ICO vs AVIF
Technical analysis 2026: differences, performance and which one you should use for your project.
Quick Verdict
"AVIF offers the most advanced compression technology, ideal if you can serve alternative formats for older browsers."
ICO
A specific container for Windows icons and website favicons. It can hold multiple sizes and color depths in a single file.
Best for:
- Favicons
- Desktop icons
AVIF
The format of the future. Based on the AV1 video codec, it offers the best compression on the market today, surpassing even WebP, with HDR support.
Best for:
- Extreme optimization
- HDR Images
- Next-Gen Web
Detailed Analysis
When comparing ICO (Microsoft Icon) with AVIF (AV1 Image File Format), it is important to understand the historical and technical context. ICO was established in 1985, while AVIF appeared in 2019.
The main technical difference lies in their compression algorithm. ICO uses hybrid (both lossy and lossless) compression: you can choose between maximum quality or maximum savings depending on the settings. AVIF, on the other hand, uses hybrid (both lossy and lossless) compression: you can choose between maximum quality or maximum savings depending on the settings.
Compatibility
ICO
100% (For favicons)
AVIF
85% (Growing)
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