The Complete Guide to WebP: Why Every Photographer Should Use It
WebP delivers smaller file sizes than JPEG and PNG without visible quality loss. Learn how WebP works, when to use it, browser support in 2026, and how to convert your photos for free.
Table of Contents
What is WebP?
WebP is an image format developed by Google and first released in 2010. It was designed as a direct replacement for JPEG, PNG, and GIF- combining the strengths of all three into a single modern format optimized for the web.
The format is based on the VP8 video codec (for lossy compression) and uses a dedicated lossless mode derived from VP8L. Both modes use predictive coding- the encoder analyzes nearby pixel values and only stores the difference from the prediction, rather than raw pixel data. This is fundamentally more efficient than the DCT-based compression JPEG uses.
The result: at the same perceptual quality, WebP files are consistently smaller than JPEG. In Google's own benchmarks- published in the WebP compression study - lossy WebP files were 25–34% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality. Lossless WebP files were 26% smaller than PNG. You can read more about the format on the official Google WebP developer page.
WebP capabilities: what makes it versatile
Unlike JPEG (lossy only, no transparency) and PNG (lossless only, transparency), WebP covers every use case in a single format.
Lossy compression
Like JPEG but smaller at equivalent quality. Ideal for photos and complex images where some data can be discarded invisibly.
Lossless compression
Like PNG but 26% smaller. Every pixel is preserved exactly. Ideal for logos, screenshots, and graphics with transparency.
Transparency (alpha channel)
Lossy WebP supports transparency- something JPEG cannot do. Replace PNG for transparent web graphics and get dramatically smaller files.
Animation
WebP supports animated images like GIF, but with much better compression. An animated WebP is typically 64% smaller than the equivalent GIF.
WebP browser support in 2026
WebP support is now universal. As of early 2026, global browser support is above 97% according to Can I Use. The last major holdout was Safari on iOS and macOS - Apple added full WebP support in Safari 14 (released September 2020). Every iPhone running iOS 14 or later supports WebP natively.
The era of needing fallback JPEG alternatives for Safari is over. If you are still serving JPEG to all users out of caution, you are leaving significant performance gains on the table for no practical reason. Check the latest compatibility data on Can I Use: WebP.
WebP vs JPEG vs PNG: when to use which
The choice between formats is not about which is objectively better- it is about matching the format to the content and use case. Here is the practical breakdown.
Use WebP when
- Publishing photos or images to a website or web application in 2026- universal browser support makes this the clear default.
- You need transparent images for web use- lossy WebP with transparency is dramatically smaller than PNG.
- You are serving animated images- animated WebP replaces GIF with far better compression.
- You need both quality modes - WebP handles lossy and lossless in one format, simplifying your pipeline.
- Core Web Vitals matter - Google explicitly recommends next-gen formats (WebP, AVIF) in Lighthouse audits.
Stick with JPEG when
- Delivering photos to print labs or print-ready workflows - JPEG is the universal standard in print production.
- Sending photos to clients who need to work with files in software that may not support WebP (some older editing tools).
- Archiving originals - JPEG has 30+ years of universal support. For long-term storage, format longevity matters.
- Some email clients still do not reliably render WebP in HTML emails - JPEG remains safer for email contexts.
Stick with PNG when
- Working with graphics that contain text, hard edges, or flat areas of color- lossless encoding (both PNG and lossless WebP) preserves these perfectly, while lossy formats introduce artifacts.
- The receiving system does not support WebP- though in 2026 this is increasingly rare.
- You need maximum compatibility with image editing software for layered or lossless workflows.
Format comparison at a glance
| Feature | JPEG | PNG | WebP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lossy compression | |||
| Lossless compression | |||
| Transparency (alpha) | |||
| Animation | Limited | ||
| File size vs JPEG | Baseline | Larger | 25–35% smaller |
| Browser support 2026 | 100% | 100% | 97%+ |
| Print production | |||
| Email clients | Partial |
What about AVIF? Is it better than WebP?
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a newer format that achieves even better compression than WebP- often 30–50% smaller than WebP at equivalent quality. Browser support reached approximately 90%+ globally in 2024, with the main gap being Safari on older iOS versions.
The trade-off is encoding time. AVIF is significantly slower to encode than WebP, which matters for server-side on-the-fly conversion. For static assets and photographers converting files manually, this is less of a concern.
The practical recommendation for 2026: WebP is the safe, universal default. Use it for everything. If you want to push further, serve AVIF with a WebP fallback using the HTML <picture> element. SammaPix currently focuses on WebP conversion as the production-ready default; AVIF support is on the roadmap.
How to convert photos to WebP using SammaPix
SammaPix WebP Converter converts JPEG, PNG, GIF, and AVIF files to WebP entirely in your browser. No upload, no server processing, no account required.
Open the WebP Converter
Go to sammapix.com/tools/webp. The converter runs entirely client-side- your files are processed locally and never sent to any server.
Drop your images
Drag one or multiple files onto the drop zone. You can convert an entire folder in one go. Supported input formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, AVIF.
Adjust quality (optional)
Use the quality slider to control the compression level. The default of 80% is a well-tested balance for most web images. If you are working with graphics or logos, consider the lossless mode for pixel-perfect results.
Download your WebP files
Download individual files or use ZIP download to batch-export everything at once. The converted files are named identically to the originals, just with the .webp extension.
Free tool- no upload, no signup
Convert your images to WebP now - SammaPix WebP Converter
Serving WebP on your website
Converting your images is only the first step. Here is how to deliver them correctly on different platforms.
HTML: the <picture> element
The safest approach for any HTML page- serves WebP to browsers that support it, falls back to JPEG automatically:
<picture> <source srcset="photo.webp" type="image/webp" /> <img src="photo.jpg" alt="Description" /> </picture>
WordPress
WordPress 5.8+ natively accepts WebP uploads. You can upload .webp files directly via the Media Library. Plugins like ShortPixel, Imagify, or WebP Converter for Media can automate on-the-fly WebP conversion and serving with Accept: image/webp header detection.
Next.js
Next.js automatically serves WebP when you use the built-in next/image component. It detects browser support via the Accept header and converts images at request time, caching the result. No manual conversion needed if you use <Image />.
Squarespace and Webflow
Squarespace automatically converts uploaded images to WebP since 2022. Webflow serves WebP via its CDN for all images uploaded after mid-2023. If you are on either platform, your images may already be served as WebP- check your network tab in browser DevTools to confirm.
WebP and photography workflows: practical tips
Never use WebP as your master archive format
Keep original RAW or high-quality JPEG masters for archiving. Convert to WebP only for the specific web deliverables that will be published. The smaller file size comes at the cost of some discarded data- fine for web delivery, not appropriate for long-term photo archiving where you want every pixel preserved.
Convert during your export step, not at source
A clean workflow: edit in Lightroom, Capture One, or your preferred software → export full-quality JPEG or TIFF → batch-convert to WebP in SammaPix before uploading to your website. This keeps your editing workflow using well-supported formats and adds the WebP conversion as a final, fast step.
Pair WebP conversion with compression
Converting to WebP already reduces file size, but combining format conversion with quality compression gives you the largest gains. Use SammaPix Compress alongside the WebP converter to do both in your workflow- so a 10 MB camera JPEG becomes a sub-300 KB WebP ready for web delivery.
Check your EXIF metadata after conversion
WebP does not use the EXIF standard in the same way JPEG does. Most conversion tools strip EXIF metadata during the WebP conversion, which is usually the desired behavior for web images. If you need to verify what metadata (if any) survives the conversion, drop the output file into SammaPix EXIF Viewer to check.
FAQ
Is WebP better than JPEG for photographs?
For web delivery, yes. WebP achieves 25–35% smaller file sizes than JPEG at equivalent visual quality, which means faster page loads and better Core Web Vitals scores. For print or archiving, JPEG remains the standard due to universal software support. Use WebP for web output, JPEG for everything else.
Can I open WebP files in Photoshop and Lightroom?
Photoshop added native WebP support in version 23.2 (February 2022). Lightroom Classic added import support for WebP in 2022 as well. If you are running a current version of Adobe software, you can open, edit, and export WebP files natively. Older versions may require a plugin.
Does converting to WebP reduce quality?
Converting to lossy WebP at a high quality setting (80%+) produces output that is visually indistinguishable from the JPEG source for most content. Converting to lossless WebP preserves every pixel. The key is choosing the right mode for your content- lossy for photos, lossless for logos and graphics.
Can I convert WebP back to JPEG?
Yes, but be aware that each lossy conversion introduces a small amount of additional quality loss. If you converted JPEG to WebP and then convert back to JPEG, the result will have slightly lower quality than the original JPEG. This is why you should always keep the original master file and only convert to WebP for the web deliverable.
Does Google rank WebP pages higher?
Google does not directly reward WebP use in rankings. However, page speed and Core Web Vitals (particularly LCP - Largest Contentful Paint) are ranking signals, and serving WebP instead of JPEG can significantly improve those metrics. Lighthouse explicitly flags unoptimized images and recommends WebP or AVIF as next-gen alternatives.
Converting from a specific source format? See the PNG to JPG vs WebP benchmark and the HEIC to WebP guide.
