AVIF (AV1 Image File Format)
AVIF is a modern format built on the AV1 video codec, producing the smallest files of any widely supported image format.
- File extension
- .avif
- MIME type
- image/avif
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- Yes, full alpha channel
- Animation
- Yes
- Type
- Raster (pixels)
Where AVIF files come from
Downloaded from a modern website that serves next-gen images.
All current browsers decode AVIF. Outside the browser, support is still thin — which is usually why you need it converted.
What AVIF is good at
- Typically 30–50% smaller than JPG at visually identical quality
- Handles transparency, HDR and wide colour gamut
- Royalty-free and supported in all current browsers
Where AVIF falls short
- Encoding is computationally expensive — noticeably slower than JPG or PNG
- Very little support outside browsers: most desktop and print software cannot open it
- Can smear fine texture at aggressive settings
Should you use AVIF?
Use it for photographs, where its compression is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Avoid it for screenshots, diagrams and anything containing text — flat colour and sharp edges are precisely what lossy compression handles worst.
Convert from AVIF
Convert to AVIF
Frequently asked questions
What is AVIF (AV1 Image File Format)?
AVIF is a modern format built on the AV1 video codec, producing the smallest files of any widely supported image format. All current browsers decode AVIF. Outside the browser, support is still thin — which is usually why you need it converted.
How do I open AVIF files?
Any tool that lists AVIF support will open one. If yours will not, the quickest fix is to convert it to a format your software already understands — the converters linked on this page do that in your browser without uploading the file.
Is AVIF lossy or lossless?
AVIF is lossy: it discards detail the eye is unlikely to notice in exchange for a much smaller file. Every re-save loses a little more, so keep an untouched original if the image matters.
Does AVIF support transparency?
Yes, AVIF carries a full alpha channel, so soft edges and drop shadows survive intact. Converting to a format without alpha — JPG most commonly — flattens those areas onto a solid colour.