AVIF vs WebP vs JPEG: Which Is Smallest?
Three lossy formats, one goal: the smallest file that still looks great. Here's the real comparison.
If your site serves photos, you're almost certainly using one of three lossy formats: JPEG (the 1992 classic), WebP (Google's modern workhorse), or AVIF (the newest, smallest contender). Each claims to shrink images better — but the differences are real and measurable.
The short version: AVIF produces the smallest files, WebP is the best all-around practical choice, and JPEG remains the compatibility fallback. A 2.1MB JPEG, for instance, becomes about 186KB as WebP and about 102KB as AVIF. Let's break down exactly how they compare.
Compression size: AVIF wins
Measured at equal visual quality, here's how the three stack up:
• JPEG — the baseline. 100% of its size is your starting point. • WebP — 25–35% smaller than JPEG at the same quality. A 2.1MB JPEG becomes ~186KB. • AVIF — 30–50% smaller than JPEG (and roughly 20–30% smaller than WebP). The same 2.1MB image becomes ~102KB.
So AVIF is the clear size champion. But smaller isn't the only thing that matters — the next two sections explain why AVIF hasn't simply replaced everything.
Browser support: WebP is the sweet spot
A format only helps if your visitors' browsers can render it.
• JPEG — 100% support, everywhere, forever. This is why it refuses to die. • WebP — 96%+ support. Every modern browser renders it, and it's been safe for years. This is why WebP is the practical default. • AVIF — solid but newer. Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all support it today, but support only matured around 2023–2024, and some older embedded webviews lag behind.
If you control your delivery (a build pipeline with fallbacks), AVIF is great. If you need a single format that "just works," WebP is the safer bet.
Encoding speed: JPEG is still fastest
Smaller files come at a cost: encoding time.
• JPEG — encodes in milliseconds. Practically free. • WebP — fast, but a bit slower than JPEG. • AVIF — noticeably slower, often a few hundred milliseconds per image (AV1 is a heavy codec).
For one-off manual conversions in a browser, this difference is a non-issue. But in a build pipeline converting thousands of images, AVIF's slower encode can add up — which is why many teams encode AVIF once and cache it forever.
The verdict
• Absolute smallest files (build pipeline, cached forever) → AVIF. • Best practical default for the web → WebP. • Maximum compatibility, zero surprises → JPEG.
For most people reading this, WebP is the answer: it's 25–35% smaller than JPEG, universally supported, and converts instantly. You can convert JPEG → WebP → AVIF (and back) in your browser with CompressFast — no upload, no account — and see the exact size difference for yourself.
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FAQ
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF produces smaller files (often 30–50% smaller than JPEG, vs WebP's 25–35%), but it encodes slower and has slightly newer browser support. For a build pipeline, AVIF wins; for quick manual conversion, WebP is more practical.
Is AVIF smaller than WebP?
Yes, typically 20–30% smaller than WebP at equal visual quality. A 2.1MB JPEG becomes ~186KB as WebP but only ~102KB as AVIF. The tradeoff is slower encoding and slightly newer browser support.
Should I still use JPEG in 2026?
Only as a compatibility fallback. JPEG has 100% universal support but is the largest of the three. If you don't need to support very old browsers, WebP (or AVIF in a pipeline) is a strictly better choice.
Can I convert WebP to AVIF (or JPEG) in the browser?
Yes. Tools like CompressFast convert between JPEG, WebP, AVIF, and more — all locally in your browser with no upload. Drop the file, pick the target format, download the result.
Which is the smallest image format?
Among the common lossy web formats, AVIF is the smallest — typically 30–50% smaller than JPEG and 20–30% smaller than WebP. For lossless images, WebP lossless and AVIF lossless are both smaller than PNG.