WebP vs JPEG
JPEG makes a compact photographic delivery file, but ordinary JPEG discards detail and has no alpha. Keep the richer source for editing and use JPEG when the receiving workflow expects an opaque photo.
Image format
WebP
A web image format combining lossy and lossless compression, transparency and animation in a RIFF container.
Explore the format
Convert WebP to
Choose a target format for your WebP images.
JPEGJPEGWebP → JPEGPNGPNGWebP → PNGAVIFAVIFWebP → AVIFHEICHEICWebP → HEICHEIFHEIFWebP → HEIFGIFGIFWebP → GIFWith caveat
All 21 conversions
Marked paths may need steps such as flattening, rasterization, tone mapping or animation loss.
Convert to WebP
Choose a source format to convert to WebP.
JPEGJPEGJPEG → WebPPNGPNGPNG → WebPAVIFAVIFAVIF → WebPHEICHEICHEIC → WebPHEIFHEIFHEIF → WebPGIFGIFGIF → WebPWith caveat
All 36 conversions
TIFFTIFFTIFF → WebPBMPBMPBMP → WebPSVGSVGSVG → WebPICOICOICO → WebPJPEG XLJPEG XLJPEG XL → WebPJPEG 2000JPEG 2000JPEG 2000 → WebPQOIQOIQOI → WebPTGATGATGA → WebPPCXPCXPCX → WebPPPMPPMPPM → WebPPGMPGMPGM → WebPPBMPBMPBM → WebPPAMPAMPAM → WebPHDRHDRHDR → WebPWith caveatEXREXREXR → WebPWith caveatPSDPSDPSD → WebPWith caveatPDFPDFPDF → WebPWith caveatDNGDNGDNG → WebPCanon CR2Canon CR2Canon CR2 → WebPCanon CR3Canon CR3Canon CR3 → WebPCanon CRWCanon CRWCanon CRW → WebPNikon NEFNikon NEFNikon NEF → WebPSony ARWSony ARWSony ARW → WebPFujifilm RAFFujifilm RAFFujifilm RAF → WebPOlympus ORFOlympus ORFOlympus ORF → WebPPanasonic RW2Panasonic RW2Panasonic RW2 → WebPPentax PEFPentax PEFPentax PEF → WebPSigma X3FSigma X3FSigma X3F → WebPKodak RAWKodak RAWKodak RAW → WebPHasselblad 3FRHasselblad 3FRHasselblad 3FR → WebP
Marked paths may need steps such as flattening, rasterization, tone mapping or animation loss.
About WebP
WebP
Google developed WebP to reduce the amount of image data transferred by websites. A RIFF container wraps either VP8-based lossy image data or the distinct VP8L lossless bitstream. WebP is a raster format with fixed pixel dimensions, not an editable vector or layered document.
The extended container can add alpha, timed animation frames, ICC profiles, Exif and XMP. Lossless coding preserves 8-bit RGB/RGBA values; lossy coding uses chroma subsampling as well as compression. A file need not contain every optional feature, and metadata preservation depends on the encoder.
Use WebP for photographic web delivery, transparent assets or short image animations when the receiving workflow supports it. Compare output at the required visual quality rather than assuming a fixed size saving. For high-bit-depth editing, HDR radiometric data or Photoshop layers, retain a suitable original.
Key capabilities
Lossy VP8 and lossless VP8L are different coding modes. Lossless WebP preserves supported 8-bit samples, not higher-precision source values. Encoding options can also change RGB values under fully transparent pixels.
History of WebP
WebP began with a photo-compression experiment and expanded into a container for lossless pictures, transparency and animation.
WebP compared
Different formats, different trade-offs. Choose for the image and the workflow.
WebP vs PNG
PNG preserves decoded pixels losslessly and can carry alpha. It is useful for transparent graphics and screenshots; it does not preserve editable document layers or camera sensor data, and photographic files can be large.
WebP vs AVIF
AVIF uses AV1 coding and supports alpha, image sequences and higher bit depths for HDR workflows. It is worth evaluating for final delivery; codec settings and the receiving application determine whether its additional features survive.
WebP vs GIF
GIF is useful for simple indexed-colour animation. Each colour table has at most 256 entries and transparency is a selected palette index, so smooth photographic colour and partial alpha favour other formats.
WebP FAQ
What does this format store?
Google developed WebP to reduce the amount of image data transferred by websites. A RIFF container wraps either VP8-based lossy image data or the distinct VP8L lossless bitstream. WebP is a raster format with fixed pixel dimensions, not an editable vector or layered document.
How does compression affect quality?
Lossy VP8 and lossless VP8L are different coding modes. Lossless WebP preserves supported 8-bit samples, not higher-precision source values. Encoding options can also change RGB values under fully transparent pixels.
Can one WebP contain animation and alpha?
Yes. The extended RIFF structure supports alpha and animation. An animation may contain frames encoded in lossy or lossless modes; a still-image decoder alone is insufficient for playback.
What should I check before opening the file?
Check that your application reads animation and optional metadata, not only the default image. Google documents the container separately from the pixel codecs; support for one does not guarantee every container feature.
What changes when I export to another format?
A still export selects a frame and discards animation timing. JPEG also removes alpha; PNG preserves the decoded pixels but cannot reverse existing lossy WebP compression. Check Exif and ICC retention separately.
When is this format useful?
Use WebP for photographic web delivery, transparent assets or short image animations when the receiving workflow supports it. Compare output at the required visual quality rather than assuming a fixed size saving. For high-bit-depth editing, HDR radiometric data or Photoshop layers, retain a suitable original.