Is this ARW to AVIF converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple ARW files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

Will the image quality change after conversion?

It depends on the formats involved. Converting to a lossless format like PNG preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy format like JPEG or WebP applies compression — we default to 85% quality, which looks identical to the original for almost all images. You won't notice a difference unless you zoom in pixel-by-pixel.

Do you support batch image conversion?

Yes — drop multiple images at once and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 at a time; Pro is unlimited. Download everything as a single ZIP when you're done.

How does AVIF compare to WebP for photos converted from ARW?

AVIF is typically 20–30% smaller than WebP at comparable visual quality, making it the best choice for web delivery when browser support allows. All major browsers now support AVIF.

Does the converter apply any sharpening or tone-mapping to the ARW?

Yes — the RAW file is demosaiced and tone-mapped with standard settings to produce a natural-looking image. No custom colour grading is applied; for creative editing, use dedicated RAW software first.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

ARW to AVIF Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

How to convert ARW to AVIF online

1
Drop your ARW file
Drag and drop your Sony Alpha Raw file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs Sony Alpha Raw → AV1 Image File Format entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your AVIF
Your AV1 Image File Format file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

ARW vs AVIF: format overview

ARW

Sony Alpha Raw

Sony · 2006

Compression: lossless
Color depth: 14-bit
Transparency: No

✓ Full sensor data — maximum post-processing flexibility
✓ 14-bit color depth with extended dynamic range
✗ Not viewable without specialized software

AVIF

AV1 Image File Format

Alliance for Open Media · 2019

Compression: lossy
Color depth: 12-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ Smallest file size of any image format (50% smaller than WebP)
✓ Excellent HDR and wide-gamut color support

ARW magic bytes: 49 49 2A 00 (TIFF-based)

AVIF magic bytes: 00 00 00 .. 66 74 79 70 61 76 69 66

Why convert ARW to AVIF?

Sony ARW is a RAW camera format that stores unprocessed sensor data at maximum quality — it's the format serious photographers use to preserve everything the camera captured before any in-camera processing occurs. But ARW files are 20–80 MB each, unrecognizable to most software, and completely impractical for web delivery or casual sharing.

AVIF is the most efficient modern format for delivering high-quality images at small file sizes. Converting ARW to AVIF can take a 60 MB RAW file and produce a 2–3 MB AVIF that looks visually identical on screen. AVIF supports HDR and wide color gamut — making it one of the few web formats that can meaningfully represent the dynamic range that Sony's sensors, especially the A7R and A1 series, actually capture. All modern browsers support AVIF, and platforms like Cloudflare and Fastly serve it by default.

The conversion process decodes the ARW's raw sensor data and applies tone mapping to produce a standard viewable image, which is then encoded as AVIF. The quality of this automatic tone mapping is good for most purposes but won't match the custom processing you'd do in Lightroom or Capture One. For personal sharing, portfolio web pages, and social media uploads, the automatic result is excellent. For professional deliverables where color accuracy matters, process in your RAW editor first and then export to AVIF.

Quality & file size: ARW to AVIF

Typical file sizes: ARW 20–30 MB → AVIF 0.8–2 MB.

Converting from lossless ARW to lossy AVIF will apply compression. We default to 85% quality — visually indistinguishable from the original for most content. If you need pixel-perfect output, consider using a lossless target format instead.

Color depth: ARW supports 14-bit, AVIF supports 12-bit.

Transparency: ARW does not support transparency. AVIF preserves transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your ARWfiles are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.