google's own measurements put lossless WebP about 26% smaller than PNG and lossy WebP 25-34% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality.
Where WebP is supported
| Software | WebP support |
|---|---|
| Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera | Yes |
| Safari | Yes, since Safari 14 (2020) |
| Windows 10 and 11 | Photos opens WebP (Webp Image Extensions, usually preinstalled) |
| macOS | Preview and Photos, since macOS Big Sur |
| Photoshop | Native since version 23.2 (2022) |
| Social upload forms | Rarely documented; convert to JPEG or PNG |
Image formats by platform
| Platform and image | JPEG | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instagram (API: feed, story, Reels cover) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| YouTube thumbnails | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Facebook Page profile and cover | Yes (fastest) | Yes (better for logos and text) | Not listed |
| LinkedIn Page images | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Pinterest pins | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
Animated WebP vs GIF
Animated WebP supports millions of colors and transparency with soft edges, where GIF is limited to 256 colors and on-or-off transparency. For the same animation it is usually far smaller. Messaging apps and browsers display it; for maximum compatibility in email and older apps, GIF still wins.
Serving WebP on a website
- Use the <picture> element with a WebP <source> and a JPEG or PNG <img> fallback.
- Or let an image CDN or plugin convert and serve WebP automatically to browsers that ask for it.
- Quality 75-85 for lossy WebP usually matches a JPEG at 85-90.
- Keep the original JPEG or PNG; WebP is the delivery copy.
Advantages and drawbacks of WebP
Advantages
- Smaller files than JPEG and PNG at similar quality
- Lossy and lossless modes, transparency and animation in one format
- Supported by all current browsers
- Faster pages and lower bandwidth costs
Drawbacks
- Not documented by most social platforms for uploads
- Older software and some editors still cannot open it
- Lossy WebP always halves color resolution, which can blur fine red or blue text
- Maximum size of 16,383 × 16,383 pixels
How to open or convert a WebP file
- Open it in any browser, or in Windows Photos and macOS Preview.
- On a Mac, Preview > File > Export saves a JPEG or PNG; on Windows, Paint > Save as does the same.
- Convert many at once in the browser with our WebP to JPEG or WebP to PNG converters; files stay on your device.
- To create WebP, export from Photoshop or GIMP, or use Google's cwebp tool:
cwebp -q 80 in.jpg -o out.webp
Free tools:WebP to JPGWebP to PNGJPG to WebP
Frequently asked questions
What is a WebP file?
WebP is an image format from Google that supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation. Websites use it because files are usually smaller than JPEG or PNG at similar quality.
Why do images I save from websites end up as WebP?
Many sites serve WebP to save bandwidth, so "Save image" keeps that format. Phone galleries, editors and upload forms often expect JPEG or PNG.
Can I upload WebP to Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn?
None of the platform specs below list WebP. Convert to JPEG for photos or PNG for graphics before uploading.
Is WebP better than JPEG?
For websites, usually: smaller files at the same visual quality, plus transparency. For sharing and uploading, JPEG is still the safer format because everything accepts it.
Is WebP safe?
Yes. A serious bug in the libwebp library was found and fixed in September 2023, so keep your browser and apps updated, as with any image format.
Why do websites use WebP?
Smaller images load faster and cost less to serve, which helps page speed scores.
Let Koldflux pick the settings
Koldflux chooses the codec, container and bitrate for each platform when it exports.
Free tools that use this
Sources and how we checked
- MDN: Image file type and format guide (checked 2026-10-05)
- Instagram API: IG User Media (reel, story and video specifications) (checked 2026-10-05)
- YouTube Help: Add custom thumbnails (checked 2026-10-05)
- Facebook Help: Page profile picture and cover photo dimensions (checked 2026-10-05)
- LinkedIn Help: Image specifications for LinkedIn Pages (checked 2026-10-05)
- Pinterest Help: Pinterest product specs (checked 2026-10-05)
- Google for Developers: An image format for the Web (WebP) (checked 2026-10-06)
- Google for Developers: WebP FAQ (checked 2026-10-06)
- Can I use: WebP image format (checked 2026-10-06)
Reviewed October 6, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Definitions follow the specifications and platform documentation linked above; platform tables come from the same registry the Koldflux tools use.