Images

HEIC → AVIF

Learn about the formats: What is HEIC? What is AVIF?

Convert Apple's HEIC raster images into modern AVIF raster format seamlessly. This tool is ideal for web developers and designers aiming for next-generation image optimization.

Both HEIC and AVIF are advanced raster image formats utilizing cutting-edge compression algorithms derived from video codecs. When converting from HEIC (commonly produced by Apple devices) to AVIF, the underlying pixel data is decoded and re-encoded. Because both formats rely on lossy compression architectures, this transcodation represents a transition between two lossy standards, requiring careful handling to prevent generation loss.

Since both HEIC and AVIF utilize lossy compression, repeated re-compression between them can degrade image quality. However, the file size generally changes only slightly during this conversion.

Tips

Verify if your target browser supports AVIF before replacing HEIC assets.
Avoid converting the same file back and forth to prevent cumulative quality loss from re-compression.
Keep backups of your original HEIC files.

Common use cases

Preparing Apple device photos for modern web publishing in AVIF format.
Migrating legacy HEIC archives to an open web-optimized raster standard.
Optimizing image delivery pipelines for browsers with native AVIF decoding.

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File formats: what to choose

A quick guide to strengths and trade-offs of popular formats — so you pick the right one before converting.

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Images

Raster and vector graphics for web, print, and photography.

Common extensions: PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, SVG, HEIC, TIFF

Advantages

+ WebP and AVIF offer excellent compression for the web
+ PNG keeps transparency and sharp edges
+ SVG scales without quality loss

Disadvantages

− RAW and TIFF files are large and slow to share
− JPEG loses quality on every re-save
− Some formats are not supported in older browsers

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Documents

Office files, PDFs, ebooks, and plain text.

Common extensions: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, EPUB, TXT

Advantages

+ PDF locks layout for printing and sharing
+ DOCX and ODT are easy to edit collaboratively
+ Plain text works on any device

Disadvantages

− PDF is hard to edit without special tools
− Complex layouts may shift after conversion
− Scanned PDFs need OCR for editable text

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Video

Clips, streams, screen recordings, and movies.

Common extensions: MP4, WebM, MOV, MKV, AVI, MPEG

Advantages

+ MP4 (H.264/H.265) plays almost everywhere
+ WebM is efficient for web embedding
+ MKV can hold multiple audio and subtitle tracks

Disadvantages

− High-resolution video needs lots of storage and bandwidth
− Re-encoding always takes time and may reduce quality
− Some codecs require licensing for commercial use

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Audio

Music, podcasts, voice recordings, and sound effects.

Common extensions: MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AAC, M4A, OPUS

Advantages

+ FLAC and WAV preserve full quality for editing
+ MP3 and AAC are universally compatible
+ OPUS delivers great quality at low bitrates

Disadvantages

− Uncompressed WAV files are very large
− Lossy formats cannot be restored to original quality
− DRM-protected files may not convert

Frequently asked questions

Not necessarily. The file size changes only slightly because both HEIC and AVIF are highly efficient raster formats using advanced compression.

Both formats use lossy compression, and since you are converting between two lossy standards, repeated re-compression can degrade the quality. Try to limit transcodation steps.

Yes, both formats store images as a grid of pixels (raster data), unlike vector graphics.

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