What Is AVIF

AVIF is a modern image format built on the AV1 video codec. It produces noticeably smaller files than JPG or WebP at the same quality while still supporting transparency, animation, and HDR.

Quick answer

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a next-generation image format that uses the same compression as AV1 video. It typically makes files 30 to 50 percent smaller than WebP and far smaller than JPG at a matching quality level, and it adds transparency, wide color, and HDR. The main catch is reach: support is broad in current browsers but missing from older devices and some apps.

What AVIF actually is

AVIF takes a single still frame encoded with the AV1 video codec and wraps it in an image container. Because AV1 is one of the most efficient compression methods available, that intelligence carries straight over to still images. The result is a format that squeezes photos, graphics, and gradients into very small files without the blocky artifacts you get from heavily compressed JPG.

It is a lossy-or-lossless format, like WebP. You can keep a perfect copy for graphics and screenshots, or trade a little detail for a dramatically smaller file on photos. That flexibility, plus modern features, is why AVIF sits at the cutting edge of web imagery.

Compression versus WebP and JPG

File size is the headline. Against JPG, AVIF routinely cuts size by half or more at the same visible quality, and it holds smooth gradients (skies, shadows, skin) without the banding JPG is prone to. Against WebP, AVIF is usually the smaller of the two, often by 20 to 40 percent, though WebP encodes faster and is supported almost everywhere.

For a fuller breakdown of the older formats, see our PNG vs JPG vs WebP comparison. AVIF essentially extends that lineage one step further on efficiency.

Transparency and HDR

AVIF supports an alpha channel, so it can hold transparent backgrounds the way PNG and WebP do, but at a fraction of the size. That makes it a strong fit for logos, product cutouts, and overlays where you want both a clean edge and a light file.

It also handles HDR and wide color gamuts, which JPG cannot. AVIF can store more brightness range and richer colors, so photos with bright highlights and deep shadows keep their punch on capable displays. When you convert AVIF down to an older format later, that extra range gets tone-mapped or flattened, so treat AVIF as the richer master where you can.

Browser support caveats

This is the one place to be careful. AVIF decoding is built into current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, so most recent visitors see it fine. Older browser versions, older phones, some email clients, and a fair number of desktop apps and editors still cannot open it.

The safe pattern on the web is a fallback: serve AVIF to browsers that accept it and a JPG or WebP to those that do not, usually through a <picture> element. For files you share by email or hand to a client, lean toward JPG or PNG unless you know their software supports AVIF.

When to use AVIF

Reach for AVIF when you control a modern audience and want the fastest pages possible, such as a website hero, gallery thumbnails, or background images where every kilobyte counts. It also shines for transparent web graphics that would be heavy as PNG.

Skip AVIF when compatibility matters more than size: print files, attachments to unknown recipients, assets for older software, or anything that has to open everywhere on the first try. In those cases a high-quality JPG or a WebP gives you most of the savings with far fewer surprises.

How to convert to AVIF

Converting is quick and does not need any software install. Upload your source image, pick AVIF as the target, and download the result. Our image converter reads more than 20 formats, including HEIC and RAW, and writes AVIF among others.

For the most common starting point, go straight to JPG to AVIF to shrink existing photos into a much smaller file. Browse every pairing on the convert hub if you need a different combination. Each conversion runs at full resolution, and you can always convert AVIF back to JPG or PNG when you need a more widely supported copy.

FAQ

Is AVIF better than WebP?

On file size, usually yes: AVIF is often 20 to 40 percent smaller at the same quality and handles HDR and gradients better. WebP wins on speed and reach, since it is supported almost everywhere and encodes faster. For modern audiences AVIF is the stronger choice; for maximum compatibility WebP is safer.

Does every browser support AVIF?

Not quite. Current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge decode AVIF, but older browsers, some apps, and many email clients do not. On the web, serve a JPG or WebP fallback so visitors without AVIF support still see the image.

Can AVIF have a transparent background?

Yes. AVIF supports an alpha channel just like PNG and WebP, so it can keep transparent areas around logos, icons, and cutouts, and it usually does so in a much smaller file than PNG.

Will converting to AVIF lose quality?

Only if you use lossy mode, which trades a small amount of detail for a much smaller file. AVIF also offers a lossless mode that preserves every pixel, which is ideal for graphics and screenshots. Start from your original file rather than an already-compressed copy for the best result.

How do I open an AVIF file that will not load?

If an app cannot read AVIF, convert it to a wider format. Use AVIF to JPG for photos or AVIF to PNG when you need transparency, and the file will open in almost any viewer or editor.