WebP vs AVIF: Which Image Format to Use in 2025?

Introduction: The Need for Speed

In modern web development, page speed is paramount. Large, unoptimized images are one of the biggest culprits for slow-loading websites. For years, JPEG has been the king for photos, but newer formats promise much better compression at similar or even better quality.

Two of the leading contenders are WebP and AVIF. Let’s break down which one you should be using.

What is WebP?

Developed by Google, WebP has been around for over a decade. It offers both lossy and lossless compression, as well as support for transparency and animation.

• Compression: On average, WebP files are 25-35% smaller than equivalent JPEGs.
• Browser Support: Excellent. WebP is now supported by all major modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
• Best For: General-purpose web use. It’s a fantastic replacement for both JPEG and PNG files and is a safe choice for improving performance today.

You can easily convert your existing images using our Image Converter.

What is AVIF?

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is the new challenger, backed by an alliance of tech giants including Google, Apple, and Netflix. It is based on the AV1 video codec.

• Compression: This is where AVIF shines. It can achieve an additional 20-40% file size reduction compared to WebP at the same visual quality. The savings are particularly noticeable at lower quality settings.
• Browser Support: Very good, but not quite as universal as WebP yet. It’s supported in the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, but older browser versions may lack support.
• Best For: Performance-critical applications where every kilobyte counts. If you’re targeting users on modern browsers, using AVIF can provide a significant speed boost.

The Verdict for 2025

• For Maximum Compatibility & Good Performance: Use WebP. It’s universally supported and offers a significant improvement over older formats.
• For Cutting-Edge Performance: Use AVIF, but make sure to provide a WebP or JPEG fallback for older browsers. You can do this easily with the HTML <picture> element:

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif" />
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp" />
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description of image" />
</picture>