AVIF usually makes smaller files than WebP at the same visual quality, especially for photos, while WebP encodes faster and has slightly wider support in older software. Both work in all major modern browsers, and WordPress accepts WebP uploads (since version 5.8) and AVIF uploads (since 6.5, if your server supports it). For most small business websites, WebP is the easy, safe default; AVIF is worth adding for large photo-heavy pages when your hosting, theme and image plugin handle it, ideally with a JPG or WebP fallback.
- Both are modern formats with lossy and lossless modes plus transparency.
- AVIF often wins on file size; WebP wins on speed of encoding and compatibility.
- Use WebP as a default, AVIF for big hero and gallery photos if your stack supports it.
- Keep JPG or PNG for email, forms and printing.
- Convert to WebP for free with the Image Converter.
Shaving the last 100 KB
Imagine a travel agency website in Sylhet with a homepage full of tea garden photos. They already switched from JPG to WebP and cut the page weight in half. Their developer then tests AVIF on the biggest hero photos and saves another noticeable chunk, enough to push mobile load time under the magic 2.5-second mark for the hero image.
That is roughly where the two formats sit: WebP gives the big first win, AVIF can squeeze out more if you need it.
AVIF vs WebP compared
| WebP | AVIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Google (2010) | Alliance for Open Media (2019) |
| Typical file size vs JPG | Clearly smaller | Often smaller still |
| Lossy and lossless | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | Yes |
| HDR and wide colour | Limited | Yes |
| Encoding speed | Fast | Slower |
| Browser support | All modern browsers | All major modern browsers (newer versions) |
| WordPress uploads | Since 5.8 | Since 6.5, server must support it |
Which should you use?
How to serve both safely
The safest approach is to let the browser choose with the HTML picture element, or let a plugin or CDN handle it automatically:
<picture>
<source srcset="photo.avif" type="image/avif">
<source srcset="photo.webp" type="image/webp">
<img src="photo.jpg" alt="Tea garden in Sylhet at sunrise" width="1600" height="900">
</picture>Browsers that understand AVIF take the first source, others fall back to WebP, and very old browsers get the JPG.
A simple plan for most websites
- Resize originalsTo the display size. See ideal image sizes.
- Convert to WebPWith the Image Converter or your image plugin.
- Test the hero imageRun PageSpeed Insights. If the hero is still heavy, try an AVIF version through your plugin or CDN.
- Keep fallbacksNever remove the JPG or PNG originals.
Related guides
Start with JPG vs PNG vs WebP, then read images and LCP to see where these savings matter most.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF usually produces smaller files at the same quality, especially for photos. WebP encodes faster and is supported by more older software.
Do all browsers support AVIF?
All major modern browsers support AVIF in their recent versions. Use a fallback to WebP or JPG for older browsers.
Does WordPress support AVIF?
Yes, WordPress 6.5 added AVIF upload support, as long as your server’s image library supports it. WebP has been supported since 5.8.
Should I convert all my images to AVIF?
Not necessarily. WebP is a simple, safe default. Add AVIF for large photo-heavy pages if your plugin or CDN handles it with fallbacks.
Can I use AVIF or WebP for printing?
It is better to use JPG, PNG, TIFF or PDF for print, because many printers and print shops do not accept web formats.
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