Format Showdown

JPG VS AVIF

The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Joint Photographic Experts Group and AV1 Image File Format.

JPG

jpg

Universal image format with lossy compression, perfect for photography.

Pros

  • Small file size
  • Universal compatibility
  • Adjustable compression levels

Cons

  • Lossy compression (quality degrades)
  • No transparency support
  • No animation

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

When JPG wins

Stay with JPG when you need web images or digital photography. Its strengths center on small file size and a feature set native to Joint Photographic Experts Group.

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

FeatureJPGAVIF
MIME Typeimage/jpegimage/avif
DeveloperJoint Photographic Experts GroupAlliance for Open Media
Release Year19922019
Best ForWeb images, Digital photography, Email attachmentsNext-gen web delivery, High-quality streaming assets
Opportunity map

Where JPG still wins

Keep JPG when you need small file size and workflows depend on web images / digital photography. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship AVIF deliverables without leaving their browser.

  • • Reference the .jpg 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 JPG.
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.