How to Convert Images to WebP and Improve Load Times

Images are often the largest assets on your website — and one of the easiest wins when it comes to performance. Converting them to WebP can drastically improve load times without sacrificing quality.

In this guide, we’ll cover why WebP matters, how to convert images, top tools for every platform (WordPress, Webflow, custom sites), and how this small change leads to big business results.

Why WebP? Why Now?

WebP is a modern image format by Google that provides superior compression compared to JPEG and PNG. It delivers:

• 25–35% smaller file sizes than JPEG
• Support for transparency like PNG
• Better loading performance on mobile
• Full browser support (except some legacy Safari versions)

Faster image delivery = better user experience, SEO rankings, and conversions.

Best Tools to Convert Images to WebP

Depending on your platform or workflow, here are top options:

1. Manual Tools for Designers

• Squoosh: Drag-and-drop Web app by Google
• Photoshop (with plugin): Use WebP export plugin
• Preview (macOS): Open > Export > WebP
• XnConvert (Windows/macOS/Linux): Batch conversion tool

Best for: Quick one-off conversions, designers, marketers.

2. CLI Tools for Developers

• cwebp: Official WebP converter
• imagemin-webp: Node plugin
• sharp: Popular image processing lib in Node.js
• @astrojs/image: Astro image optimization with WebP output
• next/image: Built-in image optimization in Next.js

Great for: Automating builds, integrating into CI/CD, scaling.

cwebp input.jpg -q 80 -o output.webp

✅ Add to your npm script or pipeline
✅ Bonus: Works with Gulp, Grunt, Astro/Image, and more

Platform-Specific Recommendations

WordPress

✅ Use WebP Express or ShortPixel

• Converts and serves WebP automatically
• Includes fallback for non-supported browsers
• Integrates with caching plugins

Setup time: ~10 minutes
Impact: 40% smaller images, LCP dropped by 1.2s on a lifestyle blog

Webflow

Webflow compresses images by default, but to fully control:

• Use Udesly WebP Converter or Finsweet WebP Generator
• Upload WebP manually for key hero images
• Use <picture> element for fallback

Custom Sites (React, Astro, Next.js)

Use built-in components:

<Image src="banner.jpg" format="webp" />

• Auto converts, lazy-loads, and resizes
• Works with CDN (Vercel, Cloudflare, Netlify)

Pro Tip: Use image CDNs like imgix, Cloudinary, or ImageKit to serve optimized WebP dynamically.

Real-World Example: Before & After WebP

A travel brand had 12 hero and gallery images in PNG format. Here’s what happened:

Before:

• Page load: 6.7s
• Image size total: 9.3MB
• Bounce rate: 52%

After converting to WebP (lossless @80% quality):

• Page load: 2.4s
• Image size total: 3.1MB
• Bounce rate: 31%
• Booking form submissions: ↑ 22%

Took less than an hour. The results: massive.

Best Practices for Converting to WebP

✅ Keep backups of originals (JPG/PNG)
✅ Set quality between 70–80% for good balance
✅ Lazy-load below-the-fold images
✅ Always test on Safari (older versions may lack support)
✅ Use <picture> for legacy fallback:

<picture>
    <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp" />
    <img src="image.jpg" alt="Hero image" loading="lazy" />
</picture>

But What About AVIF?

AVIF is even smaller and newer — but not yet universally supported.

Our take: Use WebP by default. Use AVIF only for ultra-optimized builds where every byte counts (like mobile-first apps or PWAs).

Final Thoughts: Small Change, Big Wins

Converting your images to WebP is one of the simplest, fastest, and highest-impact changes you can make today.

It’s:

• ✅ Free
• ✅ Easy to automate
• ✅ Loved by Google, Core Web Vitals, and users

Whether you run a blog, SaaS app, or eCommerce store — if you’re not using WebP, you’re losing speed and conversions.

Need help optimizing your media and speeding up your site? Book a free performance check and let’s fix it.