WebP vs AVIF for Magento | Which Wins

WebP vs AVIF for Magento: Which Image Format Wins?

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Modern image formats are one of the easiest wins for store speed, but which should you use — WebP or AVIF? The short answer: both. Here is why.

File size

WebP is typically much smaller than an equivalent JPG or PNG. AVIF goes further still — often up to 30% smaller again than WebP at similar quality — which makes it excellent for large hero and product imagery.

Browser support and the picture tag

WebP support is effectively universal now; AVIF support is very strong but slightly behind. The clean solution is to generate both and let the browser pick the best one it supports via a element, falling back gracefully on older clients.

Quality and transparency

Both formats preserve PNG-style transparency, so you do not lose alpha channels by switching. Use a sensible quality level (around 75–85) to balance size against visible quality.

How AgenticEcom helps: Image Optimisation generates WebP and AVIF alongside your originals, serves them with optional picture tags for older browsers, preserves PNG/GIF transparency, and lets you set the compression quality — so you get the smallest files without re-exporting anything. Image Optimisation for Magento 2 →

FAQs

Should I pick one format?

You do not have to. Generating both and serving each browser the best format it supports gives the smallest files with full compatibility.

Does AVIF need special server support?

Yes, AVIF generation needs an AVIF-capable image library on the server; WebP is more widely available. You can enable whichever your server supports.