What is JPEG?
JPEG is the most widely used lossy image format, developed in 1992. It uses DCT-based compression optimized for photographs and is supported by every device and platform. However, its compression technology is over 30 years old and cannot match the efficiency of modern codecs.
What is AVIF?
AVIF uses the AV1 video codec for still image compression, delivering dramatically better compression than JPEG while preserving perceptual quality. Developed by the Alliance for Open Media, AVIF supports features JPEG lacks: transparency, HDR, wide color gamut, and lossless mode.
Why Convert JPEG to AVIF?
Converting JPEG to AVIF is one of the most impactful optimizations for photograph-heavy websites. The same photos at 30-50% smaller file sizes mean faster page loads, better Core Web Vitals, lower hosting costs, and improved user experience on mobile networks.
Key Differences Between JPEG and AVIF
JPEG uses 30-year-old DCT compression without transparency or HDR support. AVIF uses state-of-the-art AV1 intra-frame compression with transparency, HDR, and wide gamut support. At the same visual quality, AVIF files are significantly smaller. The trade-off is encoding speed and slightly less universal compatibility.
