FormatDrop
Image Format

AVIF

AV1 Image File Format

AVIF is the newest widely-deployed image format, based on the AV1 video codec. It achieves 40–50% smaller file sizes than PNG and outperforms WebP by around 20% — at the cost of slower encoding and incomplete software support. It's the future of web images, but not yet universal.

What is AVIF?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) was standardised in 2019 by the Alliance for Open Media — the same consortium (including Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, Apple, and Netflix) behind the AV1 video codec. AVIF uses AV1 intra-frame encoding, which is significantly more sophisticated than the VP8-era encoding that WebP is based on. The result is substantially better compression: AVIF typically achieves 40–50% smaller file sizes compared to PNG and around 20% smaller than WebP at equivalent quality. Like WebP, AVIF supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency (alpha channel), HDR, wide colour gamut (up to 12-bit colour), and animation. AVIF is royalty-free, which is why all major tech companies backed it. Browser support has expanded rapidly: Chrome (since 85), Firefox (since 93), and Safari (since 16) all support AVIF. The remaining gap is in image editing software, OS-level support, and anything outside the browser ecosystem.

AVIF pros and cons

Advantages

  • 40–50% smaller than PNG at comparable quality
  • ~20% smaller than WebP
  • Supports HDR and wide colour gamut (up to 12-bit)
  • Supports transparency and animation
  • Royalty-free and open standard
  • Supported in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari

Limitations

  • Encoding is slow — CPU-intensive to create AVIF files
  • Not supported in older browsers (IE, old Safari)
  • Very limited support in desktop image editors
  • Windows does not open AVIF natively without extensions
  • Photoshop support is still maturing

When should you convert AVIF files?

Convert images to AVIF when optimising for web delivery and you know your users are on modern browsers — the file size savings are significant. Convert AVIF to JPG or PNG when you need to edit or share the image outside a browser context, since most editing software doesn't support AVIF yet. Convert AVIF to WebP as a middle ground that has broader software support while still being more modern than JPG.

Convert AVIF files

AVIF→JPG
AVIF→PNG
AVIF→WEBP
WEBP→AVIF

All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

AVIF FAQ

Is AVIF supported by all browsers?
AVIF is supported in Chrome (v85+), Firefox (v93+), and Safari (v16+, released 2022). Internet Explorer does not support it, and older Safari versions don't either. For broad browser support, WebP with a JPEG fallback remains the safer choice for web images. For cutting-edge optimisation targeting modern browsers only, AVIF delivers the best compression.
Is AVIF better than WebP?
In terms of compression efficiency, yes — AVIF typically achieves 20–30% smaller file sizes than WebP at equivalent quality. AVIF also supports HDR and wider colour gamut. However, AVIF is slower to encode, has less software support outside browsers, and is newer, meaning more edge cases. For web delivery to modern browsers, AVIF is technically superior. For general use and compatibility, WebP is more practical today.
Can Photoshop open AVIF files?
Photoshop added native AVIF support in version 23.2 (released in 2022). If you're on a newer version of Photoshop CC, you should be able to open AVIF files directly. Older versions require a plugin or conversion to PNG/JPEG first. Adobe Camera Raw also supports AVIF from certain camera raws in newer versions.

More formats

HEICWebPEPUBWebMOpus