AVIF vs PNG: When to Use
Which Image Format

Quick Comparison

Compression: Why AVIF Files Are So Much Smaller

AVIF uses the AV1 video codec for still images. AV1 was designed by the Alliance for Open Media (Google, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and others) and represents decades of video compression research applied to images.

PNG uses DEFLATE compression (the same as ZIP files) applied to each row of pixels. It is lossless — every pixel is preserved exactly. This guarantees perfect quality but means files are inherently large for photographs.

The difference is dramatic for photographic content:

• A 1920×1080 photograph: PNG ~4 MB vs AVIF ~100 KB (40x smaller)
• A 4K photograph: PNG ~15 MB vs AVIF ~300 KB (50x smaller)
• A simple logo with flat colors: PNG ~15 KB vs AVIF ~8 KB (2x smaller)

The savings are largest for photographs because AVIF’s lossy compression excels at removing visual redundancy that humans cannot perceive. For simple graphics with flat colors, PNG’s lossless approach is already efficient, so the gap narrows.

Visual Quality: Lossy vs Lossless

PNG is always lossless. Every pixel in the output is identical to the input. This makes PNG the gold standard for:

• Screenshots (text must be pixel-sharp)
• Diagrams and technical drawings
• Logos and icons
• Source files for further editing
• QR codes (every pixel matters)

AVIF supports both lossy and lossless modes. In lossy mode (default), AVIF discards information that the human eye cannot easily perceive. At high quality settings (CRF 18–23), the difference from the original is virtually invisible. At aggressive settings (CRF 40+), blocking artifacts and color shifts become visible.

In lossless mode, AVIF produces pixel-perfect output just like PNG, but at approximately 20–30% smaller file sizes. However, lossless AVIF encoding is very slow compared to PNG.

Transparency

Both formats support full 8-bit alpha channel transparency — each pixel can have 256 levels of opacity from fully transparent to fully opaque. This enables smooth anti-aliased edges, gradients, and semi-transparent overlays.

Key difference: transparent AVIF files are dramatically smaller than transparent PNGs. A product photo on a transparent background might be 3 MB as PNG but 80 KB as AVIF. This makes AVIF particularly attractive for e-commerce product images.

Browser Support

PNG is supported by every browser ever made — 100% compatibility, zero risk.

AVIF support as of 2026:

• Chrome 85+ (August 2020) — full support
• Firefox 93+ (October 2021) — full support
• Edge 85+ (same as Chrome)
• Opera 71+ (same as Chrome)
• Safari 16.4+ (March 2023) — full support
• Samsung Internet 16+ — full support
• Internet Explorer — no support (EOL)

Global support is approximately 95%. For the remaining 5%, use the <picture> element with a PNG or JPEG fallback:

Software Support

This is where PNG has a massive advantage. PNG is supported by every image editor, CMS, email client, office suite, and operating system in existence. AVIF support is growing but still limited:

This is the primary reason people convert AVIF to PNG — the image needs to go into software or a workflow that does not support AVIF yet.

When to Use AVIF

• Website photographs: product images, hero banners, blog post images. AVIF delivers the best quality-to-size ratio of any format.
• Thumbnails and galleries: dozens or hundreds of images on a single page benefit enormously from 50–90% size reduction.
• Social media content: smaller uploads, faster sharing. Platforms that accept AVIF will display it at full quality.
• Mobile-first websites: smaller files mean faster loading on cellular connections and less data usage for visitors.
• CDN delivery: serving AVIF to supported browsers reduces bandwidth costs significantly. Use content negotiation (Accept header) to serve AVIF or PNG/JPEG as appropriate.

When to Use PNG

• Screenshots: text, UI elements, and sharp edges must be pixel-perfect. Lossy AVIF can blur text subtly.
• Logos and icons: vector-like graphics with flat colors and sharp edges. PNG handles these efficiently and losslessly.
• Source/archival files: if you need to edit the image later, keep the lossless PNG. AVIF lossy compression removes information permanently.
• Print: printing services universally accept PNG and TIFF. Very few accept AVIF.
• Email: email clients have almost zero AVIF support. PNG is the safe choice for email images.
• Universal sharing: sending an image to someone who might not have AVIF support? Use PNG.
• Sprites and game assets: game engines and sprite tools expect PNG. Pixel-level precision matters.

What About WebP?

WebP sits between PNG and AVIF in both compression efficiency and compatibility:

For web delivery, WebP is a pragmatic middle ground: 50% smaller than PNG, nearly universal browser support, and good software compatibility. AVIF offers better compression but with slower encoding and less compatibility. Many websites serve AVIF with WebP fallback, and PNG as the final fallback.