Currently Webflow's automatic image optimization will convert all your images to WebP format. However this is not always Ideal. Webflow recently released support for AVIF image compression, but what does that mean and how does it compare to WebP?

AVIF, created by the Alliance for Open Media, and WebP, developed by Google, are both designed to reduce image sizes while maintaining quality.

AVIF offers higher compression efficiency, supports 10- and 12-bit color, and is ideal for high-quality images with complex details. However, it has limited browser support and requires more computing power for encoding/decoding. WebP, more widely supported, excels in web graphics and transparency but is limited to 8-bit color and can degrade image quality in some cases. The choice between them depends on specific needs such as browser compatibility, image quality, and use cases.

Key Takeaways

• Compression Efficiency: AVIF offers better compression, resulting in smaller file sizes than WebP.
• Image Quality: AVIF supports higher bit depths and offers superior quality for complex images.
• Browser Support: WebP is more widely supported across major browsers.
• Use Cases: AVIF is better for high-quality photos, while WebP is optimal for web graphics and fast loading.
• Performance: AVIF requires more computing power for processing, impacting encoding/decoding times.

For more detailed comparisons and specific use case recommendations, visit the ShortPixel blog.