Choose lossy or lossless WebP for the right PNG
Convert PNG to WebP when you need website images at the right size without losing the transparent edges of a cutout. Try lossy WebP for photos and detailed screenshots. For logos, icons, and interface graphics, compare a lossless output before converting the full batch.
PNG and WebP: lossless graphics versus flexible web compression
PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics, an open format developed as a patent-free alternative to GIF. It uses lossless compression and supports transparent pixels. Those properties suit icons, screenshots and cutout images, though large PNGs can be expensive to download on an image-heavy page.
WebP was developed by Google for images delivered on the web. It supports transparency with either lossy or lossless compression, allowing a different balance between detail and file size. Lossy WebP can make photos smaller but alter pixels. Lossless WebP preserves them, without guaranteeing a smaller file for every image.
FastConvert lets you choose that balance for your PNGs. Try lossless for fine text and icons, and compare a lossy export for photographic content. Keep transparency where needed, check the result at its display size and confirm that the destination accepts WebP.
Lossy, lossless or near-lossless WebP?
| Mode | When to consider it |
|---|---|
| Default lossy | Photos where smaller downloads matter and a little detail loss is acceptable. |
| Lossless | Small text, icons and diagrams where new compression artifacts would be visible. |
| Near-lossless | An intermediate option that may alter pixels before lossless encoding. It is not identical to lossless. |
Keep text and transparency clean
Preserve clean transparency
WebP can keep the PNG alpha channel. Inspect soft shadows and semi-transparent edges after conversion, especially when the image will appear on both light and dark backgrounds.
Pick compression by content
Lossy WebP is usually the smaller choice for photos and detailed screenshots. Lossless WebP avoids new artifacts on flat colors, small text, icons, and sharp graphic edges.
Dimensions remain a major lever
Changing format helps, but an image served far larger than its display size still wastes bandwidth. Create output dimensions that match the largest real placement.
How to convert PNG to WEBP online
For photographic PNGs, begin near 80 quality and compare the result with the source. For logos or UI assets, try lossless first. Resize a separate copy for each materially different placement.
The free allowance is 10 files per batch, up to 10 MB each, and 20 conversions per 24 hours. No account or watermark. Files are uploaded for server-side processing, then scheduled for deletion after 24 hours on the Free plan.
Prepare recurring product cutouts for the web
For PNG product cutouts, save a WebP recipe with the site’s display dimensions and transparency preserved. Reuse it for each new catalog batch.
A free account includes 1 saved conversion recipe. Paid plans add larger batches, more recipes and delivery to Google Drive or Dropbox after you start each batch.