Is this ARW to WEBP converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple ARW files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

Will the image quality change after conversion?

It depends on the formats involved. Converting to a lossless format like PNG preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy format like JPEG or WebP applies compression — we default to 85% quality, which looks identical to the original for almost all images. You won't notice a difference unless you zoom in pixel-by-pixel.

Do you support batch image conversion?

Yes — drop multiple images at once and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 at a time; Pro is unlimited. Download everything as a single ZIP when you're done.

Is WebP a good format for photos converted from ARW?

Yes — WebP's lossy compression is well-suited for photographs. At quality 80, WebP files are 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPEGs with similar visual quality, making them ideal for web publishing.

Can I batch-convert multiple ARW files to WebP?

Yes — select multiple ARW files in the file picker and each will be processed and queued for download.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

ARW to WebP Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

How to convert ARW to WEBP online

1
Drop your ARW file
Drag and drop your Sony Alpha Raw file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs Sony Alpha Raw → Web Picture Format entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your WEBP
Your Web Picture Format file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

ARW vs WEBP: format overview

ARW

Sony Alpha Raw

Sony · 2006

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 14-bit
Transparency: No

✓ Full sensor data — maximum post-processing flexibility
✓ 14-bit color depth with extended dynamic range
✗ Not viewable without specialized software

WEBP

Web Picture Format

Google (On2 Technologies acquisition) · 2010

Compression: hybrid
Color depth: 8-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ 30% smaller than JPEG, 26% smaller than PNG
✓ Supports both lossy and lossless

ARW magic bytes: 49 49 2A 00 (TIFF-based)

WEBP magic bytes: 52 49 46 46 xx xx xx xx 57 45 42 50

Why convert ARW to WEBP?

Sony ARW files are RAW camera files — dense with sensor data, incompatible with most software, and far too large for web use at 20–80 MB per image. To share ARW photos online, post them to a portfolio, upload them to a CMS, or send them via messaging apps, you need to convert to a web-compatible format first.

WebP is the best choice when you want the smallest possible file size with good visual quality. A 50 MB ARW file processed to full resolution can become a 2–4 MB WebP at high quality — a reduction that makes practical the difference between a photo that loads instantly and one that makes visitors wait. WebP is supported natively in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari 14+, covering the vast majority of web users. It's accepted by WordPress, Shopify, and most modern CMS platforms.

The ARW-to-WebP pipeline applies tone mapping during the RAW decode step — converting the raw sensor data into a viewable color image — then compresses the result as WebP. The default tone mapping produces a well-exposed, neutrally color-balanced output suitable for most purposes. If you need fine control over exposure, shadows, highlights, or color grading, open the ARW in Lightroom or Capture One first, process it to taste, then export to WebP. The browser-based conversion is best for quick, good-enough results without installing software.

Quality & file size: ARW to WEBP

Typical file sizes: ARW 20–30 MB → WEBP 1–3 MB.

Both ARW and WEBP use lossy compression. We transcode at high quality settings (equivalent to WEBP's recommended web quality) to minimize generational loss.

Color depth: ARW supports 14-bit, WEBP supports 8-bit.

Transparency: ARW does not support transparency. WEBP preserves transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your ARWfiles are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.