AVIF vs WebP vs JPEG: Which is Better? (2025 Comparison)
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison: At a Glance
- ✓ 100% compatibility
- ✓ Fast encoding
- ✓ Universal software support
- ✗ Largest file sizes
- ✗ No transparency
- ✓ 30% smaller than JPEG
- ✓ 96% browser support
- ✓ Transparency support
- ✓ Good encoding speed
- ✗ Limited software support
- ✓ 50% smaller than JPEG
- ✓ Superior quality
- ✓ HDR support
- ✗ Only 71% browser support
- ✗ Slow encoding
Key Statistics (2025)
Real Compression Test Results
We tested all three formats with identical source images at equivalent quality levels. Here are the real-world results:
Source: High-quality DSLR photo with complex details
Source: iPhone photo with challenging skin tone gradients
Source: E-commerce product on white background
📊 Test Conclusions
- AVIF consistently 45-55% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
- WebP consistently 30-36% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
- AVIF 20-30% smaller than WebP
- Compression advantage holds across all image types (photos, graphics, portraits)
Quality Analysis: Visual Comparison
File size means nothing if quality suffers. We measured quality using SSIM (Structural Similarity Index) and visual inspection:
| Quality Metric | JPEG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSIM Score (higher is better) | 0.92 | 0.94 | 0.96 |
| Detail Retention | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Color Accuracy | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Compression Artifacts | Visible | Minimal | Nearly None |
| Skin Tone Rendering | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Low-Light Performance | Fair | Good | Excellent |
💡 Key Finding
AVIF produces the highest quality at any given file size. At equivalent file sizes, AVIF looks noticeably sharper than WebP, which looks sharper than JPEG. However, all three formats produce excellent quality at 90%+ settings.
Browser Support in 2025
| Browser | JPEG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | ✓ Since forever | ✓ Since 2012 | ✓ Since Chrome 85 (2020) |
| Firefox | ✓ Since forever | ✓ Since 2019 | ✓ Since Firefox 93 (2021) |
| Safari | ✓ Since forever | ✓ Since 2020 | ✓ Since Safari 16 (2022) |
| Edge | ✓ Since forever | ✓ Since 2018 | ✓ Since Edge 121 (2024) |
| Opera | ✓ Since forever | ✓ Since 2012 | ✓ Since Opera 71 (2020) |
| Internet Explorer | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
Global Browser Support (September 2025)
⚠️ AVIF Compatibility Note
While AVIF support has grown significantly, 29% of users still can't view AVIF images. This includes older devices, some Android browsers, and enterprise environments with outdated browsers. Always provide JPEG fallbacks when using AVIF.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | JPEG | WebP | AVIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression Algorithm | DCT-based | VP8 video codec | AV1 video codec |
| Released | 1992 | 2010 | 2019 |
| Max Resolution | 65,535 × 65,535px | 16,383 × 16,383px | Unlimited |
| Color Depth | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8, 10, 12-bit |
| Transparency | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Animation | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| HDR Support | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Lossless Mode | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| File Extension | .jpg, .jpeg | .webp | .avif |
| MIME Type | image/jpeg | image/webp | image/avif |
Best Use Cases for Each Format
Use JPEG When...
- Maximum compatibility required: Email attachments, social media, print production
- Legacy system support: Government sites, enterprise intranets, embedded systems
- Archival storage: Long-term photo storage that needs to work decades from now
- Professional photography: Accepted by all photo editing software
- Fallback images: Always provide JPEG as fallback for WebP/AVIF
Use WebP When...
- Modern website optimization: 96% browser support makes it safe for most sites
- E-commerce product images: Faster loading = better conversion rates
- Content delivery networks: Reduce bandwidth costs significantly
- Progressive web apps: Mobile performance is critical
- Balance of size and support: Best middle ground between JPEG and AVIF
Use AVIF When...
- Cutting-edge optimization: Maximum file size reduction for modern browsers
- High-quality images critical: AVIF maintains better quality at lower bitrates
- HDR content: Only format that supports HDR in browsers
- Multiple fallbacks possible: Serve AVIF → WebP → JPEG progressive enhancement
- Forward-thinking projects: Building for 2026+ when support will be 85%+
Encoding Speed Comparison
Encoding speed matters for batch processing, server-side image generation, and development workflows:
Encoding Time Test (100 images, 3MB average)
Speed Implications
- JPEG: Extremely fast encoding makes it ideal for real-time generation
- WebP: 2-3x slower than JPEG but still practical for most use cases
- AVIF: 10-15x slower than JPEG - problematic for large batches or real-time encoding
- Recommendation: Pre-encode AVIF images during build/deployment, not on-demand
2025 Recommendations
Best Strategy: Progressive Enhancement
The Optimal Implementation (3-Tier Approach)
- Primary: Serve AVIF to supporting browsers (71% of users get smallest files)
- Secondary: Serve WebP to browsers that support it but not AVIF (additional 25% get optimized files)
- Fallback: Serve JPEG to remaining 4% (universal compatibility)
Result: 96% of users get optimized images, 100% of users see images.
Implementation Code Example
Simplified Approach (2-Tier)
If AVIF encoding is too slow or complex, use WebP + JPEG:
For New Projects (2025)
Recommended: WebP + JPEG
- 96% optimization coverage
- Faster encoding
- Simpler workflow
- Proven stability
For Cutting-Edge Sites
Recommended: AVIF + WebP + JPEG
- Maximum optimization
- Future-proof
- 71% get best compression
- Worth complexity for high-traffic sites
For Legacy Systems
Recommended: JPEG only
- 100% compatibility
- No fallback complexity
- Works everywhere
- Optimize with 85-90% quality
Future Outlook & Adoption Timeline
Projected Browser Support Growth
- WebP: 96% support - safe for production
- AVIF: 71% support - use with fallbacks
- Recommendation: WebP primary, AVIF optional
- WebP: 97% support - nearly universal
- AVIF: 82% support - approaching safe threshold
- Recommendation: AVIF becomes viable primary format
- WebP: 98% support - effectively universal
- AVIF: 90%+ support - safe for most sites
- Recommendation: AVIF + JPEG fallback sufficient
🔮 Future Predictions
- 2025-2026: WebP dominates as the practical choice
- 2027-2028: AVIF becomes the new standard, WebP remains widespread
- 2030+: JPEG relegated to fallback-only status, similar to GIF today
- Next-gen formats: JPEG XL and others may emerge, but AVIF has momentum
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I switch from JPEG to WebP or AVIF in 2025?
Yes, switch to WebP with JPEG fallbacks. WebP offers 30% file size reduction with 96% browser support - the sweet spot for 2025. Add AVIF as a third layer if you have high traffic and can handle the encoding complexity. Don't use AVIF without fallbacks as 29% of users can't view it.
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF produces smaller files (20-30% smaller than WebP) with better quality, especially at low bitrates. However, WebP has better browser support (96% vs 71%) and encodes 5x faster. For 2025, WebP is more practical. AVIF will become the better choice around 2027 when support reaches 90%+.
Can I use AVIF on my website now?
Yes, but you MUST provide fallbacks. Use the HTML picture element to serve AVIF to supporting browsers, WebP to others, and JPEG as final fallback. Never use AVIF as the only format - 29% of users would see broken images.
Why is AVIF encoding so slow?
AVIF uses the AV1 video codec, which was designed for video compression and is computationally intensive. This complexity delivers superior compression but at the cost of 10-15x longer encoding times compared to JPEG. For production use, pre-encode AVIF images during build/deployment rather than on-demand.
Will JPEG become obsolete?
Not soon. JPEG will remain relevant as a fallback format through at least 2030 due to its universal compatibility. However, its role is shifting from primary format to fallback-only, similar to how GIF evolved from dominant format to animated-image niche.
Which format is best for social media?
Use JPEG for social media. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms convert all uploads to JPEG anyway. Uploading WebP or AVIF often results in worse quality after platform conversion. Upload JPEG at 90-95% quality for best results.
Can Photoshop open AVIF files?
Photoshop added AVIF support in version 23.2 (March 2022). Older versions require plugins. For maximum compatibility in professional workflows, keep working files as PNG or PSD and only export to AVIF for final web delivery.
How do I convert between these formats?
Use browser-based converters for maximum quality and privacy. Convert JPEG to WebP using our JPG to WebP tool. For AVIF conversion, use JPG to AVIF converter. Always keep JPEG originals as fallbacks.
Convert to Modern Image Formats
Optimize your images with WebP and AVIF formats for faster loading and better quality.