PNG to WebP Converter: Why and How to Convert Your Images for the Web
Learn why converting PNG to WebP improves web performance. Discover WebP advantages, browser support, and how to convert images with our free online tool.
February 5, 2026
Why Convert PNG to WebP?
In the world of web development, image optimization is one of the most impactful steps you can take to improve page load speed. PNG files are widely used for their lossless compression and transparency support, but they often result in larger file sizes compared to modern formats. WebP, developed by Google, offers a superior alternative that delivers smaller files while maintaining excellent visual quality.
Converting your PNG images to WebP can reduce file sizes by 25-35% on average without any perceptible loss in quality. For websites with many images, this translates into significantly faster load times, lower bandwidth costs, and a better user experience.
What Makes WebP Better?
WebP combines the best features of multiple image formats into one:
- Smaller file sizes: WebP uses advanced compression algorithms that produce files significantly smaller than PNG equivalents at the same visual quality level.
- Lossless and lossy modes: Unlike JPEG, which only supports lossy compression, WebP supports both lossless and lossy compression. You can choose lossless mode for pixel-perfect quality or lossy mode for even smaller files.
- Transparency support: WebP supports alpha channel transparency, just like PNG. This means you can replace transparent PNGs with WebP files without losing transparency.
- Animation support: WebP can also replace animated GIFs with much smaller file sizes, making it a versatile format for all image needs.
Browser Support for WebP
WebP is now supported by all major modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. As of 2025, global browser support for WebP exceeds 97%, making it safe to use as your primary image format for the web.
For the small percentage of users on older browsers, you can implement a fallback strategy using the HTML <picture> element. This allows you to serve WebP to supported browsers and PNG to others, ensuring universal compatibility.
Example Fallback Code
Using the <picture> element, you specify the WebP source first and the PNG as a fallback. The browser automatically selects the best format it supports, delivering optimal performance without sacrificing compatibility.
How to Convert PNG to WebP
Our free PNG to WebP converter tool makes the conversion process simple and fast:
- Step 1: Open the PNG to WebP converter on Simple-Toolz.
- Step 2: Upload your PNG image by dragging it into the drop zone or clicking to browse your files.
- Step 3: The tool converts your image to WebP format directly in your browser.
- Step 4: Download the converted WebP file and use it on your website.
The entire conversion happens client-side, which means your images are never uploaded to any server. This ensures complete privacy and makes the process nearly instantaneous.
Impact on Web Performance
Page load speed is a critical factor for both user experience and search engine rankings. Google has confirmed that site speed is a ranking factor, and images typically account for the largest portion of a web page's total size.
By converting your PNG images to WebP, you can expect:
- Faster page loads: Smaller image files download more quickly, especially on mobile networks.
- Lower bandwidth usage: Reduced file sizes mean less data transfer, which is particularly important for users on metered connections.
- Better Core Web Vitals: Smaller images directly improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) scores, a key metric in Google's Core Web Vitals.
- Reduced hosting costs: Less bandwidth consumption can lower your hosting and CDN costs over time.
When to Keep PNG
While WebP is superior in most scenarios, there are cases where PNG remains the better choice. If you need to distribute images for print or professional editing, PNG's universal compatibility with design tools makes it preferable. Similarly, if your target audience includes users of very old software that cannot display WebP, keeping a PNG version available is wise.
Conclusion
Converting PNG to WebP is one of the easiest ways to boost your website's performance. With near-universal browser support, superior compression, and full transparency support, WebP is the ideal format for modern web images. Try our free PNG to WebP converter today and see the difference in file size and loading speed.