Do all browsers support AVIF?

All major modern browsers support AVIF: Chrome since 2020, Firefox since 2021, and Safari since 2022. Older browser versions and some minor browsers may not support it, so fallback images are recommended.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

AVIF generally achieves better compression and visual quality than WebP, especially for photographs. It also supports HDR and wider color gamuts. However, WebP encodes faster and currently has broader software support.

Why are AVIF files slow to encode?

AVIF uses the AV1 codec, which prioritizes compression efficiency over encoding speed. The complex algorithms that produce smaller files require more processing time. Hardware acceleration and improved encoders are gradually reducing this gap.

Can I use AVIF on my website today?

Yes, with a fallback strategy. Use the HTML picture element to serve AVIF to supporting browsers and JPEG or WebP as fallbacks. This approach ensures all visitors see your images while modern browsers benefit from smaller files.

Does AVIF support HDR images?

Yes, AVIF natively supports HDR content with up to 12-bit color depth and wide color gamuts like BT.2020. This makes it one of the few web-compatible formats capable of displaying high dynamic range photography.

What is AVIF? Format Guide — Next-Gen Compression, HDR, When to Use

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern image format standardized in 2019 by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a consortium including Google, Apple, Mozilla, Netflix, and Amazon. It is derived from the AV1 video codec and stored in the HEIF container format, delivering cutting-edge compression efficiency.

AVIF was created to be the open, royalty-free successor to both JPEG and HEIC. It achieves dramatically smaller file sizes than JPEG at equivalent visual quality, while supporting advanced features like HDR imaging, wide color gamut, alpha transparency, and animation in a single format.

Browser support for AVIF has grown rapidly, with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all supporting it natively. Major services like Netflix and Cloudflare use AVIF extensively. As encoding speed improves and tool support expands, AVIF is positioned to become the dominant web image format.

Technical specifications

Full name	AV1 Image File Format
File extensions	.avif
MIME type	image/avif
Compression	Lossy and lossless (AV1-based)
Color depth	Up to 12-bit HDR + alpha channel
Transparency	Full alpha channel supported
Animation	Supported (AVIF sequences)
Max dimensions	65,536 × 65,536 pixels
Metadata	EXIF, XMP, ICC profiles, HDR metadata
Year released	2019

When to use AVIF

Websites prioritizing the smallest possible file sizes for maximum performance
Photographic content where AVIF’s compression delivers visibly better quality than JPEG
HDR photography and wide color gamut images that exceed 8-bit color limitations
Modern web applications targeting browsers released after 2021 with AVIF support
Image-heavy platforms where bandwidth savings at scale translate to significant cost reduction

Pros and cons

Advantages

Up to 50% smaller files than JPEG at equivalent visual quality
HDR and wide color gamut support with up to 12-bit depth
Royalty-free and open standard backed by major tech companies
Excellent at preserving detail in low-contrast areas where JPEG struggles
Supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency, and animation

Disadvantages

Slower encoding times compared to JPEG and WebP, especially at high quality
Not yet supported by all image editors, CMS platforms, and social media sites
Progressive decoding support is limited, causing slower perceived loading
Maximum file size and tiling complexity can complicate very large images
Relatively new format with evolving tooling and occasional compatibility gaps

Compatibility

AVIF is supported by Chrome (85+), Firefox (93+), Safari (16.1+), and Edge (121+). Support in image editors is growing, with GIMP, Photoshop (via plugins), and ImageMagick all supporting AVIF. Mobile support is available on Android 12+ and iOS 16+.

AVIF vs other formats

AVIF vs JPEG: AVIF produces files up to 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality, with support for HDR, transparency, and animation. JPEG has universal compatibility. AVIF is the better technical choice but requires fallback images for older clients.
AVIF vs WebP: AVIF achieves 20–30% better compression than WebP with superior visual quality, plus HDR and wider color support. WebP encodes much faster and has broader compatibility. AVIF is the future, but WebP remains the practical middle ground.
AVIF vs HEIC: Both derive from video codecs (AV1 vs HEVC) and offer similar quality. AVIF is royalty-free and web-native with growing browser support, while HEIC is tied to Apple’s ecosystem and encumbered by HEVC licensing fees.

AVIF tools on My File Tool

Convert AVIF files to other formats, or convert other formats to AVIF. First file always free.

Frequently asked questions

Do all browsers support AVIF?: All major modern browsers support AVIF: Chrome since 2020, Firefox since 2021, and Safari since 2022. Older browser versions and some minor browsers may not support it, so fallback images are recommended.
Is AVIF better than WebP?: AVIF generally achieves better compression and visual quality than WebP, especially for photographs. It also supports HDR and wider color gamuts. However, WebP encodes faster and currently has broader software support.
Why are AVIF files slow to encode?: AVIF uses the AV1 codec, which prioritizes compression efficiency over encoding speed. The complex algorithms that produce smaller files require more processing time. Hardware acceleration and improved encoders are gradually reducing this gap.
Can I use AVIF on my website today?: Yes, with a fallback strategy. Use the HTML picture element to serve AVIF to supporting browsers and JPEG or WebP as fallbacks. This approach ensures all visitors see your images while modern browsers benefit from smaller files.
Does AVIF support HDR images?: Yes, AVIF natively supports HDR content with up to 12-bit color depth and wide color gamuts like BT.2020. This makes it one of the few web-compatible formats capable of displaying high dynamic range photography.

Other format guides

Need to convert AVIF?

Convert AVIF to JPEG, PNG, or WebP. Or convert images to AVIF for maximum compression. Free, no signup.

Convert AVIF now