WebP had a good run. AVIF is the format trying to replace it, and on pure compression it's genuinely better.

Whether you should care yet is a different question.

What AVIF does

AVIF squeezes images smaller than WebP at the same visual quality. The gap is real: in head-to-head tests, AVIF files often come out noticeably smaller than equivalent WebPs.

It also handles the modern wishlist: HDR, wide color, transparency, animation. On paper, it's the complete package.

The support problem

Here's the catch. "Supported" and "works everywhere I need it" are different things.

Browsers are mostly there. Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all render AVIF now. But image editors, older phones, content management plugins, and random corporate software? Patchy. I still hit tools that stare blankly at an AVIF file.

WebP went through this exact phase. It took years to go from "technically supported" to "nobody thinks about it." AVIF is mid-journey.

My actual advice

Ship WebP. Experiment with AVIF. That's my whole position.

If you run a website, WebP is the safe modern choice today. Every browser handles it, every tool converts to it, nothing breaks. AVIF is the thing you test on personal projects so you're ready when it takes over.

For archiving photos long-term, I lean JPG or PNG. Boring, universal, readable in 20 years. AVIF might be the future, but archives shouldn't bet on futures.

Should you convert to AVIF now?

If you're curious, sure. Convert a few images, compare sizes, see the compression with your own eyes. It's impressive.

If you're running a business site, wait. The savings over WebP are real but modest, and the compatibility risk isn't worth it for most sites yet. Check back in a year or two.

Practical tip: if you do serve AVIF, always keep a WebP or JPG fallback. The standard pattern is listing multiple sources so the browser picks what it can handle. Never serve AVIF as the only option.

Trying it out

Jiggle X Wiggle's free converter handles AVIF both ways: convert to it, or convert it back to something universal when a tool rejects it. Free, no account.

AVIF is the future, probably. WebP is the present, definitely. Act accordingly.