Convert JPG to AVIF on Mac

Why convert JPG to AVIF?

Up to 50% smaller files than JPG at the same visual quality
The best available format for web image performance in 2026
Supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16+, and Edge
Supports HDR, wide color gamut, and 10-bit color depth
Batch convert entire image directories for a full website migration
All processing happens locally on your Mac — no cloud uploads

JPG vs AVIF file sizes

File Type	JPG	AVIF	Note
Blog hero image (1920×1080)	850 KB	380 KB	55% smaller
Product photo (2000×2000)	1.4 MB	620 KB	56% smaller
Thumbnail (400×300)	95 KB	42 KB	56% smaller
Portfolio image (3000×2000)	2.8 MB	1.3 MB	54% smaller

Conversion speed: 500 JPG images in ~5 minutes on Apple Silicon

When to convert JPG to AVIF

Maximum website performance optimization

For sites where every kilobyte matters — landing pages, e-commerce, mobile-first sites — AVIF offers the best possible image compression available today.

High-traffic sites with bandwidth costs

Sites serving millions of images monthly save significantly on CDN costs with AVIF. The 50% reduction vs JPG can cut image bandwidth bills in half.

Progressive enhancement image strategy

Use AVIF as your primary format with WebP and JPG fallbacks. Serve the smallest possible files to modern browsers while maintaining compatibility.

HDR and wide color gamut photography

AVIF supports 10-bit color and HDR, making it the only widely-supported web format that can display the full richness of modern camera output.

How to convert JPG to AVIF on Mac

1

Open Picmal

Download and open Picmal on your Mac.

2

Add your JPG files

Drag and drop your JPG files or entire folders into Picmal.

3

Select AVIF and convert

Choose AVIF as the output format and click Convert.

JPG vs AVIF

.jpg

JPG

Joint Photographic Experts Group

The most widely supported image format, standardized as ITU-T T.81 in 1992. JPG (also called JPEG) is compatible with virtually every device and application, and remains the universal default for photographic content.

Best for

Sharing photos, web uploads, and email attachments

.avif

AVIF

AV1 Image File Format

Next-generation image format based on the royalty-free AV1 video codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia). Netflix's 2020 research showed AVIF achieves 50% better compression than JPEG at equivalent perceptual quality.

Best for

Web performance optimization and modern websites

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert JPG to AVIF on Mac?

Open Picmal, drag your JPG files into the window, select AVIF as the output format, adjust quality if needed, and click Convert. Picmal handles encoding locally on your Mac.

How much smaller are AVIF files compared to JPG?

AVIF files are typically 40-50% smaller than JPG at the same visual quality. A 1MB JPG often becomes 500-600KB as AVIF with no visible difference.

Do all browsers support AVIF?

As of 2026, AVIF is supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari 16+, and Edge — covering 92%+ of global browser usage. For the remaining percentage, serve JPG or WebP as fallback.

Is AVIF better than WebP?

AVIF produces 20-30% smaller files than WebP at the same quality and supports HDR and wider color gamuts. WebP has slightly broader browser support. For maximum performance, use AVIF with WebP/JPG fallback.

Why is AVIF encoding slower than JPG or WebP?

AVIF uses the AV1 video codec for compression, which is more computationally intensive. On Apple Silicon Macs, Picmal encodes AVIF efficiently, but expect slower conversion than JPG or WebP.