The Short Answer
Use AVIF for web delivery where file size matters — it compresses far more efficiently than PNG while still supporting transparency. Use PNG when you need every app, editor, and platform to open the file without issues, since AVIF support is still limited outside modern browsers.
Format Overview
AVIF is a modern image format built on the AV1 video codec, released in 2019 by the Alliance for Open Media. It achieves significantly smaller file sizes than older formats while supporting transparency and HDR, making it a favorite for fast-loading websites.
PNG has been the standard lossless image format since 1996. It guarantees pixel-perfect quality and opens in every browser, editor, and operating system in existence, but its file sizes are considerably larger than AVIF's for the same image.
AVIF vs PNG: Full Comparison Table
Here's how AVIF and PNG stack up across the factors that actually matter day to day:
| Feature | AVIF | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy + lossless, very efficient | Lossless only |
| Transparency | Yes — alpha channel | Yes — full alpha channel |
| Browser Support | Modern browsers only | Universal |
| Editing Support | Limited in editors | Universal |
| File Size | Very small | Large |
| Image Quality | Excellent at small size | Lossless, exact pixels |
| HDR Support | Yes | No |
| Best For | Web images, web delivery | Graphics, logos, screenshots |
When to Use AVIF
Choose AVIF for web delivery, bandwidth-sensitive apps, and any modern platform where load speed matters. Its compression efficiency means pages load faster and use less data, without a noticeable drop in visual quality.
When to Use PNG
Choose PNG for design tools, older software, printing workflows, and anywhere AVIF isn't supported. It's also the safer default when a file needs to pass through multiple hands without any risk of an app failing to open it.
When to Convert AVIF to PNG
Convert AVIF to PNG when you need to open the image in software that doesn't support AVIF, when you're uploading to a platform that only accepts common formats, or when you need to edit the image in a tool with limited AVIF support. PNG guarantees the file opens everywhere, with zero quality loss.
Our AVIF to PNG converter handles this entirely in your browser — drop in your AVIF file and download a lossless PNG in seconds, with nothing uploaded to a server.