About this tool
WebP is Google's modern image format, designed for the web. It produces files 25-35% smaller than JPG at equivalent visual quality and supports both lossless and lossy compression with optional transparency. Browser support is universal (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 14+, mobile).
For most websites, switching JPG and PNG hero images to WebP is the single biggest no-effort performance win. Largest Contentful Paint drops noticeably, mobile users on metered connections save megabytes per session, and Lighthouse scores climb. This tool converts any JPG / PNG / GIF / BMP source to WebP in your browser with adjustable quality.
How it works
Open the source
Drop or pick a JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or HEIC image.
Pick lossy or lossless
Lossy with quality 80-85 for photos (smaller). Lossless for graphics / logos with hard edges.
Convert and download
WebP saves to your device. Compare file sizes - typical reduction is 25-35% from JPG, 60-70% from PNG.
Use cases
Web performance
Convert all JPG hero images to WebP for an instant 25-35% page-weight reduction.
Mobile-first sites
WebP saves more bandwidth on flaky mobile connections than any other quick fix.
E-commerce thumbnails
A 1000-product catalog at 4 thumbnails each = 4000 images. WebP cuts catalog page weight by ~30% across the board.
Replace animated GIFs
Animated WebP is 30-50% smaller than animated GIF at the same quality.
Format and spec details
| Lossy quality range | 0-100, sweet spot 75-85 |
|---|---|
| Lossless mode | For graphics and screenshots |
| Transparency | Supported (alpha channel) |
| Animation | Yes (WebP can replace animated GIF) |
| Browser support | Chrome 32+, Edge 18+, Firefox 65+, Safari 14+ (~96% global) |
Tips and best practices
- Use the
element with WebP and a JPG fallback for max compatibility: 
- Quality 80 in WebP is roughly equivalent to quality 85-90 in JPG visually.
- CDNs (Cloudflare, Cloudfront, Fastly) can auto-convert JPG/PNG to WebP at the edge - saves you the manual step.
- Test on real iPhones, especially older models, to confirm WebP loads correctly.
Why convert images to WEBP
WebP is Google's 2010 format designed to replace JPG and PNG. It compresses 25-35% smaller than JPG at the same quality and supports transparency + animation like PNG/GIF. Every major browser supports it as of 2020.
Image format comparison
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Animation | Color depth | Browser support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG / JPEG | Lossy | No | No | 8-bit | Universal (since 1992) |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes (alpha) | No (APNG ext.) | 8/16-bit + alpha | Universal (since 1996) |
| WebP | Both | Yes | Yes | 8-bit + alpha | All modern (96% global) |
| AVIF | Lossy (AV1) | Yes | Yes | 10/12-bit HDR | Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16+ |
| GIF | Lossless palette | 1-bit | Yes | 256 colors | Universal |
| HEIC / HEIF | Lossy (HEVC) | Yes | Yes | 10-bit HDR | iOS, macOS, Win10+ |
File size comparison (same 1920x1080 photo)
WebP is ~40% smaller than JPG for the same visible quality. AVIF is ~60% smaller, but still has slower encoders and limited compatibility with older Windows tools.
When NOT to convert
- To JPG, if you have transparency: JPG drops alpha. The transparent pixels render as your chosen background colour.
- To JPG repeatedly: every save loses quality (generation loss). Re-edit from the original whenever possible.
- To PNG, if you need small files: PNG can be 5-10x larger than JPG. Use only when transparency or lossless quality is required.
- To WebP, if your audience is on very old systems: IE11 and pre-2020 email clients (Outlook 2019, etc.) don't render WebP.
How browser-based conversion works
This tool uses the HTML5 Canvas API. When you drop a file:
- FileReader reads the image into a binary blob that stays in your browser memory.
- An <img> element decodes the blob to a bitmap.
- A <canvas> of matching dimensions is created, and the bitmap is drawn onto it.
- canvas.toBlob() re-encodes the bitmap to your target format at your chosen quality.
- URL.createObjectURL produces a download link to that blob.
The original file never uploads anywhere - all of the above happens in your tab. The encoded output exists only in your browser until you download it.
Quality settings demystified
JPG and WebP quality is a 0-100 scale. It's not linear - quality 85 keeps ~95% of perceived detail at ~25% of the file size compared to quality 100. The sweet spot for photos is quality 80-85. Drop to 70-75 for thumbnails, raise to 95+ for archival masters.
Privacy and offline operation
Every operation in this tool runs client-side using your browser's built-in APIs (Canvas, Web Audio, WebAssembly). No data is uploaded. After the initial page load you can disconnect from the internet and the tool keeps working.
We use Google Analytics and AdSense for the page itself, but neither sees the content of the files you process.
Frequently asked questions
Does WebP work on iPhones?
Safari 14+ (iOS 14, 2020) supports WebP. Older iPhones (iOS 13 and earlier) do not. For full support, serve WebP with a JPG fallback via the
Should I always pick WebP over JPG?
For modern sites, yes - WebP is smaller and visually equivalent. For email attachments or print orders, stick with JPG (universal compatibility).
Lossy or lossless WebP?
Photos: lossy at 80-85. Graphics, logos, screenshots: lossless. Lossless WebP is still ~25% smaller than PNG.
Can WebP replace animated GIF?
Yes - animated WebP is 30-50% smaller and supports 24-bit color (GIF is limited to 256 colors).
What about AVIF?
AVIF is even smaller than WebP (~30% more savings) but browser support is newer (~92% global). Use AVIF where supported, WebP as fallback.
Are uploaded images sent to a server?
No. All conversion happens in your browser using the Canvas API. The file never leaves your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tool still works.
Will the converted file have the same dimensions?
Yes by default. The canvas is sized to match the source image's intrinsic width and height. EXIF orientation is automatically applied so phone photos won't appear rotated.
What happens to EXIF and metadata?
Most converters (including this one) strip EXIF on re-encode for privacy. GPS coordinates, camera serial number, and timestamps are all removed unless explicitly preserved by an option.
Can I convert in bulk?
Yes - drop multiple files at once. Each is converted independently and produces its own download link. Large batches may slow your browser; convert 20-50 at a time.
Why is my converted file larger than the original?
Usually because the original used a more efficient algorithm. Converting a JPG to PNG always makes the file larger (PNG is lossless). Converting an AVIF to JPG also typically grows the file.
Does HEIC work in this browser?
Safari 13+ and Chrome 119+ (with flag) decode HEIC natively. Other browsers fall back to JavaScript decoders that work but are slower. The tool will tell you if your browser cannot read your file.
What's the best image format for 2026?
Depends on the use case. For new web content: WebP for most images, AVIF if you can serve format negotiation, PNG for transparency, SVG for vectors. JPG remains the safe universal fallback. Phone screenshots: PNG or WebP lossless.
Does converting reduce quality?
Lossy-to-lossy (JPG to WebP) introduces a small additional loss. Lossless-to-lossy (PNG to JPG) introduces visible loss but smaller files. Lossless-to-lossless (PNG to WebP lossless) is pixel-perfect.
Why does WEBP support vary by browser?
Different browsers adopted different formats at different times. WebP: universal as of 2020. AVIF: Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16+. HEIC: native to iOS/macOS, limited elsewhere. Modern best practice is multi-format
Should I use AVIF for everything?
Not yet. AVIF is ~30% smaller than WebP at the same quality but takes 10-100x longer to encode and isn't supported in older browsers. Use AVIF for hero images where bandwidth matters; WebP everywhere else.
How do I batch-convert hundreds of images?
This tool processes one at a time in the browser. For large batches, use desktop tools: ImageMagick (cross-platform CLI), Squoosh CLI (per-file), or build-time pipelines like sharp (Node), Pillow (Python), or imgix/Cloudinary (managed).
Are my images uploaded to a server when I convert here?
No. All conversion happens in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. The image stays in your tab's memory; nothing is sent. Verify by opening browser DevTools, Network tab - no upload requests fire.