I took the same sunset photo and compressed it to exactly 100KB in both AVIF and JPG. Opened them side by side on a 4K monitor. The quality difference was more noticeable than I expected.
The Test: Same Photo, Same File Size, Different Formats
Forget the technical specs for a minute. I wanted to see the real difference, not just read benchmark charts. So I ran a simple test:
- Source image: 24MP landscape photo (6000×4000 pixels)
- Target file size: Exactly 100KB for both formats
- Adjusted quality settings until both hit 100KB
- Viewed at 100% zoom on a calibrated display
What I Found: AVIF Wins, But...
At 100KB, the AVIF version retained way more detail. The JPG showed noticeable compression artifacts - blocky patterns in the sky, color banding in gradients, and that classic "mosquito noise" around sharp edges.
AVIF looked smooth. Almost like the original. The compression was there if you pixel-peeped, but it degraded gracefully - no weird blocks or banding.
The catch:
When I tried to open the AVIF file on my older laptop (Windows 10, no extensions installed), it failed. Windows Photos just showed an error. The JPG opened instantly everywhere - old phone, work computer, even my parents' ancient desktop.
When AVIF Makes Sense
Use AVIF if:
- You're serving images on a modern website (can detect browser support and serve fallbacks)
- You control the viewing environment (internal tools, apps)
- File size matters more than compatibility (bandwidth-limited users)
- You're storing images for future use (when AVIF support becomes universal)
When JPG Still Wins
Stick with JPG if:
- You're sharing photos with non-technical people
- You need to open files on multiple devices without hassle
- You're working with older software (Photoshop CS6, legacy apps)
- You're emailing images (email clients have spotty AVIF support)
- You just want something that works everywhere, every time
The Practical Solution: Convert When Needed
Here's what I actually do: if someone sends me an AVIF file and I can't open it, I just convert it to JPG. Takes 2 seconds with AvifKit's converter. No installation, no account signup, works in the browser.
Yeah, I lose some quality in the conversion. But honestly? For viewing photos, sharing on social media, or printing at normal sizes, the difference is invisible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AVIF always smaller than JPG?
At the same visual quality, yes - AVIF is typically 30-50% smaller. But if you crank up JPG compression, you can match file sizes. The quality just won't be as good.
Why doesn't everyone use AVIF then?
Compatibility. AVIF only works in modern browsers and apps. JPG works everywhere - old phones, email clients, legacy software, printing services. Universal support beats better compression for most use cases.
Will converting AVIF to JPG make the file smaller?
Usually, no. AVIF is already more compressed. Converting to JPG will likely result in a larger file, unless you apply heavy JPG compression (which degrades quality further).
Can I convert JPG to AVIF to save space?
You can, but it won't help much. JPG is already lossy compressed. Converting lossy to lossy just adds more degradation. AVIF works best when you're compressing from a lossless source (PNG, TIFF, RAW).
Bottom Line
AVIF has better compression, no question. But JPG has better compatibility, also no question. For now, convert AVIF to JPG when you need things to just work. Use AVIF when you control the environment and need smaller files.
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