WebP file format: what it is and how to use it

WebP is Google's web image format: lossy and lossless compression with transparency and animation, beating JPG and PNG sizes by a quarter or more. Learn when to use it and what to choose instead.

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What is a WEBP file?

A .webp file is an image in Google's WebP, the 2010 format built from VP8 video technology: lossy mode ~25–35% smaller than JPG at equal quality, lossless mode ~26% smaller than PNG, plus real alpha transparency and animation in both modes. It is the pragmatic modern default: better than the classics on every axis that matters for the web, supported by every current browser.

When should you use WebP?

  • Web images: smaller than JPG and PNG with alpha either way, the safe modern default.
  • Transparency with small files: PNG-quality alpha at a fraction of the size.
  • Animated images: GIF replacement at dramatically smaller size.

When is another format a better fit?

For maximum compression AVIF wins, at encode cost. For editing compatibility PNG and JPG still read in more (older) tools; for animation-heavy pipelines sometimes real video. WebP is the sweet spot between modern and safe.

The short version: WebP is the practical modern image format: smaller than the classics, safer than the bleeding edge.

How to open a WEBP file

On Windows

Double-click the file, or open it with Paint.NET.

On macOS

GIMP opens WEBP files on macOS.

In your browser

Open WEBP files right in a browser tab or with the dexrr viewer. No install, no upload.

Also opens in

  • Any web browser
  • GIMP
  • XnView
  • Paint.NET

View or convert WEBP files

A quick preview or a new format. No install, no upload.

View WEBP files Preview and inspect WEBP files Convert to WEBP Turn files into WEBP WEBP to PNG Portable Network Graphics WEBP to JPG JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) WEBP to AVIF AV1 Image File Format WEBP to JXL JPEG XL

WEBP technical details

Full name
WebP image
Extensions
.webp
MIME type
image/webp
Magic bytes
52 49 46 46 … 57 45 42 50 (RIFF…WEBP)
Compression
Lossless or lossy
Developer
Google
Specification
developers.google.com

WEBP questions, answered

How do I open a .webp file?

All modern browsers display it natively; newer OS and editor versions follow. dexrr displays and converts webp files directly in your browser.

Can I convert WebP files online?

Yes, dexrr converts webp locally in your browser: WebP to PNG for editing, WebP to JPG for compatibility or the reverse to shrink files.

Is WebP better than PNG?

For photos and the web, yes, much smaller with the same transparency. For lossless masters and editing, PNG's perfect fidelity matters more.

Is WebP better than JPG?

At equal quality it is ~25–35% smaller and adds alpha, technically better in every way except compatibility with very old software.

Is the WebP format outdated?

No, it is the current mainstream web image format, supported by every modern browser since ~2020.