Format Showdown

AVIF VS WebP

The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between AV1 Image File Format and Web Picture Format.

AVIF

avif

Next-gen compression codec derived from AV1 video, offering the best quality-to-size ratio.

Pros

  • Best-in-class compression
  • HDR support
  • 10-bit color depth

Cons

  • Slow encoding speed
  • Limited software support outside browsers

WebP

webp

Modern format providing superior compression for web performance.

Pros

  • Superior compression (30% smaller than JPG)
  • Supports transparency
  • Supports animation

Cons

  • Not supported by very old browsers
  • Complex encoding

When AVIF wins

Stay with AVIF when you need next-gen web delivery or high-quality streaming assets. Its strengths center on best-in-class compression and a feature set native to Alliance for Open Media.

When WebP wins

Choose WebP when your workflow prioritizes modern websites or app assets. It delivers superior compression (30% smaller than jpg) plus modern compression perks.

Technical Specifications

FeatureAVIFWebP
MIME Typeimage/avifimage/webp
DeveloperAlliance for Open MediaGoogle
Release Year20192010
Best ForNext-gen web delivery, High-quality streaming assetsModern websites, App assets, Speed optimization
Opportunity map

Where AVIF still wins

Keep AVIF when you need best-in-class compression and workflows depend on next-gen web delivery / high-quality streaming assets. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship WebP deliverables without leaving their browser.

  • • Reference the .avif glossary from this page.
  • • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
  • • Use WebP for modern websites while archiving originals as AVIF.
Internal linking plan

Keep crawlers in the conversion hub

Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.