What is WebP and How to Use WebP Images in WordPress
The webP image format is a real help for WordPress sites. In short, this is a size that allows you to cut the weight of your image without losing its quality.
Visual optimization on websites is the most important thing that directly affects the site loading speed. We have repeatedly said that optimizing images is super important! We have already published many blogs about images:
- Image optimization for e-commerce website speed
- Make Retina Images for Your Website
- How to Make Images Accessible for All Users?
And this is not the whole list. Therefore, today we at Wishdesk want to discuss the WebP Google format and show you how to reduce your images by 25-35% without reducing the quality.
In addition, now you can use our services at a reduced cost, just contact the web development agency.
What is WebP file?
WebP file is an image format that does not overload your site. WebP was developed by Google in 2010. Using WebP files is a great solution for the WordPress website.
This format allows you to avoid limiting the number of images on the site. You can get both a fast and visually attractive site at the same time.
The WebP file is an excellent option compared to all other formats, for example, JPEG, PNG, JPG.
The difference between WebP and JPEG or PNG image formats
- JPEG
The JPEG images are high-quality images with vibrant colors, but they are usually too large. PNG format is 25% smaller than JPEG image.
- PNG
The PNG format is well suited for logos, that is, for images that do not contain a large amount of data. The webP image format is 26% smaller than PNG.
Which web browsers natively support WebP?
After seeing the benefits of WebP, you may be asking:
If the WebP format is so cool, then why doesn’t everyone use it?
The answer is simple — WebP is not compatible with all browsers. But every year more browsers expand their support to WebP formats.
Today WebP images are SUPPORTED in these browsers:
- Chrome
- Opera
- Firefox
- Edge
- Samsung Internet
- Baidu browser
Today WebP images ARE NOT SUPPORTED in these browsers:
- IE
- Safari
- Firefox (Android)
- UC Browser (Android)
Today, more than 78 percent of users have the ability to use WebP images as they use browsers that have support for this feature.
How to Use WebP Images on WordPress
Continuing this theme, we want to add that it is important to remember those 22 percent of users who are not able to view WebP images. In this part of the blog, you would see how you can use WebP Images on WordPress.
It’s important for all users who use browsers with WebP images SUPPORT and those without browsers support to get a wonderful user experience and see images on your site.
Since some users do not have access to the WebP format, you cannot upload them in the WebP image format and use them on the site, like you would for JPEG and PNG. If you do this, then those 22 percent will see no picture.
The best way out of this situation is to use WordPress plugins. The plugins allow you to display WebP Images on WordPress for those whose browser supports this, or display the same image in different formats for all other users.
5 WordPress plugins for converting images to WebP
1. Smush – Compress, Image Optimizer, Lazy Load, WebP Images
Smush – Compress, Image Optimizer, Lazy Load, WebP Images is a multifunctional plugin that allows you to optimize, customize, and reduce the weight of your images to WebP format.
Active installations: more than 1 million
Price: free/ start at $70
2. WebP Converter for Media
WebP Converter for Media is a plugin that helps speed up your WordPress site by converting your images from various formats to WebP. The cool thing is that the plugin does not change image URLs.
Active installations: more than 10,000
Price: free
3. WebP Express
WebP Express helps your users to see and convert images to webp, in order to speed up your site.
Active installations: more than 80,000
Price: free
4. ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is a plugin that converts your images to WebP. It is considered one of the easiest to use plugins. Another advantage is frequent updates.
Active installations: more than 200,000
Price: free
5. Image optimization & Lazy Load by Optimole
Image optimization & Lazy Load by Optimole is a fully automated plugin that reduces the weight of your images as well as Supports both Retina and WebP images.
Active installations: more than 60,000
Price: free
The Advantages and Disadvantages of using WebP images on your on WordPress site
The top Advantages of WebP Images
- reduce the site loading time
- save traffic
- keep high image quality
- support transparency
The Disadvantages of WebP Images
- not supported by all browsers
- not yet included in the WordPress core
Should I use WebP images on WordPress?
We think that using WebP images on WordPress is a prerequisite for a successful and fast website today. Nowadays, the two things that are most valued are:
- time
- quality
Another valuable tip!
To understand the best image format to use, just look at which browsers your visitors are using.
Here's an example of analytics for you:
As we can see in the screenshot 68% of the visitors use Chrome, that means they can open WebP. The second and third places are occupied by Internet Explorer and Safari. That means that there is a need to use the fallback image option so that other users can open images.
Even if Apple does not support the WebP format, this hat doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. WebP has so many benefits that we would advise everyone to use it.
If your page is visited by users of those browsers that do not support WebP, then JPEGs and PNGs formats will be available for them.
This way all users can see the image, regardless of the type of browser. It's just that those who will open WebP formats will be able to load your page faster.
If you convert WebP images you can kill two birds with one stone. The smaller images you use on a page, the faster it will load.
Summary
Using WebP Images on WordPress is an opportunity to speed up your page load speed while maintaining the quality of your images.
Get the help of developers at Wishdesk on setting up plugins for converting images to WebP images. We value your time, so we learned to complete your tasks twice as fast, and you can save money.