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How to Switch Your Website Images to WebP Safely, Step by Step

WebP can make your images roughly a quarter to a third smaller than JPG at similar quality, and every current browser can show it. Switching is easy if you do it in the right order and avoid a few traps. This guide explains the trade-offs and gives you a safe plan.

What WebP is and why it is worth considering

WebP is an image format created by Google. It can compress photos with some data loss, like JPG, or without loss, like PNG, and it supports transparency and animation. Because it is more efficient, the same picture is usually a lot smaller, which means faster pages and lower bandwidth costs. The WebP explainer covers the background.

WebP versus JPG and PNG: pros and cons

FormatStrengthsWeaknesses
WebPSmaller files, transparency, lossy and lossless modesA few older tools and platforms still reject it
JPGWorks everywhereLarger files, no transparency
PNGLossless, transparencyVery large for photos

Pros of switching

  • Typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG at the same visual quality.
  • One format can replace both JPG and PNG in many cases.
  • Better page speed, which supports Core Web Vitals.

Cons and limits

  • Some email clients, older software and social previews do not handle WebP well.
  • Re-encoding an existing JPG to WebP saves less than starting from the original.
  • You need to manage fallbacks and test results.

Which images to convert, and which to leave alone

  • Convert: large photos, hero images, product pictures and any PNG that is really a photo.
  • Convert carefully: PNG graphics and screenshots, where WebP lossless or a high quality setting keeps edges sharp.
  • Leave alone: vector logos and icons, which should stay as SVG, and tiny files, which gain almost nothing.
  • Keep as JPG or PNG: Open Graph and Twitter card images, and anything you share through email or apps that may not accept WebP.

Step by step: switch safely

  1. 1Audit the pages that matter. Run key pages through PageSpeed Insights and look at the suggestion about serving images in next-gen formats. It lists files and potential savings.
  2. 2Convert from the originals. For photos use JPG to WebP, and for graphics and screenshots use PNG to WebP, which keeps transparency. A quality of 75 to 85 suits most photos.
  3. 3Compare before you replace. Open each result next to the original and look at fine detail, text and smooth gradients. If the WebP is not smaller or you see damage, keep the original or raise the quality.
  4. 4Serve a fallback. Use a picture element with a WebP source and a JPG or PNG img, as shown in the responsive images guide. Many CMS platforms, plugins and CDNs can do this for you.
  5. 5Resize and compress too. Conversion is a good moment to also size images correctly with Resize Image.
  6. 6Keep the originals. They are your source for future edits and your safety net.
  7. 7Retest and watch results. Run PageSpeed Insights again, check key pages on a phone, and look for broken images.

Be careful with social previews and email

Some social networks and messaging apps do not show WebP in link previews, and many email clients do not render it. Keep your Open Graph and Twitter card images as JPG or PNG, and use WebP for the images inside the page. For emails, stay with JPG or PNG. If someone sends you a WebP that you need to use elsewhere, WebP to JPG converts it in your browser.

Common mistakes

  • Converting a heavily compressed JPG, which saves little and can add visible damage. Start from the original.
  • Removing fallbacks entirely. It is cheap insurance for odd browsers and tools.
  • Converting every file, including tiny icons and SVG logos.
  • Using WebP for Open Graph images, which some platforms ignore.
  • Not comparing quality. Always view the result before replacing a file.

Frequently asked questions

Is WebP better than JPG?

For websites, usually yes. WebP files are typically 25 to 35 percent smaller at similar quality, and WebP also supports transparency. JPG remains the safest choice for sharing files with tools that may not accept WebP.

Do all browsers support WebP?

Every current major browser can display WebP. Keep a JPG or PNG fallback for older browsers, email clients and other tools.

Should I convert PNG to WebP?

For photos saved as PNG, yes, the saving is large. For graphics and screenshots, WebP also works and keeps transparency, but compare the result to make sure edges stay sharp. Keep SVG for vector logos.

Will WebP hurt my SEO?

No. Google can index WebP images, and smaller files help your page speed. Keep descriptive alt text and file names.

Should I use AVIF instead of WebP?

AVIF can be smaller still, but it takes longer to create and is slightly less universal. WebP is the simpler choice for most sites, and you can add AVIF later with a picture element. See the AVIF guide for the trade-offs.

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