TL;DR
WebP is a next-gen image format developed by Google that delivers smaller file sizes without sacrificing image quality. NitroPack automatically converts supported images to WebP, helping your site load faster and score higher on PageSpeed Insights and Core Web Vitals.
From banners to product photos—you can’t go without high-resolution visuals. But traditional formats like JPEG and PNG are often too heavy—especially on mobile.
That’s where WebP comes in. This modern format delivers superior compression, keeping images crisp and lightweight.
Let’s explore how WebP works, why it matters, and how NitroPack turns it into a plug-and-play performance boost to speed up any WordPress site.
What Is WebP Conversion?
WebP is a modern image format created by Google to make web images faster and lighter. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency and animation—making it a versatile replacement for JPEG, PNG, and GIF.
Here’s how it improves performance:
- Smaller File Sizes: WebP files are 25–35% smaller than JPEGs and PNGs, with comparable visual quality.
- Better Image Quality at Lower Sizes: Thanks to advanced compression techniques like prediction coding and entropy encoding.
- Faster Image Delivery: Smaller files mean quicker page loads, especially on slower connections.
Supported by 96%+ of browsers, WebP is now a mainstream performance standard—one your site can’t afford to ignore.
Test NitroPack yourself
With vs Without WebP Conversion (Example)
WebP conversion isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a visible upgrade in how your site performs and feels. On image-heavy pages, traditional formats can cause layout delays, bandwidth spikes, and sluggish rendering.
| Scenario | Without WebP | With WebP Conversion |
| Homepage hero JPEG (300KB) | Loads slowly on mobile | Loads 30% faster with ~200KB WebP version |
| Product gallery with 10 PNGs | Total payload > 3MB | Payload reduced by 40% using WebP |
| Blog with retina header images | High bandwidth usage | Smaller images, same visual fidelity |
| Visitors on slow 3G connections | High bounce rates due to image lag | Quicker load and better engagement |
Why Is WebP Conversion Important?
Images account for over 50% of the total page weight. Unoptimized formats hurt your site’s speed, UX, and SEO performance.
Here’s why switching to WebP is a must:
- Improves Core Web Vitals: WebP helps speed up LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) by reducing image load times.
- Reduces Bounce Rate: Faster pages lead to lower abandonment, especially on mobile.
- Saves Bandwidth: WebP uses fewer bytes without compromising on quality.
- Improves SEO & Rankings: Page speed is a known Google ranking factor—WebP helps tip the scale in your favor.
WebP addresses multiple PSI warnings out of the box:
- Serve images in next-gen formats
- Efficiently encode images
- Properly size images
WebP Conversion in NitroPack Explained
With NitroPack, there’s nothing to configure manually. Once enabled, NitroPack:
- Converts JPEG and PNG images to WebP during optimization
- Automatically serves WebP versions to supported browsers
- Falls back to original formats for legacy browsers (like Safari 13)
- Keeps your original files untouched—only optimized copies are delivered
- Works with both Lossy and Lossless WebP, depending on your settings
Whether you run a store, a blog, or a portfolio, NitroPack makes next-gen image delivery frictionless.
| Use Case | WebP Benefit |
| Product photos on ecommerce site | Faster loading product pages, better UX |
| Hero visuals on homepage | Smaller LCP size, improved PSI scores |
| Blog with photo-rich posts | Reduced load time without image quality compromise |
| Mobile-first design | Smooth image delivery on low-bandwidth networks |
NitroPack vs Manual WebP Optimization
You could manually create and serve WebP versions—but it’s time-consuming and error-prone. You’d need conversion tools, fallback logic, browser detection, and manual uploads.
With NitroPack, it’s all built-in:
| Feature | Manual WebP Setup | NitroPack WebP |
| Requires WebP converter | ✅ Yes | ❌ Built-in |
| Needs fallback setup | ✅ Yes | ❌ Auto-handled |
| Browser detection & logic | ✅ Manual | ✅ Automated |
| Works with CDN delivery | ⚠️ Often missing | ✅ Fully integrated |
How to Use WebP Conversion in NitroPack
Getting started is effortless:
- Log in to your NitroPack dashboard
- Go to Cache Settings >> Images & Media
- Enable Image Optimization
NitroPack will automatically convert and serve WebP images
That’s it. From now on, your site will benefit from next-gen image formats—without lifting a finger.
Need more help? Check out our WebP Conversion guide.
Deliver faster images with WebP. Start bulk optimizing with NitroPack in 3 minutes →
FAQs
What image formats can NitroPack convert to WebP?
JPEG and PNG images are automatically converted when optimization is enabled.
What if a browser doesn’t support WebP?
No worries. NitroPack detects unsupported browsers and delivers fallback formats.
Is image quality affected?
WebP keeps visual quality high—even with lossy compression. NitroPack is designed to sync all image compression features to ensure optimal quality and speed.
Do I need a separate plugin for WebP?
No. WebP compression and delivery are built into NitroPack—no third-party plugins required.
