Exploring the AVIF Format for Wix: Smaller File Sizes, Same High Quality
Keeping your Wix site fast and looking great often comes down to the small things—like the images you upload. With storage limits to consider and performance always a priority, choosing the right image format can help more than you might think.
One format that’s gaining traction—and that I’ve recently incorporated into my workflow—is AVIF. This blog post will introduce the AVIF format, explain its benefits, and provide guidance on how it fits into the Wix platform.
What Is AVIF?
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is a modern image format designed to deliver high-quality visuals at significantly reduced file sizes. It outperforms both JPEG and WebP in terms of compression, while also offering advanced features like support for a wider color gamut and high dynamic range (HDR).
According to Wix:
“AVIF is a new type of image file that's better than JPEG and is approximately 50% smaller than WebP. This makes AVIF images load faster on your live site. AVIF can also handle a wide range of colors, making images look even more realistic.”
How Wix Uses AVIF
One important thing to note is that Wix automatically compresses your images using AVIF on your live site. This means that even if you upload a JPEG or PNG, Wix will convert and serve an AVIF version to end users when supported by their browser. This process happens behind the scenes to optimize loading speed and user experience.
However, uploading optimized images to begin with can still help:
Reduce your Media Library storage usage
Speed up your editor experience
Ensure faster initial load times, especially before Wix’s optimization kicks in
Benefits of Using AVIF in Your Workflow
Extremely Small File Sizes
AVIF images are significantly smaller than both JPEG and WebP files, which helps reduce the overall page weight and improves loading speed—especially on mobile devices.
High Visual Fidelity
AVIF supports a broader color range and transparency, producing more realistic and vibrant images even at lower file sizes.
Improved SEO & User Experience
Faster page loading times contribute to better search engine rankings and an improved user experience—both of which are essential for a successful website.
Tools to Convert to AVIF
If you want to manually convert your images to AVIF before uploading them to Wix, here are some helpful tools:
Web-Based:
Desktop:
macOS: ImageOptim, Optimage
Windows: RIOT, FileOptimizer, XnConvert
Be sure to test your images across browsers, and keep backup versions of your original files.
With Wix now serving AVIF images automatically on live sites, the platform is already leveraging this powerful format to deliver better performance. That said, uploading optimized images yourself—whether in AVIF, WebP, or optimized JPEG—still plays a key role in managing your storage, maintaining flexibility, and ensuring an efficient editing experience.
As designers and site managers, staying informed about emerging formats like AVIF helps us make smart decisions that benefit both our clients and their visitors.
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Have questions or need help optimizing your site? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
