Image Format Comparison

AVIF vs WebP: Next-Gen Image Formats Compared

AVIF and WebP are both modern alternatives to PNG and JPG, designed for the web and optimized for compression efficiency. AVIF, derived from the AV1 video codec, is the newer and more powerful of the two — delivering 20–50% smaller files than WebP at equivalent quality, plus 10-bit HDR color support. WebP, released by Google in 2010, has had a decade-long head start in tool and browser adoption. Both are excellent choices, but AVIF is the clear leader in compression; WebP wins on encoding speed and current toolchain compatibility.

AVIFvsWebP

Quick Verdict

Use AVIF when…

Use AVIF when minimizing file size is critical and you control the tech stack — AVIF is 20–50% smaller than WebP at equivalent quality, and all modern browsers now support it.

Use WebP when…

Use WebP for broader compatibility, faster encoding pipelines, and when you need support in slightly older browsers or tools — WebP has been widely supported since 2020 and works in virtually every current context.

AVIF vs WebP: Feature Comparison

Feature	AVIF	WebP
Developed by	Alliance for Open Media — based on AV1 video codec (2019)	Google — released 2010
Compression vs WebP	~20–50% smaller than WebP at equivalent visual quality	Baseline for comparison
Browser support	Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16+ (2022)	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 14+ (2020)
Encoding speed	Slow — CPU-intensive, not ideal for on-the-fly generation	Fast — good for server-side image processing pipelines
HDR support	Yes — 10-bit and 12-bit color depth	Limited — 8-bit color only
Tool support	Growing — Squoosh, Sharp, ImageMagick 7.1+, Cloudinary	Mature — supported by most modern image tools

When AVIF wins

✓Developed by: Alliance for Open Media — based on AV1 video codec (2019)
✓Compression vs WebP: ~20–50% smaller than WebP at equivalent visual quality
✓Browser support: Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16+ (2022)

When WebP wins

✓Developed by: Google — released 2010
✓Compression vs WebP: Baseline for comparison
✓Browser support: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 14+ (2020)

Frequently asked questions

Does Safari support AVIF?

Yes, as of Safari 16 (released September 2022). This means AVIF now works across all major modern browsers. If you need to support Safari 15 or earlier, include a WebP or JPEG fallback.

Should I migrate from WebP to AVIF?

If you're optimizing a high-traffic website and can absorb slower encoding, AVIF's smaller file sizes can meaningfully improve page load times. For most teams, the effort/benefit tradeoff still favors WebP for new projects and AVIF as an aspirational target.

Is AVIF better than WebP for all image types?

AVIF excels at photographs and complex scenes. For simple graphics with few colors (icons, logos), the difference is smaller. SVG is still the best choice for vector content regardless of AVIF vs WebP.

Can I use AVIF and WebP with a fallback in HTML?

Yes. Use the HTML <picture> element with multiple <source> elements: AVIF first, WebP second, and JPG/PNG as the final fallback. Browsers pick the first format they support.