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What is AVIF? The Next-Gen Image Format Explained

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Team Simple image converter
AVIF

Images are getting smarter. First there was JPG, then PNG, then WebP — and now AVIF is emerging as the most impressive image format yet. Here’s why it matters and what you need to know.

What is AVIF?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is based on the AV1 video codec, developed by the Alliance for Open Media — a group that includes Google, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Amazon. It launched in 2019 and has quickly gained traction for its remarkable compression efficiency.

AVIF vs WebP vs JPG: How Does it Stack Up?

AVIF consistently outperforms both WebP and JPG in compression tests:

  • AVIF files are typically 20–50% smaller than WebP at the same perceptual quality
  • AVIF files can be 50–80% smaller than equivalent JPEGs
  • AVIF supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) and wide colour gamuts
  • AVIF supports both lossy and lossless compression
  • AVIF supports transparency (alpha channel)

AVIF Browser Support

Browser support for AVIF has grown significantly:

  • Chrome 85+ — full support
  • Firefox 93+ — full support
  • Edge 121+ — full support
  • Safari 16+ — full support

As of 2025, the vast majority of web users are on browsers that support AVIF. It’s now a safe choice for progressive web deployment.

When Should You Use AVIF?

  • Web performance is your top priority and you want the smallest possible images
  • You’re serving HDR or wide-gamut photography
  • You’re building a modern web application targeting up-to-date browsers
  • You want future-proof image assets

When Should You Convert FROM AVIF?

  • You received an AVIF image and can’t open it in older software
  • You need to share an image with someone using an older browser or OS
  • Your image editor doesn’t support AVIF yet

👉 Convert AVIF to JPG or PNG in seconds — no software needed, no upload required. Try it free at SimpleImageConverter.in

Is AVIF Ready for Production?

Yes, with caveats. AVIF encoding can be slow, and some image processing pipelines don’t yet support it natively. For most websites, serving AVIF with a JPG/WebP fallback is the recommended approach. But for individual images you want to convert right now, it’s completely ready.

AVIF represents the state of the art in image compression. If you’re not using it, you’re leaving significant file size savings on the table.