How to Convert PNG to WebP for Faster Websites

If you run a website, your images are probably too big. Not in dimensions, but in file size. PNG files are great for quality, but they can be massive compared to modern alternatives. WebP offers a way to keep nearly the same visual quality at 25 to 35 percent less file size.

Why WebP Beats PNG for the Web

WebP was developed by Google specifically for web use. Here is what makes it special:

• Smaller files: A PNG screenshot that is 500KB might be just 300KB as WebP, with no visible difference
• Transparency support: Unlike JPEG, WebP handles transparency just like PNG does
• Animation support: WebP can replace animated GIFs at a fraction of the file size
• Browser support: Every modern browser supports WebP. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, all of them

When to Stick with PNG

There are still cases where PNG is the better choice:

• Print workflows that do not accept WebP
• Software that has not added WebP support yet (some older design tools)
• When you need pixel-perfect lossless compression and the extra file size does not matter

Converting Your Images

The Filoshi desktop app converts PNG to WebP using ImageMagick, which gives you fine control over quality settings. For most web use, a quality setting of 80 to 85 gives you excellent results with significant size savings.

For batch conversion of entire image directories, just drag the folder into Filoshi, select WebP as the output format, and let it process everything in parallel.

Performance Impact

Switching from PNG to WebP on a typical website with 20 images per page can reduce total image payload by 30 percent or more. That translates directly to faster load times, better Core Web Vitals scores, and improved search rankings. Google has confirmed that page speed is a ranking factor, and images are usually the heaviest part of any webpage.