Why convert to WebP?
WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than JPEG at similar visual quality, and photos or screenshots saved as PNG often shrink far more because PNG is a lossless format. Smaller images mean faster page loads, better Core Web Vitals and less bandwidth — see our guide on compressing images for website speed for the full picture.
WebP supports transparency (like PNG) and animation (like GIF), so one format can replace all three on most websites. All current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari display it.
How to convert JPG or PNG to WebP in your browser
MiniFiles converts images to WebP locally — the files are processed by your browser and never uploaded — and WebP conversion is free on every plan.
- Open JPG to WebP or PNG to WebP. WebP output is already selected (on the regular image compressor, choose WebP under Output Format in the image settings).
- Drop in one image or a whole batch of JPG, PNG or GIF files.
- Optionally open the image settings and adjust the Quality slider — 80% by default.
- Download each WebP file, or all of them at once.
EXIF metadata such as GPS location is removed by default, and images larger than 4096 pixels on either side are scaled down to fit.
Which quality setting should you use?
For photos, 75–85% is the sweet spot: the result usually looks identical to the original on screen and is much smaller. Go to 90% for photography portfolios or product images that customers zoom into; drop to 60–70% for thumbnails. Avoid re-converting an image that has already been heavily compressed — each lossy save adds a little blur and blockiness, so always start from the best original you have.
PNG to WebP: transparency and sharp graphics
WebP keeps the alpha channel, so logos, icons and product cut-outs with transparent backgrounds stay transparent after conversion. MiniFiles produces lossy WebP at the quality you choose. For screenshots and illustrations that is usually invisible at 80–90%, but for pixel-exact graphics — diagrams with fine lines, UI assets that must match exactly — keep the PNG, and shrink it with Compress PNG instead.
What about GIFs and animated images?
Converting a GIF to WebP in MiniFiles keeps only the first frame, so use it for static GIFs. If you already have animated WebP files, MiniFiles can compress them while keeping the animation.
Serving WebP on your website
Every modern browser supports WebP, so on most sites you can simply replace the JPG or PNG with the WebP version. If you need a fallback for very old software, use the <picture> element: list the WebP file in a <source type="image/webp"> and keep the JPG in the <img> tag. WordPress has accepted WebP uploads since version 5.8, and most modern CMSs and CDNs handle WebP natively.
Keep a JPG or PNG copy for places outside the web: some email clients, older desktop software and print services still expect them.
Converting WebP back to JPG or PNG
Sometimes you receive a WebP image and need a JPG or PNG — for an email, a document or software that doesn't open WebP. On Windows, open the file in Paint and use Save as → JPEG or PNG. On a Mac, open it in Preview and choose File → Export, then pick JPEG or PNG. In MiniFiles, converting to JPEG or PNG is a Pro feature: choose the format under Output Format in the image settings. Converting WebP to JPEG won't bring back detail lost in earlier compression, so keep the original files when you can.
Deciding between WebP and the newer AVIF format? Our AVIF vs WebP comparison explains when each is worth it.
Check how much your site would gain
Not sure whether it's worth it? Enter your page's address in the website image analyzer: it compresses every image on the page, tries WebP for each one and shows the original and optimised versions side by side with the bytes you would save.