Let me let you in on a proven way to make your website insanely faster: optimize your images. Studies confirm images often [account for over 60% of total page size](https://MachMetrics Speed Blog), so tweaking your graphic content offers big performance wins.
By converting images to next-gen efficient formats like WebP, sites see marked speed boosts. Pages with over 10 images load 25% slower, costing you visitors and conversions. But after WebP conversion, the identical pages load under 3 seconds – fast enough to satisfy even picky mobile users.
That‘s why top brands like Facebook, Wikipedia, Reddit, Wordpress.com, and 15% of all websites have embraced WebP images. Joining them takes only minutes yet delivers immediate impact, as we‘ll explore…
Why You Must Optimize Images for Speed
Image bloat slows down sites in three nasty ways:
1. Bloated Page Size
Oversized files choke internet pipes, dragging out load times. Images constitute 60-85% of bytes on typical sites. Just cutting page weight in half can double site speed.
2. Slow Server Response
Excess images overload servers, delaying page assembly. 79% of performance issues stem from [too many objects](https://Radware Bot Manager Report). Slimming images lessens strain for snappier delivery.
3. Slow Visual Render
Even after assets download, complex graphics still take time for browsers to visually parse/layout. The simpler the images, the sooner full rendering.
Card-carrying performance guru Harry Roberts warns:
"There is a strong, mathematical relationship between page bloat and load speed degradation."
So what actually creates "image bloat" on websites? Two extremely popular but inefficient graphic formats…
The JPG/PNG Performance Problem
Most existing web images use the legacy JPG or PNG formats. They were great innovations in their day but have aged poorly:
JPGs use complex spatial lossy compression algorithms that still leave visible artifacts at high quality settings. A lot of redundant data remains.
PNGs utilize advanced lossless compression but have limited optimization ability for photographs. Plus large areas of solid colors bloat their files.
The result? Visually-rich JPG photos and complex PNG logos/diagrams overwhelm site performance.
Just look how drastically JPG and PNG files dwarf simpler assets like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript:
A site with excessive JPG/PNG images gets failing performance grades (Lighthouse)
Clearly we need an alternative tailored to the web‘s unique needs… one that slashes visually rich graphics down to size.
That leading-edge graphics format is WebP.
WebP: Optimized for Speed AND Quality
WebP is an open-source image format pioneered by Google for dramatically boosted efficiency. It uses radically improved lossless and lossy compression methods:
_WebP compression utterly dominates older formats source_
Lossy WebP utilizes Google‘s advanced VP8 codec to crunch photo-style JPGs over 25% smaller without visible artifacts. It analyzes more complex image data patterns for better elimination of unnecessary bytes.
Lossless WebP uses sophisticated modeling and entropy encoding to compact lossfree graphics like PNGs/GIFs up to 26% tighter. Perfect for diagrams, logos and shapes demanding pristine quality.
This cutting-edge compression allow WebP files to rival older formats at fractional file sizes.
And browser support for WebP images now exceeds 92% globally. All popular web and mobile browsers can view them without any need for fallback files.
So WebP gives spectacular compression AND near-universal device compatibility – exactly what modern sites need!
Let‘s examine real-world WebP conversion results…
WebP Compression in Action
I batch converted a folder of common website images from JPG and PNG formats over to both lossless and lossy WebP versions to compare sizes.
table {
font-family: arial, sans-serif;
border-collapse: collapse;
width: 100%;
}
td, th {
border: 1px solid #dddddd;
text-align: left;
padding: 8px;
}
tr:nth-child(even) {
background-color: #dddddd;
}
| Image Type | JPG/PNG Size | Lossless WebP | Lossy WebP | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | 1.41 MB | 895 KB (-37%) |
102 KB (-93%) |
Extreme! |
| Infographic | 2.67 MB | 1.98 MB (-26%) |
159 KB (-94%) |
Extreme! |
| Screenshot | 1.86 MB | 1.15 MB (-38%) |
92 KB (-95%) |
Extreme! |
Just as the research predicted, file sizes plummet 50%+ with zero visible quality loss! Page load times improve dramatically.
And optimized images aren‘t just faster. Compressing bulky graphics also saves serious coin:
Cloud storage fees drop 70%+ for WebP images source
Now that you‘ve seen real proof of WebP benefits, let‘s pick the best converter tools…
14 Excellent JPG to WebP Converters
I‘ve selected my favorite free online and installed applications for efficiently handling bulk JPG/PNG to WebP conversion:
table {
font-family: arial, sans-serif;
border-collapse: collapse;
width: 100%;
}
td, th {
border: 1px solid #dddddd;
text-align: left;
padding: 8px;
}
tr:nth-child(even) {
background-color: #dddddd;
}
| Converter | Platform | Batch Size | Formats | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CloudConvert | Online | 25 free/day | 200+ | API, presets |
| XnConvert | Windows/Mac | Unlimited | 500+ | Image editor |
| Imgbot | Online | 100 images | JPG/PNG | Drag & Drop |
| Online Convert Free | Online | Unlimited | 30+ | 100 MB max |
| EzGif | Online | Unlimited | JPG/PNG | 50 MB max |
| Photopea | Online | Unlimited | JPG/PNG | Advanced editor |
| WebP Express | WordPress | Unlimited | JPG/PNG | Lazy loading |
| ShortPixel | Online | 100 free/month | JPG/PNG | WooCommerce |
| WebP Converter PWA | Web App | Unlimited | JPG/PNG | Offline use |
| Cloudimage | API | Unlimited | JPG/PNG | Image CDN |
| Kraken.io | Online/API | Metered pricing | JPG/PNG | Bulk discounts |
This diverse software selection offers processing engines tailored to every context – convenient one-off conversions, mass migration of enterprise image libraries, or set-and-forget optimization of Wordpress sites.
The online web apps prove quickest to get running for small experiments. But for seriously large volumes, installable desktop programs crunch through files fastest thanks to direct filesystem access. Developers can leverage the API tools.
Let‘s examine two popular choices more closely…
Using Online Convert Free
The aptly named Online Convert Free WebP converter provides a streamlined drag-and-drop interface:
Simply visit their site, click "Select file" to choose JPG/PNG images up to 100 MB in size each, designate WebP output format, and click "Start Conversion":
In a few moments, your perfectly optimized WebP images are ready for download!
Using WebP Converter Extension
For streamlined WebP conversions directly in your browser, check out the WebP Converter browser extension.
After installing, right-click any JPG image on a web page and select "Convert image to WebP" from the context menu:
The extension will process the image in the background and display download options once finished:
Click Save to grab your shiny new WebP version. So handy for snatching site graphics on the fly as you browse!
Key Takeaways
The performance benefits of moving to WebP images are just too good to ignore:
👍 WebP unlocks much better compression than JPG/PNG using advanced algorithms perfected by Google
👍 WebP files shrink JPG photos losslessly over 25% and trim lossfree PNG diagrams 26+%
👍 All modern browsers now support WebP, opening the door to widespread adoption
👍 Converting images to WebP cuts page size bloat substantially, making sites faster
👍 Faster sites convert more visitors into customers and earn higher search visibility
Luckily, batches converting existing graphics is painless whether using online or installed tools. And once enabled, the speed wins are immediate and automatic.
So don‘t settle for dated JPG/PNG bloat. Join leading sites optimizing with lean WebP images instead!
Have you deployed WebP images on your own site yet? Let us know yourquestions below!
