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Guide — Image Formats

What Is an AVIF File? The Complete Guide

AVIF is one of the most efficient image formats available today — but its limited software support means you'll often need to convert it. This guide covers what AVIF is, how it works, and when to use it.

What Does AVIF Stand For?

AVIF stands for AV1 Image File Format. It's a still-image format built on the AV1 video codec — the same codec used by YouTube, Netflix, and other major streaming platforms to deliver high-quality video at smaller file sizes. The Alliance for Open Media, which includes Google, Apple, Microsoft, Mozilla, and Netflix, developed AV1 as a royalty-free alternative to HEVC, and AVIF adapts that compression technology for still images.

How AVIF Compression Works

AVIF uses the same intra-frame encoding techniques that make AV1 video so efficient — analyzing blocks of pixels, predicting what neighboring blocks look like, and encoding only the differences. Applied to a single still image rather than a video stream, this approach consistently produces files 50% smaller than JPG and 30–40% smaller than WebP at equivalent visual quality.

AVIF also supports lossless compression, transparency (alpha channel), high dynamic range (HDR), and wide color gamut — features that JPG lacks entirely and PNG only partially supports. For web publishers who need the smallest possible images without visible quality loss, AVIF is the strongest format available today.

AVIF vs JPG vs PNG vs WebP

Each format occupies a different point in the compatibility vs. efficiency trade-off:

AVIF Compatibility: Where It Opens

Browser support for AVIF is now strong across modern browsers, but desktop software and older devices lag behind:

Platform AVIF Support
Chrome 85+ Full native support
Firefox 93+ Full native support
Safari 16+ (macOS / iOS) Full native support
Edge 121+ Full native support
Windows Photo Viewer No native support
Photoshop Supported via plugin (CC 2022+)
Older Android apps Inconsistent — varies by app

When to Convert AVIF to PNG

Convert AVIF to PNG when you need the image to open in software that doesn't support AVIF yet — older image editors, desktop publishing tools, printing services, or any workflow that predates widespread AVIF adoption. PNG gives you universal compatibility with lossless quality, so no pixel data is lost in the conversion.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is AVIF?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern image format based on the AV1 video codec. It compresses images to significantly smaller file sizes than JPG or PNG at comparable visual quality, making it ideal for web performance. It was developed by the Alliance for Open Media and released in 2019.

Is AVIF better than JPG?

For file size, yes — AVIF typically achieves 50% smaller files than JPG at the same quality level. It also supports transparency, which JPG doesn't. The trade-off is that AVIF isn't supported in older browsers and has limited support in desktop image editors.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

Generally yes for compression efficiency — AVIF achieves better quality at smaller file sizes than WebP. However WebP has broader software support. For web use where file size matters most and you're targeting modern browsers, AVIF is the stronger choice.

Why can't I open an AVIF file?

AVIF requires AV1 codec support. Most modern browsers handle it natively, but older desktop software — Windows Photo Viewer, older versions of Photoshop, and many image editors — can't open AVIF without a plugin. Converting to PNG gives you a file that opens everywhere.

Does converting AVIF to PNG lose quality?

No. PNG uses lossless compression, so every pixel decoded from the AVIF file is written to PNG exactly as-is. There is no additional quality loss in the conversion — the only change is file size (PNG will be larger) and compatibility (PNG opens everywhere).