WebP vs AVIF: Next-Gen Image Formats Compared

WebP and AVIF both promise smaller files than JPEG — but which one should you use?

What Are They?

• WebP (2010): Created by Google, based on VP8 video codec
• AVIF (2019): Created by Alliance for Open Media, based on AV1 video codec

Compression Comparison

In real-world tests:

• WebP reduces files by ~30% compared to JPEG at the same quality
• AVIF reduces files by ~45% compared to JPEG — but encoding is 10x slower

Browser Support (2026)

Verdict: WebP has near-universal support. AVIF is supported in modern browsers but not in older ones.

When to Use Each

Use WebP when:

• You need maximum browser compatibility
• You serve images to a general audience
• You want faster encoding (saves build time)
• You need animated images as a GIF replacement

Use AVIF when:

• You target modern browsers only
• File size is critical (bandwidth-constrained users)
• You want the absolute best quality at the smallest size
• You can afford slower encoding during build

How to Convert

• JPG to WebP — convert JPEG to WebP
• PNG to WebP — convert PNG to WebP (preserves transparency)
• WebP to PNG — convert WebP back to PNG
• WebP to JPG — convert WebP to universal JPEG

Best Practice for Websites

Use element with multiple format sources:

``html

``

Browsers pick the first format they support — everyone gets the smallest file possible.

---

Convert your images to next-gen formats with ImageToolbox — free, private, browser-based.