WebP and AVIF are the two modern image formats built to replace JPG and PNG on the web. Both are smaller and better, but they are not interchangeable. Here is the practical comparison.
AVIF: smaller, newer
AVIF (based on the AV1 video codec) generally produces the smallest files of the two, often noticeably smaller than WebP at the same quality, and it handles high dynamic range and wide colour well. The catch is that it is newer: support in older browsers, editing tools and upload systems is thinner, and encoding can be slower.
WebP: smaller, everywhere
WebP has been around longer and is supported by every current browser and a wide range of tools. It is still much smaller than JPG or PNG, supports transparency and animation, and is the safer default when you need broad compatibility today.
How to choose
- Maximum compression, modern audience: AVIF — best size, if your pipeline and visitors support it.
- Broad compatibility, still small: WebP — the pragmatic default for most websites.
- A tool rejected your AVIF or WebP: convert back to JPG or PNG.
Converting between them
You can move images between these formats in your browser without uploading: AVIF to WebP for broader support, PNG to WebP to shrink graphics, or WebP to JPG when an old system refuses WebP. If a file also needs to hit a size limit, follow up with the WebP compressor. For a fuller primer on the classic formats, see JPG vs PNG vs WebP.