AVIF vs HEIC: Battle of the Modern Formats
AVIF and HEIC are both modern image formats that dramatically outperform JPG in compression efficiency. They share a similar story: both use video codecs for still image compression, both support HDR and wide color gamuts, and both achieve roughly 50% smaller files than JPG. But their adoption paths have diverged sharply.
HEIC is Apple's format, powered by the patent-encumbered HEVC codec. AVIF is the open web's format, powered by the royalty-free AV1 codec. This licensing difference shapes everything about how each format is adopted and where it is headed.
AVIF vs HEIC: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | AVIF | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying codec | AV1 (AOMedia) | HEVC/H.265 (MPEG) |
| Licensing | Royalty-free | Patent royalties required |
| Compression vs JPG | ~50% smaller | ~50% smaller |
| Color depth | 10-bit, 12-bit | Up to 16-bit |
| HDR support | Yes (PQ, HLG) | Yes (Dolby Vision, HLG) |
| Transparency | Full alpha | Supported |
| Browser support (2026) | 95%+ (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) | Safari only |
| Camera capture | Limited (some Android) | Default on iPhones |
| Encoding speed | Slow | Fast (hardware encoders) |
| Industry backing | Google, Mozilla, Apple, Netflix, Amazon | Apple (primarily) |
| Open standard | Yes (ISO/IEC 23000-22) | Partially (HEIF is open, HEVC is patented) |
Compression: A Virtual Tie
Both AVIF and HEIC achieve approximately 50% smaller files than JPG at equivalent visual quality. Independent testing shows the two formats are within a few percentage points of each other for photographic content. AVIF may have a slight edge at very low bitrates, while HEIC can be marginally more efficient at higher quality settings. The difference is too small to be a deciding factor.
What matters more is that both formats represent a generational leap over JPG. Either one cuts image file sizes in half for web delivery.
The Licensing Divide
This is the most important difference between the two formats. HEIC relies on the HEVC codec, which is covered by patents from multiple licensing pools (MPEG LA, HEVC Advance, Velos Media). Companies implementing HEVC support must negotiate royalty agreements. This has discouraged browser vendors other than Apple from adding HEIC support.
AVIF is built on AV1, which was specifically designed to be royalty-free. The Alliance for Open Media (whose members include Google, Apple, Mozilla, Microsoft, Netflix, and Amazon) created AV1 to avoid the patent licensing problems that plagued HEVC. This is why every major browser supports AVIF but only Safari supports HEIC.
Browser and Platform Support
AVIF is supported in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, covering over 95% of global web traffic. HEIC is supported only in Safari, covering roughly 20% of web traffic. For web delivery, this makes AVIF the clear choice.
HEIC has strong support within Apple's ecosystem: every iPhone captures HEIC by default, macOS handles it natively, and iCloud Photo Library stores images as HEIC. Outside Apple, HEIC support is limited and often requires extra software or extensions.
Camera and Device Integration
HEIC has a massive installed base as the default camera format on every iPhone since 2017. Billions of HEIC photos exist on iPhones worldwide. AVIF camera integration is limited: some newer Android phones support AVIF capture, but it is not yet the default on any major device platform.
For capture, HEIC currently dominates through Apple's ecosystem. For web delivery, AVIF dominates through browser support. The typical workflow involves capturing in HEIC and converting to AVIF (or WebP/JPG) for web publishing.
The Long-Term Outlook
AVIF's royalty-free licensing gives it a structural advantage for long-term web adoption. Browser vendors, CDN providers, and web tooling companies can implement AVIF without patent concerns. HEIC's patent situation makes it unlikely to gain browser support beyond Safari.
Apple itself has added AVIF support to Safari (since version 16), suggesting that even Apple recognizes AVIF's importance for the web despite using HEIC for device storage. The eventual equilibrium may be HEIC for Apple device capture and storage, AVIF for open web delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which format produces smaller files?
They are approximately equal. Both achieve roughly 50% smaller files than JPG. In head-to-head tests, AVIF and HEIC are within a few percentage points of each other. The compression difference is not meaningful enough to be a deciding factor.
Will HEIC ever be supported in Chrome or Firefox?
Unlikely. The HEVC patent licensing requirements make it impractical for browser vendors to add HEIC support. Google and Mozilla have both opted for AVIF (royalty-free) instead. Apple's Safari is the only browser likely to support HEIC.
Should I convert my HEIC photos to AVIF?
For web delivery, AVIF is a good choice since it is supported in all major browsers. For personal storage on Apple devices, HEIC works well within the ecosystem. Converting HEIC to AVIF for web use gives you modern compression with broad browser support.