Guide

What is AVIF? Everything You Need to Know

By · Published Mar 22, 2026 · Updated June 26, 2026 · 8 min read

AVIF is quickly becoming one of the most exciting image formats for the modern web. Based on the AV1 video codec, it delivers compression that was previously thought impossible — up to 50% smaller than JPEG with comparable quality. But what exactly is AVIF, and should you be using it? Let's find out.

What is AVIF?

AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It was developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a consortium that includes Google, Apple, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix, and many other tech giants. AVIF uses the AV1 video codec's intra-frame coding to compress still images.

The format was finalized in February 2019 and has rapidly gained browser support. As of 2026, it is supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and most modern browsers — covering over 95% of web users.

AVIF vs JPEG: The Numbers

The compression improvements are dramatic:

  • At equivalent visual quality, AVIF files are 40-50% smaller than JPEG
  • AVIF supports both lossy and lossless compression
  • AVIF supports transparency (alpha channel) — JPEG does not
  • AVIF supports HDR and wide color gamut
  • AVIF supports 10-bit and 12-bit color depth (JPEG is limited to 8-bit)

AVIF vs WebP

WebP is currently the most popular "modern" image format. How does AVIF compare?

  • Compression: AVIF is about 20% smaller than WebP at the same visual quality
  • Encoding speed: AVIF is significantly slower to encode. This matters for real-time conversion but not for pre-built assets.
  • Browser support: WebP has slightly broader support (97% vs 95%), but the gap is closing
  • Features: AVIF supports HDR, wider color gamuts, and higher bit depth. WebP does not.
  • Animation: Both support animation, but WebP is more efficient for animated content

In practice: use AVIF when maximum compression matters and you can tolerate slower encoding. Use WebP when you need the broadest compatibility or are working with animations.

When to Use AVIF

  • Website images — especially hero images, product photos, and other large images where every KB counts
  • Mobile web — smaller files mean faster loading on slow connections
  • Photography portfolios — AVIF's color depth and HDR support make it ideal for showcasing photos
  • Any scenario where JPEG is currently used — AVIF can replace JPEG for massive bandwidth savings

When NOT to Use AVIF

  • When you need real-time encoding (it is slow)
  • When targeting very old browsers or devices
  • For animated content (WebP or GIF may be better)
  • When lossless quality is critical (PNG is still the gold standard for pixel-perfect lossless)

How to Create AVIF Files

Converting images to AVIF is simple with Snap2Format:

  1. Go to Snap2Format converter
  2. Upload any image (JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, RAW, etc.)
  3. Select AVIF as the output format
  4. Choose your quality level
  5. Click Convert and download

Try these direct conversion links:

The Future of AVIF

AVIF is still young, but its trajectory is clear. With backing from virtually every major tech company, growing browser support, and objectively superior compression, AVIF is positioned to become the dominant image format on the web. Whether you adopt it today or next year, it is worth understanding and preparing for.

Related Articles