WebP vs AVIF: Which Modern Image Format for the Web?
AVIF compresses smaller than WebP at the same quality, but WebP has wider support. How to do it to pick the right modern format for fast-loading web images.
WebP and AVIF are both modern image formats built to make web pages faster by shrinking images well below what JPG and PNG can manage. The question isn't whether to use one (either beats the old formats) but which to reach for as your primary, and what to fall back to.
AVIF, based on the AV1 video codec, generally wins on pure compression: at the same visual quality it's usually smaller than WebP, and it supports HDR and wide color. WebP is a little older and slightly less efficient, but it's supported in more places, encodes faster, and has years of tooling behind it. Both handle transparency and both are lossy or lossless.
In practice, the modern approach is to serve AVIF where it's supported, fall back to WebP, and keep a JPG/PNG fallback for the oldest browsers. Below is the side-by-side, a clear rule, and the tools to convert and compress either one in your browser.
WebP vs AVIF, compared
Every dimension that actually affects the decision, at a glance.
| Dimension | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller than JPG/PNG. Slightly larger than AVIF. | Usually the smallest at the same quality. |
| Image quality | Excellent. Great at typical web quality levels. | Excellent. Often keeps detail better at low bitrates, plus HDR. |
| Browser support | Very broad: supported almost everywhere modern. | Broad and growing, but slightly behind WebP. |
| Encoding speed | Fast to encode. | Slower to encode (heavier compression). |
| Transparency | Yes. | Yes. |
| Best for | A safe, fast default for web images today. | Maximum compression when you can add a fallback. |
Which one is right for you?
Choose WebP when
- You want one modern format that just works almost everywhere.
- Encoding speed matters (lots of images, build pipelines).
- You'd rather not manage multiple fallbacks.
- You're upgrading from JPG/PNG and want an easy, big win.
Choose AVIF when
- You want the smallest possible files for speed and Core Web Vitals.
- You can serve AVIF with a WebP/JPG fallback for older browsers.
- Your images benefit from HDR or wide color.
- Low-bitrate quality (heavily compressed hero images) matters.
The verdict
Use AVIF as your primary when you can add a fallback: it's typically the smallest at the same quality. Use WebP when you want one dependable, fast-encoding format with the widest support and no fallback juggling. The best real-world setup serves AVIF, falls back to WebP, then JPG. Either is a huge upgrade over JPG/PNG for site speed.
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Tools for this comparison
WebP Converter
Convert PNG and JPG images to WebP for smaller, faster-loading files, and turn WebP back into PNG or JPG when you need wider compatibility. Free and in-browser.
Image Compressor
Shrink JPG, PNG and WebP images without a visible quality drop. Set the quality yourself, or compress to an exact target size like 100 KB. Free, entirely in your browser.
PNG to JPG
Convert PNG images to JPG in your browser: pick a background color for transparent areas, set the quality, and download a much smaller file.
Image Resizer
Resize any image to exact pixel dimensions with an optional aspect-ratio lock and ready-made social presets, free and fully in your browser.
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