Format guide
What is AVIF?
AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) is a modern image format based on AV1 compression with excellent size and quality, created 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.
AVIF format specifications
- 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 compression & quality
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
Transparency & animation
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.
AVIF metadata
Can carry EXIF/XMP similar to other modern still formats; support varies by encoder and CMS pipeline.
Related tools: image metadata viewer · metadata remover
Best use cases for AVIF
- Modern website photos
- Image-heavy apps targeting current browsers
- HDR-capable imaging pipelines
- Transparent images with strong compression
When to avoid AVIF
- 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
Advantages
- Outstanding compression
- Alpha and HDR capabilities
- Open codec family
- Great for performance budgets
Disadvantages
- Encode can be slow
- Older tool gaps
- Need fallbacks for legacy users
- Not ideal as a camera SD card default yet
Compatibility
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
Software support
- Modern browsers
- ImageMagick builds
- Squoosh-style tools
- Format Convertly
Device support
- Phones and PCs with updated browsers
- Modern desktops
- Phones and tablets with compatible apps
How to open AVIF
Open in an updated browser or a modern image utility. If Photoshop or an older viewer refuses it, convert to PNG or JPG first.
How to convert AVIF
Convert AVIF to JPG/PNG for compatibility, or compress JPG/PNG into AVIF for modern sites, with Format Convertly running entirely in your browser.
Popular AVIF conversions
Convert to AVIF
Incoming conversions strengthen the AVIF cluster — e.g. JPG → AVIF, PNG → AVIF.
AVIF comparison guides
Compare AVIF with related formats to pick the right container for quality, size, and compatibility.
Best format guides featuring AVIF
Decision pages that cite AVIF — the next hop after a vs comparison.
AVIF how-to guides
Related formats
AVIF tools
Tools extend the format graph beyond one-off conversion — compression, metadata, and utilities for real workflows.
Technical sources
- AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) — AOMedia
AVIF FAQ
What is a AVIF file?
AVIF is a modern image format based on AV1 compression with excellent size and quality. 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.
Is AVIF lossy or lossless?
AVIF is typically lossy (varies). That keeps files small but means discarded detail cannot be restored later.
Does AVIF support transparency?
AVIF supports transparency (including alpha where the codec/container allows). Keep a format with alpha when you need soft edges or overlays.
How do I open a AVIF file?
Open in an updated browser or a modern image utility. If Photoshop or an older viewer refuses it, convert to PNG or JPG first.
How do I convert AVIF privately?
Convert AVIF to JPG/PNG for compatibility, or compress JPG/PNG into AVIF for modern sites, with Format Convertly running entirely in your browser. Format Convertly keeps processing in your browser so files are not uploaded to a conversion server.
Is AVIF smaller than WebP?
Often yes for photographs at similar quality, with slower encodes. Always visual-QA hero images and provide fallbacks when needed.
Are my AVIF files uploaded on Format Convertly?
No. AVIF conversion runs in your browser. Files are not sent to Format Convertly servers for processing.