AVIF vs WebP: The New Image Formats Explained
JPG is thirty years old. Its replacements — WebP and AVIF — are both far smaller at the same quality. But which of the two new formats should you actually use? Here is the honest comparison.
What are WebP and AVIF?
WebP is Google's format, around since 2010. It has a lossy mode (typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG) and a lossless mode with transparency. AVIF is the newer one, built on the AV1 video codec. It is typically 20 to 30 percent smaller than WebP again — so an AVIF can be roughly half the size of the same photo as a JPG, at the same visible quality.
Size and quality
On pure compression, AVIF wins. At very low file sizes — a heavily compressed photo, for example — AVIF holds up noticeably better than WebP, with less blockiness and smudging. At normal web quality the difference is smaller, and both are far ahead of JPG. For photographs, AVIF is the best format available today by size. For simple graphics and logos, the gap between the two is tiny.
Browser support
This is where WebP still leads. Every modern browser supports WebP, and has done for years. AVIF support is now in Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge, but older versions and some apps still do not open it. If your audience uses up-to-date browsers, AVIF is safe. If you cannot be sure, WebP is the safer default.
Which one should you use?
- Photos on a website, modern audience: AVIF for the smallest files.
- Photos, maximum compatibility: WebP.
- Anything that must open everywhere: JPG or PNG as a fallback.
Converting is free and takes seconds: use the JPG to AVIF converter or the JPG to WebP converter. Your files never leave your device.