The Best Free & Native WebP Viewers for Every OS

Published On - September 13, 2025

ivan Blogging

With the rise of high-efficiency image formats, WebP has emerged as a popular choice among web developers and digital media enthusiasts. Developed by Google, WebP offers superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web, which can significantly reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality. However, despite its benefits, many operating systems don’t offer built-in support for viewing WebP files, especially when compared to the more traditional formats like JPEG or PNG.

If you’re someone who works with images often or simply want a hassle-free way to view WebP files on your device, having the right viewer is essential. Luckily, there are several free and native WebP viewers for every major operating system that ensure compatibility without the need for extensive software installations or convoluted workarounds.

The Basics of WebP Format

Before jumping into the best WebP viewers for each OS, it’s important to understand what makes this format so unique and why it’s worth using. Here are a few key advantages:

  • Higher compression rates: WebP images are smaller compared to JPEG and PNG without compromising on the visual quality.
  • Transparency and animation: Like PNG, WebP supports alpha channel transparency, and like GIFs, it supports animation.
  • Faster loading times: Smaller file sizes result in faster web performance, making it ideal for websites and mobile apps.

Despite all these pros, native support across operating systems can still be hit or miss. So let’s dive into the best native and free viewers for WebP files across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

WebP Viewers for Windows

Microsoft Windows, while dominant in the computing world, doesn’t natively open WebP files through its default image viewer on older versions of the OS. Fortunately, there are several lightweight and efficient solutions:

  1. Microsoft Photos (Windows 10 and 11): Newer versions come with built-in WebP support. Simply double-click a WebP file and view it natively.
  2. IrfanView: A highly versatile and memory-efficient image viewer. Just install the image plugin bundle during setup, and you’re golden.
  3. XnView MP: Not only does it support WebP natively, but it can also convert images between a wide range of formats.
  4. Paint.NET (with plugin): While not offering native support out-of-the-box, a community-made plugin makes WebP editing and viewing a breeze.

WebP Viewers for macOS

Mac users often have a more uniform and cohesive experience, but WebP files can still be tricky on macOS depending on the version and application used.

  1. Preview.app (macOS Ventura and later): Apple has begun integrating WebP support directly into Preview, the default image viewer. If you’re running newer macOS versions, you’re already set.
  2. XnView MP: As with Windows, this tool shines on macOS too with its native WebP compatibility and powerful batch processing features.
  3. GIMP: A full-featured open-source image editor that supports WebP out of the box. Great for both viewing and editing.
  4. WebPQuickLook Plugin: For users on older macOS versions, this plugin enables WebP previews via Quick Look and Finder.

Whether you are an artist or a casual user, these tools provide convenient and seamless viewing experiences.

Best WebP Viewers for Linux

Linux offers flexibility and customization at its core, and that means you can use various tools to view WebP images effortlessly. Here’s what’s available:

  1. Eye of GNOME (eog): GNOME’s default image viewer now supports WebP, making it the simplest choice for Ubuntu and other GNOME-based distros.
  2. gThumb: Another GNOME-native viewer that supports WebP natively and includes basic editing tools.
  3. Geeqie: Lightweight, speedy, and capable of handling WebP files with ease.
  4. nomacs: A cross-platform, open-source viewer with WebP support and a host of useful features like image comparison.

For developers and tech-savvy users, there’s also the option to view WebP files through command line tools such as webp-pixbuf-loader or manipulate them using cwebp/dwebp utilities.

How to View WebP Files on Android

Since WebP was developed by Google, it’s no surprise that Android devices support the format quite well. Most modern Android devices already include out-of-the-box compatibility with the default photo apps. But if you need more advanced functionality or editing capabilities, here are some options:

  • Google Photos: The stock image viewer on many Android phones supports WebP natively.
  • Simple Gallery: A lightweight and privacy-friendly gallery app that supports multiple formats including WebP.
  • Photo Editor: For those looking to edit as well as view, this app supports WebP and allows for real-time export to other formats.

It’s safe to say Android users are well-covered when it comes to WebP versatility.

WebP Support on iOS and iPadOS

Apple’s mobile ecosystem has been slower to adopt WebP support, but recent versions of iOS and iPadOS have made significant strides. Here’s what you can rely on:

  • Safari Browser: You can easily open and view WebP files or images embedded in websites through Safari without any issues.
  • Files App & Photos App (iOS 14 and newer): Native support has been added to allow viewing WebP images without conversions or third-party apps.
  • Documents by Readdle: A powerful file manager with integrated media viewer that handles WebP smoothly.
  • Photo Album Viewer (3rd party): Several apps on the App Store offer WebP viewing as standard, useful for older iOS devices.

While iOS may not be as open as Android, modern devices now make it easy to handle WebP files without jumping through hoops.

Web Browsers: The Universal WebP Viewer

If installing new software isn’t your thing, you’re not out of luck—every major modern web browser today is capable of rendering WebP files directly from your file system or the web. These include:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Safari (iOS/macOS)
  • Opera

Simply drag and drop a WebP file into your browser or use the Open File function (where applicable) and you’re good to go. This method is particularly handy for quick checks and previews.

Final Thoughts

As the WebP format continues to gain traction for its efficiency and versatility, it’s more important than ever to have reliable and easy-to-use tools for viewing these images across every device you use. Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS, there are excellent native and free WebP viewers at your disposal, helping you streamline your workflow and embrace the cutting-edge of visual media.

So go ahead—make the most of this advanced image format and kick back knowing you’ve got the best tools for the job, no matter which OS you’re using.