Should I use WebP or AVIF?

For most use cases, WebP is the recommended default. Use WebP when: balanced default, fast enough, broad modern support. Use AVIF when: smallest photo payloads, strict performance budgets, build-time encoding.

Can I convert between WebP and AVIF?

Yes. Use optimo to convert between them with a single command. Run "npx optimo file --format avif" to convert from WebP to AVIF.

WebP vs AVIF

WebP is a solid modern default. AVIF can beat WebP on photos for file size, but it’s slower to encode and sometimes needs compatibility planning.

Last updated: 2026-03-18

WebP is a solid modern default. AVIF can beat WebP on photos for file size, but it’s slower to encode and sometimes needs compatibility planning. For most projects, WebP is the recommended default.

Key differences

Topic	WebP	AVIF
Typical photo size	Small	Often smaller
Encode speed	Faster	Slower
Best for	General web images	Photo-heavy delivery

When to use WebP

Balanced default
Fast enough
Broad modern support

When to use AVIF

Smallest photo payloads
Strict performance budgets
Build-time encoding

Our recommendation

For most web projects, use WebP. WebP is best for balanced default. Choose AVIF when smallest photo payloads.

Next steps

Optimize WebP Compress WebP Resize WebP WebP format guide

Convert between them

Convert WebP to AVIF Convert AVIF to WebP

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between WebP and AVIF?: WebP is a solid modern default. AVIF can beat WebP on photos for file size, but it’s slower to encode and sometimes needs compatibility planning.
Should I use WebP or AVIF?: For most use cases, WebP is the recommended default. Use WebP when: balanced default, fast enough, broad modern support. Use AVIF when: smallest photo payloads, strict performance budgets, build-time encoding.
Can I convert between WebP and AVIF?: Yes. Use optimo to convert between them with a single command. Run "npx optimo file --format avif" to convert from WebP to AVIF.