Images
What is AVIF?
Short for AV1 Image File Format.
AVIF is a modern image format based on the AV1 video codec that produces very small files and supports transparency and HDR.
How it works
AVIF stores a still image using the same compression technology as the AV1 video codec. Modern video codecs are very good at describing smooth gradients and fine texture efficiently, so AVIF files are often much smaller than JPEGs and noticeably smaller than WebP files at the same quality.
It supports lossy and lossless modes, full transparency, wide color and high dynamic range. Every current major browser can display it, which is why many websites and image services now serve AVIF automatically.
AVIF vs WebP vs JPEG
| Feature | AVIF | WebP | JPEG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical photo size | Smallest | Small | Largest |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | No |
| Encoding speed | Slow | Fast | Fast |
| Support outside browsers | Limited | Good | Universal |
The trade-off is compatibility. For a website, AVIF is an excellent delivery format. For email attachments, documents and upload forms, JPEG remains the format nearly everything accepts.
A practical example
A product photo that is 300 KB as a JPEG might be around 120 KB as an AVIF at similar visible quality, which helps a web page load faster on a mobile connection.
What to watch out for
Support outside browsers is patchy. Some older image editors, office software and upload forms still reject AVIF, so convert to JPEG or PNG when a file needs to go somewhere other than a web page.
Tools you can use
- Image Converter · Change an image from one format to another
- Image Compressor · Cut file size with a visible quality trade-off
Go a little deeper
- Your HEIC file isn’t broken, Windows just can’t read it
- How to reduce image size without losing visible quality
- Why do images save as WebP instead of JPG?
- Why does my transparent PNG have a black background?
Common questions
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF usually makes smaller files than WebP at the same visible quality, especially for photos, but it is slower to encode and slightly less widely supported. WebP is the safer choice when compatibility matters.
Why won’t my AVIF image open?
The program you are using doesn’t have an AVIF decoder yet. A modern browser can display it, and converting it to JPEG or PNG makes it usable everywhere.
Does AVIF support transparency?
Yes. AVIF has an alpha channel, so it can replace PNG for cutouts on the web while producing a much smaller file.