How to Convert an Image to WEBP (and Why You Should)

What is WEBP?

WEBP is an image format developed by Google, designed to be the best of both worlds: the small file sizes you get with JPG, combined with the transparency support you get with PNG. In practice, a WEBP image is typically 25–35% smaller than a JPG at the same visual quality — and noticeably smaller than PNG.

It's now supported by every major browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari (since 2020), and Edge. If you're sharing images online, sending them by email, or just trying to free up storage space, converting to WEBP is one of the easiest wins you can get.

When should you use WEBP?

WEBP is a great choice for almost any situation where you're sharing or displaying images digitally:

• Website images — smaller files mean faster page loads, which matters for SEO and user experience.
• Sharing photos — send the same image at a fraction of the size without anyone noticing the difference.
• Social media uploads — most platforms accept WEBP and will thank you for the smaller file.
• Archiving at smaller sizes — great if storage space is tight and you don't need the original raw quality.

The one place WEBP isn't ideal: print. If you're sending something to a printer, stick with PNG or a high-quality JPG. WEBP is built for screens.

How to convert an image to WEBP

You don't need to install any software. Filesmith converts images to WEBP directly in your browser — nothing is uploaded anywhere, and it works on any device.

• Go to filesmith.io and drop your image onto the page (or click Browse files).
• Select WEBP from the format options.
• Adjust the quality slider if you want — 80–90% gives a great balance of quality and file size.
• Hit Convert, then Download.

That's it. You can also batch convert — drop a whole folder of images and convert them all to WEBP in one go using Convert All.

What quality setting should I use?

For most uses, 80–85% quality is the sweet spot. At that setting the image is visually identical to the original for most people, but the file size is dramatically smaller. If you're converting images for a website, 75% is often fine. If you're preserving photos you care about, 90% or higher keeps more detail.

The default in Filesmith is 100%, so if file size matters, try sliding it down to 85% first and see how it looks side by side using the comparison slider.