png → webp
PNG to WebP, usually a fraction of the size
For anything going onto a web page, WebP is the better format by a wide margin: substantially smaller than PNG while keeping transparency and looking the same.
Files are processed on your device · nothing is uploaded, stored or logged
How it works
Pick your file. The browser opens it straight from disk. There is no upload, so there is nothing to wait for.
Nothing is downloaded first. Unlike the video tools, image conversion uses what is already built into your browser. It starts instantly.
Your machine does the work. The image is drawn to a canvas and written out in the new format, which takes a fraction of a second.
Save the result. The file goes straight to your downloads folder and the original is untouched.
Why sites moved to this format
WebP compresses better than both formats it replaces — meaningfully smaller than PNG for graphics, and smaller than JPEG for photographs, at quality most people cannot distinguish.
Unlike JPEG it keeps transparency, which is why it can replace PNG rather than sitting alongside it. That combination is what made it worth adopting across the web.
For page speed the difference is real. Images are the bulk of what most pages download, and cutting them substantially is the single most effective thing you can do about loading time.
Where it is still the wrong choice
For a file someone will download and open in other software, WebP creates the exact friction that brings people to the reverse converter. Use it for images displayed on a web page, and stick to PNG or JPEG for anything meant to be handed to a person.
Common questions
Is transparency kept?
Yes, WebP supports an alpha channel and it survives the conversion.
How much smaller will it be?
For graphics with flat colour, often a quarter to a half of the PNG. For photographs, typically smaller than the equivalent JPEG too.
Do all browsers support WebP?
Every current one does. Very old versions do not, which is why some sites still serve a fallback.
Is my image uploaded?
No, the conversion happens in your browser.