Does AVIF support transparency?

Yes, full 8-bit alpha, and it compresses that alpha efficiently. Semi-transparent pixels and soft edges are preserved just as they were in the PNG.

Is AVIF better than PNG for screenshots?

For file size, usually yes. For fidelity, PNG is lossless and AVIF is not, so text and UI edges can soften at aggressive settings. If the screenshot needs to stay pixel-exact, use lossless WebP or an optimised PNG instead.

Convert PNG to AVIF

A photographic PNG is close to a worst case for file size, and AVIF is close to a best case. Converting between them regularly produces 90%+ reductions while keeping the alpha channel fully intact — AVIF compresses transparency well, rather than treating it as an expensive extra.

Best for: Large PNG exports with transparency where you need the smallest possible result.

What to know

Transparency is fully preserved, and AVIF compresses the alpha channel efficiently rather than storing it flat.
For flat graphics and line art, lossless WebP is often a better answer than AVIF — AVIF's strength is photographic content.
AVIF encoding is slow, particularly for the large dimensions PNGs often come in.
AVIF metadata writing is not supported yet; EXIF and ICC profiles will not carry over.

About PNG

A lossless format built for graphics, screenshots and anything needing a real alpha channel.

Lossless compression on a photograph produces enormous files — often 5-10x a JPEG of the same shot.
Its DEFLATE compression predates every modern entropy coder.
Truecolour PNGs waste space on images that only contain a few hundred distinct colours.

Support:: Every browser ever shipped.
Transparency:: Full 8-bit alpha.

About AVIF

Built on the AV1 video codec and standardised in 2019 — currently the strongest compression available in a widely supported still image format.

The best quality-per-byte of any format here, typically by a wide margin.
Handles gradients and flat colour without the banding JPEG produces.
Wide colour gamut and HDR support built in.
Full alpha, and it compresses that alpha well.

Support:: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Safari 16+. Roughly 93% of users.
Transparency:: Full alpha, efficiently compressed.

Frequently asked questions

Does AVIF support transparency?: Yes, full 8-bit alpha, and it compresses that alpha efficiently. Semi-transparent pixels and soft edges are preserved just as they were in the PNG.
Is AVIF better than PNG for screenshots?: For file size, usually yes. For fidelity, PNG is lossless and AVIF is not, so text and UI edges can soften at aggressive settings. If the screenshot needs to stay pixel-exact, use lossless WebP or an optimised PNG instead.

Related conversions

Converting from something else? Convert any image to AVIF