How to use it
- Drop in AVIF files.
- Wait a moment for each one to decode and re-encode.
- Download the PNG files, singly or as a zip.
Good reasons to pick PNG here
PNG is the right output when the AVIF has a transparent background, when you are handing it to a designer or an editing app, or when you want a copy that will still open in twenty years. PNG has been stable and universally supported since the late 1990s, which is more than can be said for most image formats.
The file size jump will be large. AVIF's whole point is extreme compression, and PNG does no lossy compression at all. A 150 KB AVIF photo can become a 5 MB PNG. For photos you just want to view or send, AVIF to JPG is more sensible.
Bit depth
Some AVIF files store 10 or 12 bits per channel. Browsers draw images into 8-bit canvases, so the PNG you get is 8 bits per channel. For normal viewing this makes no visible difference; it only matters for specialist HDR or colour-grading work, which is better done in dedicated software.
AVIF and PNG compared
| AVIF | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| First released | 2019 | 1996 |
| Compression | Lossy (lossless possible) | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes, including soft edges |
| Animation or pages | Animation | Only as APNG, rarely used |
| Best for | The smallest images for websites | Screenshots, graphics, text and transparency |
| Support | Current browsers; patchy in desktop apps | Universal |
Questions people ask
Is AVIF to PNG lossless?
The conversion from the decoded image is lossless, apart from reducing high bit depth AVIFs to 8 bits per channel.
Why does my browser say it cannot read the file?
AVIF support arrived in Chrome in 2020, Firefox in 2021, Safari 16 in 2022 and Edge in 2024. Update your browser and try again.
Can I shrink the PNG afterwards?
The PNG compressor can help with graphics. For photos, a JPG or WebP will always be much smaller.