1. What is AVIF?
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern, open image format that stores still images using the compression technology of the AV1 video codec. An AVIF file is essentially a single AV1 key frame (intra frame) packaged in the same container format that HEIC uses – HEIF, which in turn is based on the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF).
The result is a format that compresses far more efficiently than JPEG and usually better than WebP, while supporting modern capabilities such as transparency, high bit depth, HDR and wide colour gamut. The file extension is .avif and the MIME type is image/avif.
2. History & background
AVIF grew out of the work on the AV1 video codec. The backdrop is an industry that wanted an open, royalty-free alternative to the licensed codecs (such as HEVC/H.265, which HEIC is based on).
- 2015 – The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) is founded by, among others, Google, Mozilla, Cisco, Microsoft, Intel, Amazon and Netflix to develop a free video codec. Apple joined in 2018.
- 2018 – The AV1 codec is finalised (version 1.0.0). AV1 is designed to be royalty-free and competitive with HEVC.
- February 2019 – AOMedia publishes the first AVIF specification (v1.0.0), defining how AV1-coded images are stored in the HEIF container.
- 2020 – Netflix and others publish AVIF comparisons; Chrome 85 becomes the first major browser with built-in support (August 2020).
- 2021–2024 – Firefox, Safari and finally Edge add support, making AVIF broadly viable on the web.
AVIF has quickly become the leading next-generation web format, partly because a competitor – JPEG XL – lost momentum when Chrome removed its experimental support in 2022/2023.
3. How the technology works
AVIF combines two parts: the compression (AV1) and the container (HEIF/ISOBMFF).
AV1 compression
An AVIF image is encoded as an AV1 key frame. AV1 divides the image into blocks and uses advanced intra prediction (predicting pixels from neighbouring blocks), transform coding, quantisation and entropy coding. Because AV1 was developed for video, it includes many tools that also benefit still images, such as directional prediction, large and flexible block sizes, and film grain synthesis (grain can be stored as a parameter and recreated on display rather than coded pixel by pixel).
The HEIF container
The file itself is a HEIF container (ISOBMFF). Besides image data it can store an alpha channel (transparency), an ICC colour profile, EXIF and XMP metadata, thumbnails, image sequences (animation) and multiple layers. It is the same container family as HEIC, but the content is coded with AV1 instead of HEVC.
Quality vs effort
When creating AVIF, you distinguish between quality (how much information is preserved) and effort/speed (how hard the encoder searches for the best compression). At the same quality setting, higher effort gives a better result: the encoder can use more tools, so it either shrinks the file at comparable quality or delivers noticeably better image quality at a similar size. Low effort takes shortcuts that can be clearly visible. The downside of high effort is that it takes longer, which is exactly why AVIF encoding is computationally heavy compared with JPEG.
4. Features & capabilities
| Capability | AVIF support |
|---|---|
| Compression | Both lossy and lossless |
| Transparency (alpha) | Yes, full alpha channel |
| Bit depth | 8, 10 and 12 bits per channel |
| Colour gamut | sRGB, Display P3, Rec. 2020 and more |
| HDR | Yes (PQ and HLG) |
| Chroma subsampling | 4:0:0 (grayscale), 4:2:0, 4:2:2, 4:4:4 |
| Animation | Yes (image sequences, like animated WebP/GIF) |
| Metadata | EXIF, XMP, ICC profile |
| Other | Film grain synthesis, layers, depth maps, thumbnails |
5. AVIF vs other formats
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Lossless | Royalty-free | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVIF | Very high | Yes | Yes | Yes | Web, photos, maximum compression |
| WebP | High | Yes | Yes | Yes | Web with broad compatibility |
| JPEG | Medium | No | No | Yes | Photos, universal compatibility |
| PNG | Low (lossless) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Graphics, screenshots, sharp transparency |
| HEIC | Very high | Yes | Yes | No (HEVC licence) | Apple devices (photos) |
| JPEG XL | Very high | Yes | Yes | Yes | Promising but limited web support |
In practice AVIF often delivers 30–50% smaller files than JPEG at comparable visual quality, and tends to beat WebP especially at low to medium bitrates. For simple graphics with few colours, PNG or lossless WebP can sometimes be smaller, and at extremely small file sizes AVIF can add a little container overhead. AVIF and HEIC are technically related (same container), but AVIF is open whereas HEIC requires HEVC licences.
6. Compatibility & support
AVIF is now supported by all major browsers. Support was built out between 2020 and 2024:
| Browser / platform | Supported since |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Version 85 (August 2020) |
| Opera | Version 71 (2020) |
| Mozilla Firefox | Version 93 (October 2021) |
| Samsung Internet | Version 14 (2021) |
| Apple Safari (macOS & iOS) | Safari 16 (2022), improved in 16.4 (2023) |
| Microsoft Edge | Version 121 (January 2024) |
| Android | Native decoding since Android 12 (2021) |
| iOS / iPadOS | Since iOS 16 (2022) |
| macOS (Preview/Quick Look) | macOS 13 Ventura (2022) |
| Windows (Photos app) | Windows 10/11 via the “AV1 Video Extension” |
Image editors caught up over time: GIMP, Affinity and recent versions of Adobe Photoshop can open and save AVIF (in Photoshop via built-in support or a plugin). Since older systems and some applications still lack support, it can be wise to offer a JPEG or WebP fallback in production.
7. Use cases
- Web performance – smaller image files mean faster page loads, lower bandwidth costs and better Core Web Vitals. This is AVIF’s primary use case.
- Photography – high bit depth (10/12-bit) and HDR make AVIF suitable for photos with smooth gradients and a wide dynamic range, without visible banding.
- Graphics with transparency – the alpha channel lets you replace heavy PNG files with much smaller AVIF.
- E-commerce & media – large image libraries where every saved kilobyte is multiplied by millions of views.
- Animation – animated AVIF can replace GIF and animated WebP with better quality and smaller size.
AVIF is typically delivered with a fallback via HTML’s <picture> element, so browsers without support get, say, WebP or JPEG instead.
8. Pros & cons
Pros
- Very high compression – the smallest file size among the common web formats.
- Open and royalty-free (Alliance for Open Media).
- Transparency, lossless mode, high bit depth, HDR and wide colour gamut.
- Broad and growing browser support.
- Animation in a single format.
Cons
- Computationally heavy encoding – creating AVIF is slower than JPEG/WebP.
- Decoding takes a little more than JPEG, which may show on very weak devices.
- Older applications and systems still lack support – a fallback is sometimes needed.
- For very small or very simple images the gain can be small or absent.
9. Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| File extension | .avif (sequences sometimes .avifs) |
| MIME type | image/avif |
| Codec | AV1 (intra frame) |
| Container | HEIF / ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) |
| Bit depth | 8, 10, 12 bits/channel |
| Colour model | YUV (4:0:0/4:2:0/4:2:2/4:4:4), monochrome, with ICC profile |
| Standardised by | Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) |
| Licence | Open, royalty-free |
| First specification | v1.0.0, February 2019 |
10. Creating & opening AVIF
The easiest way to create AVIF is right here in your browser with our free AVIF converter – it runs entirely locally, uploads nothing, and gives you full control over quality, bit depth, chroma subsampling and more. If you want to understand every setting, there is a detailed manual.
For developers there are also command-line tools such as avifenc (libavif), plus support in image libraries like ImageMagick, libvips and sharp. To open AVIF, a modern browser is usually enough; on the desktop the format is supported in macOS Preview, Windows Photos (with an extension) and editors such as GIMP.
11. FAQ
What does AVIF stand for?
AV1 Image File Format – an image format that uses the key-frame compression of the AV1 video codec, packaged in a HEIF/ISOBMFF container.
Is AVIF better than WebP and JPEG?
Usually yes in terms of file size: AVIF typically produces 30–50% smaller files than JPEG and often beats WebP, plus it supports transparency, high bit depth and HDR. The price is slower encoding.
Does AVIF support transparency and animation?
Yes, both. AVIF has a full alpha channel and can store animated image sequences.
Is AVIF royalty-free?
Yes. It is based on AV1 from the Alliance for Open Media and is open and royalty-free – unlike HEIC, which is based on the licensed HEVC codec.
What is the difference between AVIF and HEIC?
Both use the same container family (HEIF), but AVIF is coded with the open AV1 while HEIC uses the licensed HEVC. AVIF has broader web support; HEIC is common in Apple’s ecosystem.
How do I open an AVIF file?
Practically every modern browser displays AVIF. On the desktop it is supported in macOS Preview, Windows Photos (with the AV1 extension) and several image editors. You can also convert back to JPEG/PNG here on the site.
Why is AVIF export sometimes slow?
The encoder searches through many possibilities to find the best compression. Higher “effort” gives a better result (a smaller file and/or better image quality) but takes longer; lower the setting for faster results.
12. The future
AVIF has established itself as the web’s leading next-generation format, and support keeps maturing – faster encoders, better tooling integration and broader support across operating systems and apps. In parallel, AV1’s successor (AV2) is being developed, which may eventually bring even more efficient image compression. For web publishing today, AVIF is a safe choice, ideally with a WebP or JPEG fallback for maximum reach.