Next-Gen Format Comparison
AVIF vs WebP: The Ultimate Comparison
Both AVIF and WebP are modern image formats designed for the web. Which one should you use in 2024?
Quick Verdict
AVIF Wins For:
- • Smallest file sizes (20-30% smaller than WebP)
- • Best image quality at low bitrates
- • Photos and detailed images
- • HDR and wide color gamut
WebP Wins For:
- • Better browser support (97%+ vs 93%)
- • Faster encoding/decoding
- • Animation support
- • Wider ecosystem adoption
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AVIF | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Based On | AV1 video codec | VP8 video codec |
| File Size | Smallest (Best) | Small (Good) |
| Browser Support | ~93% | ~97% |
| Encoding Speed | Slow | Fast |
| Decoding Speed | Moderate | Fast |
| Transparency | ||
| Animation | ||
| HDR Support | Full support | Limited |
| Max Resolution | 65536 x 65536 | 16383 x 16383 |
File Size Comparison
Real-world compression comparison (same visual quality)
JPEG (original)100%
WebP~65% (35% smaller)
AVIF~50% (50% smaller)
* Results vary based on image content. AVIF typically shows greater improvements on photographic content.
Browser Support (2024)
WebP Support
- Chrome (since 2014)
- Firefox (since 2019)
- Safari (since 2020)
- Edge (since 2018)
AVIF Support
- Chrome (since 2020)
- Firefox (since 2021)
- Safari (since 2022, iOS 16+)
- Edge (since 2020)
Our Recommendation
For most websites in 2024: Use AVIF as primary with WebP as fallback and JPEG as final fallback.
<picture> <source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif"> <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp"> <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description"> </picture>
Pro Tip:
Use automatic image optimization services (Cloudflare, ImageKit, Cloudinary) to serve the right format to each browser automatically.