Iris

Iris is a fast & efficient image encoder built to help provide a more beautiful Web. Designed around the intricacies of the human visual system and thoroughly evaluated under industry-leading psychovisual metrics, Iris takes Web-first image compression technology to a new level.

Up to 50% Better compression than JPEG, cutting bandwidth and page load times.
Up to 17% Better compression than libwebp, the reference WebP encoder.
Faster Quicker than competing modern Web codecs, with no loss in quality.
Why Iris

A Better WebP Encoder

Images encoded with Iris-WebP look significantly better than those encoded with the reference WebP encoder, and Iris-WebP's performance outclasses encoders for slower, newer Web-first formats like AVIF. WebP support is also currently ubiquitous, and large websites serve billions of WebP images every single day.

Fast

Iris-WebP is faster than competing modern Web codecs while still delivering exceptional quality.

Efficient

Achieve up to 50% better compression than JPEG, leading to faster page load times & reduced bandwidth.

High Quality

Iris-WebP is designed with the human visual system in mind, allowing up to 17% better compression than the reference WebP encoder.

Comparisons

See the difference

Iris-WebP's visual performance is unparalleled. Designing lossy image compression around the human eye allows us to provide an encoder capable of delivering an uptick in quality of experience that users notice.

Preserving fine detail

Click the buttons below to switch between different encoders. Notice how Iris-WebP & libjpegli preserve fine details in the trees that libwebp erroneously erases.

Encoded Feb 2026

Avoiding distortion

In the comparison below, libjpegli severely distorts the image while Iris-WebP & libwebp do not.

Encoded Feb 2026

Measured

Metrics

The numbers below were aggregated using the Kodak Lossless True Color Image Suite at medium to high fidelity.

Measured Aug 2026

Licensing

Using Iris-WebP

A commercial license from Halide Compression means guaranteed ongoing support, as well as access to new Iris-WebP releases and maintenance fixes over time.

An Iris-WebP license is an investment in the future of web image compression in pursuit of a more beautiful web. If you'd like to use Iris today, send us an email!

Ready to try Iris-WebP?

Tell us about your image pipeline and we'll help you discover how Iris-WebP can help.