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How to Convert Images to AVIF Free — Smallest File Size, Best Quality

By Picovert Team2026-02-127 min read

AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is the most efficient widely-supported image format available today. It delivers 35–50% smaller files than JPEG at the same visual quality, beating WebP by another 15–20%. This guide covers how to convert your images to AVIF for free in your browser, and when AVIF is the right choice for your use case.

AVIF vs. WebP vs. JPEG: how do they compare?

  • JPEG (baseline) — universally compatible, widely used, but the least efficient format of the three. 100% file size reference.
  • WebP — 25–35% smaller than JPEG at the same quality. Supported by all modern browsers. The current practical standard for web images.
  • AVIF — 35–50% smaller than JPEG (15–20% smaller than WebP) at the same quality. The most efficient format. Encoding is slower but the output is excellent.

For a deeper technical comparison, see the AVIF vs. WebP vs. JPEG XL comparison.

How to convert images to AVIF for free

Picovert offers dedicated AVIF converters for both PNG and JPG:

  • PNG to AVIF — converts PNG files (including transparent PNGs) to AVIF
  • JPG to AVIF — converts JPEG photos to AVIF

All conversions happen in your browser — no file upload, no account required.

  1. Open the relevant converter link above.
  2. Drop your PNG or JPG files. You can convert multiple files at once.
  3. Adjust quality if needed. Quality 80 produces excellent AVIF output — AVIF's more efficient algorithm means you can use lower quality numbers than JPEG to get the same visual result. Quality 80 AVIF ≈ quality 90 JPEG visually.
  4. Download your AVIF files.

Browser support for AVIF in 2026

AVIF browser support has improved significantly:

  • Chrome — full support since version 85 (2020)
  • Edge — full support since version 121 (2024)
  • Firefox — full support since version 93 (2021)
  • Safari — full support since version 16 (2022), including iOS
  • Samsung Internet — support since version 14

As of 2026, approximately 90–93% of global users are on browsers that support AVIF natively. This is lower than WebP's ~97% coverage, but high enough for most web use cases.

When should I use AVIF instead of WebP?

  • Use AVIF when maximum compression matters most — hero images, large product photos, or heavy image galleries where every kilobyte counts. The 15–20% size advantage over WebP compounds across many images.
  • Use AVIF when you control the serving environment and know your users are on modern browsers (Chrome 85+, Safari 16+, Firefox 93+).
  • Use WebP instead when you need broader compatibility, faster encoding (WebP encodes 5–10× faster than AVIF), or when you're converting at scale and encoding time matters.
  • For web servers, serving AVIF with a WebP fallback (using `<picture>` with multiple `<source>` elements) gives you the best of both: maximum compression for modern browsers, WebP for older ones.

What quality setting should I use for AVIF?

AVIF quality numbers don't map 1:1 to JPEG quality numbers. Because AVIF's codec is more efficient, lower numbers produce better-looking results:

  • Quality 80 — recommended for general web use. Looks similar to JPEG at quality 90, but files are 35–50% smaller than JPEG at q90.
  • Quality 85–90 — for high-quality output where detail is critical. Closest to visually lossless for most images.
  • Quality 70–75 — aggressive compression for thumbnails, decorative images, or background photos where maximum quality isn't needed.

Does AVIF support transparency?

Yes. AVIF supports an alpha channel (transparency), unlike JPEG. When you convert a transparent PNG to AVIF, the transparency is preserved. This makes AVIF a valid alternative to PNG for logos and icons where file size is a concern.

Does AVIF support animation?

Yes, AVIF supports animated sequences (similar to animated GIF or APNG). However, animated AVIF encoding is complex and slow. For animated content, WebP or MP4 is more practical. For static images, AVIF is excellent.

How much smaller will my files be after converting to AVIF?

Starting from a typical JPEG photo:

  • A 500 KB JPEG at q85 typically becomes 250–325 KB AVIF at q80
  • A 2 MB JPEG landscape photo typically becomes 1–1.3 MB AVIF
  • A 100 KB JPEG thumbnail typically becomes 50–65 KB AVIF

Results vary by image content. Photos with complex natural scenery compress best. Images with large flat-color areas or text may see more modest reductions.