AVIF vs WebP: Which Format Should You Use?

The formats overlap, but workflows differ

Quality numbers are not comparable across encoders. “80” in one format is not a scientific match for “80” in another.

Test with real assets

1. Start from the same high-quality source and dimensions.
2. Create AVIF and WebP copies at several settings.
3. Compare at the actual rendered size and at 100%.
4. Inspect faces, gradients, fine texture, text and transparent edges.
5. Measure bytes and encoding cost.
6. Confirm CMS, CDN and audience support before rollout.

A website delivery strategy

Use responsive dimensions before chasing the final format savings. HTML’s <picture> element can provide modern sources and a conventional fallback. Do not serve one huge AVIF to every viewport merely because its encoding is efficient.

Try JPG to AVIF and JPG to WebP using the same source, but retain the source file as the master.

Common mistakes

• Choosing by a single benchmark instead of your own images.
• Comparing files with different dimensions.
• Assuming smaller automatically means visually acceptable.
• Removing fallbacks before checking the real audience.
• Converting an already damaged JPG and expecting restored detail.