How to use it
- Drop in AVIF files.
- Set the quality; a higher setting avoids compounding compression.
- Download the WebP files.
When you need to go backwards
Converting from the smaller format to the larger one sounds odd, but there are good reasons. Some content management systems, image plug-ins and editing apps handle WebP and not AVIF. Some email clients and messaging apps show WebP previews but not AVIF. And if you only have AVIF masters, a WebP copy makes a sensible fallback in a <picture> element.
Quality setting
The AVIF was already compressed. Encoding it again as WebP adds a second layer of loss, so it is worth using a fairly high quality, 85 by default here, to keep the WebP close to the AVIF. Expect the WebP to be somewhat larger than the AVIF you started with; that is the efficiency gap between the two formats, not a fault.
Transparency and HDR
Transparent areas stay transparent. HDR AVIFs are converted to standard dynamic range, since WebP has no HDR mode, so very bright highlights may look a little flatter.
AVIF and WebP compared
| AVIF | WebP | |
|---|---|---|
| First released | 2019 | 2010 |
| Compression | Lossy (lossless possible) | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Animation or pages | Animation | Animation |
| Best for | The smallest images for websites | Images on websites |
| Support | Current browsers; patchy in desktop apps | All current browsers; some apps and forms still refuse it |
Questions people ask
Why is the WebP bigger than the AVIF?
AVIF compresses more efficiently. A larger WebP at similar quality is expected.
Does the conversion keep transparency?
Yes, WebP supports full transparency.
Can I convert AVIF to JPG instead?
Yes, with AVIF to JPG, for the widest compatibility.