AVIF Format Guide & Converter

AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) is a modern image format based on AV1 compression with excellent size and quality, introduced by Alliance for Open Media (2019). AVIF often beats JPEG and WebP on compression for photographs while supporting HDR and transparency. Browser support is now strong on current engines; keep a JPG/WebP fallback when you must support very old clients.

Full name

AV1 Image File Format (AVIF)

Kind

modern raster image

File extension

.avif

MIME type

image/avif

Developer / standard

Alliance for Open Media · 2019

Compression

varies

Quality model

Lossy and lossless modes

Container

Yes — may carry multiple codecs

Common codecs

AV1

Technical sources

AOMedia: AV1 Image File Format

Transparency

Supported

Animation

No (still / non-animated typical use)

Typical size

Often smaller than JPG/WebP at similar quality

Browser support

Good in current major browsers; still test legacy audiences

Compatibility

Strong in current Chrome, Firefox, and Safari; still convert for ancient browsers, email clients, and print vendors that expect JPG/TIFF

AVIF uses AV1 intra frames for stills, often winning on photo compression versus JPEG and WebP. Encodes can be slower; decode is fine on modern devices. Always compare perceptual quality on hero images.

Quality: Excellent perceptual quality at small sizes

Typical size: Often smaller than JPG/WebP at similar quality

AVIF supports transparency (including alpha where the codec/container allows). Keep a format with alpha when you need soft edges or overlays.

AVIF is a still-media or non-animated format in typical use. Use GIF, APNG, video, or animated WebP when you need motion.

Can carry EXIF/XMP similar to other modern still formats; support varies by encoder and CMS pipeline.

Related tools: image metadata viewer · metadata remover

• Modern website photos
• Image-heavy apps targeting current browsers
• HDR-capable imaging pipelines
• Transparent images with strong compression

• Ancient browsers and OS image viewers
• Print shops that demand TIFF/PDF
• Email clients with weak AVIF support
• Quick edits in tools without AVIF decode

• Outstanding compression
• Alpha and HDR capabilities
• Open codec family
• Great for performance budgets

• Encode can be slow
• Older tool gaps
• Need fallbacks for legacy users
• Not ideal as a camera SD card default yet

Strong in current Chrome, Firefox, and Safari; still convert for ancient browsers, email clients, and print vendors that expect JPG/TIFF

Browsers: Good in current major browsers; still test legacy audiences

• Modern browsers
• ImageMagick builds
• Squoosh-style tools
• Format Convertly

• Phones and PCs with updated browsers
• Modern desktops
• Phones and tablets with compatible apps

Open in an updated browser or a modern image utility. If Photoshop or an older viewer refuses it, convert to PNG or JPG first.

Convert AVIF to JPG/PNG for compatibility, or compress JPG/PNG into AVIF for modern sites, with Format Convertly running entirely in your browser.

• Pick a target format from popular conversions or the full list below.
• Your file is read into browser memory — not uploaded to a server.
• Download the result when conversion finishes.

Incoming conversions strengthen the AVIF cluster — e.g. JPG → AVIF, PNG → AVIF.

Compare AVIF with related formats to pick the right container for quality, size, and compatibility.

Decision pages that cite AVIF — the next hop after a vs comparison.

Tools extend the format graph beyond one-off conversion — compression, metadata, and utilities for real workflows.

Uploading sensitive AVIF files to a random converter creates a third-party copy you cannot control. Format Convertly keeps processing on-device so photos, contracts, and exports stay private.

• AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) — AOMedia