How to use it
- Drop in your PNGs.
- Use a higher quality (70 or more) for graphics with text or sharp lines.
- Download the AVIF files and check the saving on each.
Where the biggest savings are
PNG is lossless, so a photographic PNG, such as a product shot cut out onto a transparent background, is often several megabytes. AVIF keeps the transparency and compresses the photographic part efficiently, frequently reducing the file by 90 percent or more. That is the conversion with the most dramatic payoff here.
For flat graphics, logos and screenshots, the saving is smaller, and lossy compression can soften sharp edges and small text. Use a higher quality for those, or keep them as PNG and run them through the PNG compressor instead.
Why the default quality is higher than for JPG to AVIF
PNG sources tend to contain crisp edges and text, which show compression more readily than photos do. A default of 62 keeps those clean while still saving a great deal. Lower it for pure photos.
Browser support
All current major browsers display AVIF. If you need to support older ones, serve a WebP or PNG fallback alongside it.
PNG and AVIF compared
| PNG | AVIF | |
|---|---|---|
| First released | 1996 | 2019 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy (lossless possible) |
| Transparency | Yes, including soft edges | Yes |
| Animation or pages | Only as APNG, rarely used | Animation |
| Best for | Screenshots, graphics, text and transparency | The smallest images for websites |
| Support | Universal | Current browsers; patchy in desktop apps |
Questions people ask
Does PNG to AVIF keep transparency?
Yes, including soft edges and shadows.
Is AVIF lossless like PNG?
AVIF can be lossless, but this converter uses lossy compression for the size saving.
Should I convert logos to AVIF?
An SVG or a well-compressed PNG is usually better for logos. AVIF shines on photographic images.