Why the image you saved is a WebP
Most large websites now serve WebP because it loads faster than JPG or PNG. When you right-click and choose Save image as, the browser saves exactly what the site sent, so you end up with a .webp file even if the page originally uploaded a PNG. Some sites decide per visitor, which is why a friend on an older browser may get a different file from the same link.
Modern browsers open WebP without trouble. The problems start in older versions of Photoshop, some Windows photo viewers, print shops and upload forms that only list JPG and PNG.
PNG or JPG?
- Choose PNG for logos, icons, stickers, screenshots and anything with a transparent background. PNG is lossless, so nothing more is lost in the conversion.
- Choose JPG for ordinary photos you just want to share or print. The file will be far smaller. Use WebP to JPG for that.
Why the PNG is bigger
WebP usually stores images with lossy compression, a bit like JPG. PNG stores every pixel exactly. Converting can’t bring back detail the WebP already discarded, but it does have to store what remains without shortcuts, so the PNG is often three to five times the size of the WebP. The output here is run through OxiPNG to keep it as small as a lossless file can be.
If size matters more than transparency, convert to JPG instead, or run the PNG through the compressor.
Animated WebP
PNG here is a still image, so an animated WebP is converted as its first frame only. If you need the animation, keep the original WebP: current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari all play it.
Questions
Can I convert several WebP files at once?
Up to ten per batch. Download each one or grab them all as a ZIP.
Is there a way to save PNG directly from the website?
Sometimes. Opening the image in a new tab and changing .webp in the address to .png works on some sites, but most image servers ignore it. Converting the saved file is the reliable way.