Quick answer
WebP is an image format created by Google in 2010. It compresses 25-35% better than JPG while maintaining quality. Most modern websites use WebP to load faster.
WebP is newer and smaller than JPG. Here is everything you need to know.
WebP: created by Google, standardized by tech industry
Google developed WebP to solve the image size problem on slow internet. The format took years to gain adoption because:
- Safari did not support it until 2022 (version 16).
- Outlook does not support it.
- Many tools still default to JPG and PNG.
By 2026, most modern browsers support WebP, making it a viable web standard.
How WebP compression works
WebP uses more advanced compression algorithms than JPG:
- Predicting pixels: instead of storing every pixel, WebP predicts what nearby pixels are and stores only the difference.
- Better color models: WebP handles color spaces more efficiently than JPG.
- Smarter bit allocation: complex areas (textures, details) get more bits; simple areas get fewer bits.
Result: files that look nearly identical but are 25-35% smaller.
WebP vs older formats
- vs JPG: same quality, 25-35% smaller, but less compatible.
- vs PNG: when using lossy mode, 60-75% smaller; lossless mode is 25-30% smaller.
- vs GIF: for animations, 50% smaller with better quality.
Why Google created WebP
Google's research in 2010 showed that page load speed was critical to user experience and search ranking. Optimizing image compression was the highest-impact change for the average website. WebP was the solution.
Current adoption status (2026)
- Large tech companies: Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon all serve WebP.
- E-commerce sites: most use WebP with JPG fallback.
- Mobile web: nearly all modern sites serve WebP to mobile phones.
- Legacy sites: still primarily JPG and PNG.
At-a-glance comparison
| Format | Year created | Creator | Best for | Current adoption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WebP | 2010 | Modern web (with fallback) | 60-70% | |
| JPG | 1992 | ISO committee | Universal compatibility | 99% |
| PNG | 1996 | Thomas Boutell + team | Graphics, transparency | 99% |
| AVIF | 2019 | AOM | Next-generation web | 10% |
