Why Convert PNG to AVIF?
PNG is a lossless format — it stores every pixel exactly with no compression artifacts. This makes PNG the right choice for editing, archiving, and graphics with sharp edges or text. But lossless PNG files are large, which makes them slow to load on websites.
AVIF is a modern image format that uses the AV1 codec to achieve significantly better compression than PNG — while maintaining excellent visual quality. Converting a PNG to AVIF for web delivery can reduce file sizes by 60–80%, dramatically improving page load performance.
Why AVIF instead of WebP or JPEG?
AVIF generally outcompresses both WebP and JPEG at equivalent visual quality. As browser support has matured — Chrome (2020), Firefox (2021), Edge (2022), Safari (2022) — AVIF has become the best single format for web image delivery.
When to keep PNG. For editing, archiving, graphics with sharp text, or images you intend to re-edit, PNG remains the right choice. Its lossless nature means no quality degradation on subsequent saves. Convert to AVIF for web delivery, but archive the original PNG.
What Is AVIF?
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is an image format derived from the AV1 video codec, developed by the Alliance for Open Media. Key advantages over older formats:
- Better compression — typically 50% smaller than JPEG, 20–30% smaller than WebP
- HDR support — 10-bit and 12-bit color depth
- Wide color gamut — P3 and Rec. 2020
- Transparency — full alpha channel support
- Lossless mode — for pixel-perfect compression
PNG vs. AVIF: When to Use Each
| PNG | AVIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Editing, archiving, text/logos | Web delivery, distribution |
| Compression | Lossless (larger) | Lossy or lossless (much smaller) |
| Transparency | ✓ Full alpha | ✓ Full alpha |
| Browser support | Universal | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 16.1+ |
| Quality loss | None | Minimal at high quality settings |
| HDR | Limited | ✓ Native support |
The typical workflow for web images: create/edit in PNG → deliver as AVIF (with PNG or JPEG fallback for older browsers).
How This Converter Works
- Your PNG file is loaded using the JavaScript
FileReaderAPI. - The PNG is decoded by your browser’s native image decoder into an
<img>element. - The image is drawn onto an HTML5 canvas, preserving transparency.
- The canvas exports the result as AVIF using
canvas.toBlob('image/avif', quality). - The AVIF file is delivered as a download.
Everything runs locally in your browser — no uploads, no servers, no accounts.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1 — Add your PNG files.
Drag and drop one or more .png files into the converter, or click Browse files.
Step 2 — Adjust quality (optional). The default quality of 90% produces excellent results with a significant size reduction. For maximum compression, try 75–85%. For near-lossless quality, use 95%.
Step 3 — Download your AVIF files. Click Download next to each file. If you converted multiple files, use Download all as ZIP.
Privacy and Security
All conversion happens locally in your browser. pixconv.io does not upload, store, or access your files. No account is required.
Serving AVIF on Your Website
After converting your PNGs to AVIF, serve them on your site with a fallback for browsers that do not support AVIF:
<picture>
<source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif">
<source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
<img src="image.png" alt="Description" width="800" height="600">
</picture>This pattern ensures:
- AVIF-capable browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari 16.1+) get the smallest file
- WebP-capable browsers (most others) get a good compromise
- Older browsers get the reliable PNG fallback
Tips for Best Results
Transparency. If your PNG has a transparent background, the AVIF output will preserve it. AVIF supports full alpha channel transparency with excellent compression — better than PNG in most cases.
Icons and logos. SVG is almost always a better choice than AVIF for icons and logos that need to scale to any size. Use AVIF for raster photos and complex images.
Animations. AVIF supports animation (like animated GIF), but browser support for animated AVIF is still maturing. For animated content, consider WebP animations, which have broader support.
Build tooling. For production websites, consider automating PNG → AVIF conversion as part of your build pipeline using tools like sharp, squoosh, or @astrojs/image.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert PNG to AVIF instead of WebP?
AVIF typically achieves 20–30% smaller file sizes than WebP at equivalent quality, and now has comparable browser support. Both are good choices — AVIF is the better long-term option for new projects.
Does AVIF preserve PNG transparency?
Yes. AVIF fully supports alpha channel transparency. Your transparent PNGs will remain transparent as AVIF.
How much smaller will my file be?
Converting a photographic PNG to AVIF at 85–90% quality typically reduces file size by 60–80%. For flat graphics with large solid areas, the reduction may be even greater.
Can I use AVIF everywhere?
AVIF is supported by all modern browsers (Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Edge, Safari 16.1+). For older browsers, provide a PNG or JPEG fallback using the HTML <picture> element.
Should I delete my original PNGs after converting?
Keep your original PNGs. Use AVIF for web delivery, but the PNG remains your archival master — it is lossless and can be re-exported to any format later without any quality penalty.
Is the quality loss noticeable?
At 90% quality, most people cannot detect any difference between the AVIF and the source PNG in a side-by-side comparison. AVIF compression is very efficient — it achieves small file sizes without obvious artifacts at high quality settings.