GIF VS AVIF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Graphics Interchange Format and AV1 Image File Format.
GIF
gifSupports simple animations and limited color palette, a classic internet format.
Pros
- Simple animation
- Universal support
- Small size for simple graphics
Cons
- Limited to 256 colors
- No audio
- Inefficient compression for video
AVIF
avifNext-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
When GIF wins
Stay with GIF when you need memes or simple banners. Its strengths center on simple animation and a feature set native to CompuServe.
When AVIF wins
Choose AVIF when your workflow prioritizes next-gen web delivery or high-quality streaming assets. It delivers best-in-class compression plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | GIF | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/gif | image/avif |
| Developer | CompuServe | Alliance for Open Media |
| Release Year | 1987 | 2019 |
| Best For | Memes, Simple banners, Loading spinners | Next-gen web delivery, High-quality streaming assets |
Need to switch?
Where GIF still wins
Keep GIF when you need simple animation and workflows depend on memes / simple banners. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship AVIF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .gif glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use AVIF for next-gen web delivery while archiving originals as GIF.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.