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cavif converts PNG and JPEG images to AVIF from the command line. Run cavif image.png to create image.avif; for a different quality or encoding speed, add the relevant options. Install it from a current project release or with Rust tooling, then check the result in the viewers and browsers your audience uses.
Install cavif on Windows, macOS, or Linux
The cavif-rs project README points to prebuilt release downloads, including a portable Linux executable and executables for macOS and Windows. Release assets can change, so check the current release page and choose the build for your operating system rather than relying on an old filename or version-specific instruction.
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If you have Rust tooling installed, the package documentation lists cargo install cavif as an installation route. The package page identifies version 1.6.0, dated 2025-06-21; confirm the current package version before installing if you need a particular release. See the cavif package documentation.
The project describes cavif as a pure-Rust tool built around the ravif crate, which uses rav1e and avif-serialize. Older package documentation notes a C LCMS2 color-profile dependency, so dependency details may differ by version. These implementation details do not change the basic command below.
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Convert a PNG or JPEG with the basic command
In a terminal, move to the directory containing the image and run:
cavif image.png
According to the project README, this writes image.avif. For a JPEG, provide its filename instead:
cavif photo.jpg
The README also documents multiple input images and multi-threaded encoding. Common controls include:
--quality=nsets quality from 1 to 100; the documented default is 80.--speed=nsets encoding speed from 1 to 10; the documented default is 4.-o pathspecifies an output path.--overwritepermits overwriting an existing output file.--quietsuppresses routine output.
For example, to set both quality and speed, use the option form documented by the project:
cavif --quality=80 --speed=4 image.png
Check cavif --help in your installed version for the exact available options and syntax, especially if you are using a release other than the one described in the README.
Choose quality and speed settings
Start with the default quality of 80, then compare the AVIF against the source at the image’s intended display size. The project says its quality values are only a rough approximation of JPEG’s quality scale, so a setting such as 80 is not directly equivalent to JPEG quality 80.
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Increasing quality can preserve more visual detail, often at the cost of a larger file. The README also says slower speed settings can produce smaller files, while faster settings can harm compression. Treat that as the project’s guidance, not a guaranteed size or timing result for every image. Quality 100 is not lossless: cavif does not support lossless compression.
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There is no established universal setting that produces a particular reduction in file size. Results depend on the image and chosen settings; compare representative files and inspect fine detail, gradients, and edges before applying a setting across a batch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check AVIF compatibility in the target viewer
The cavif-rs README says, “Images work in all modern browsers,” and gives Chrome 85+ on desktop, Chrome on Android 12, Firefox 91, and Safari on iOS 16 or macOS Ventura as examples. Those are the project’s documented compatibility examples, not a guarantee for every browser, operating system, or image viewer.
The README also notes reported pink lines along the right edge in Windows preview and very old Android decoders. It says Windows preview may not support 10-bit images and suggests --depth=8 as a workaround. Verify the converted file on the actual devices and software used by your audience, particularly when older decoders or Windows preview matter.
When to use avifenc or Squoosh instead
cavif is a straightforward choice when you want a Rust-based command-line converter for PNG and JPEG. Two documented alternatives suit different workflows:
| Workflow | Inputs and controls | Practical fit |
|---|---|---|
cavif |
Converts PNG and JPEG; provides quality and speed controls, output-path handling, and multi-input support in the project README. | Useful for terminal-based conversion when its documented input support and options meet your needs. |
avifenc |
The AOMedia manual dated 2025-04-11 lists JPEG, PNG, and Y4M input, plus controls for color quality, speed, worker count, bit depth, and lossless configuration. | A command-line option when you need the controls described in the AOMedia avifenc manual. |
| Squoosh | Google documents it as a browser-based conversion workflow. | Useful when you prefer a browser interface to a command-line installation; see Google’s AVIF guide. |
The cited documentation does not provide a current, like-for-like benchmark of cavif, avifenc, and Squoosh. It therefore does not establish which one encodes faster, makes smaller files, or produces better-looking results. If those differences matter, compare them using the same images, output requirements, and disclosed settings.
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