Format Showdown

BMP VS PNG

The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Bitmap Image File and Portable Network Graphics.

BMP

bmp

Uncompressed raster graphics, high quality but large file size.

Pros

  • Uncompressed quality
  • Simple structure
  • Fast processing

Cons

  • Huge file sizes
  • No compression
  • No web usage

PNG

png

Lossless format supporting transparency, ideal for logos and digital art.

Pros

  • Lossless quality
  • Alpha channel transparency
  • Wide support

Cons

  • Larger file sizes than JPG
  • Not good for print (RGB only)

When BMP wins

Stay with BMP when you need windows system files or legacy software. Its strengths center on uncompressed quality and a feature set native to Microsoft.

When PNG wins

Choose PNG when your workflow prioritizes logos or screenshots. It delivers lossless quality plus modern compression perks.

Technical Specifications

FeatureBMPPNG
MIME Typeimage/bmpimage/png
DeveloperMicrosoftPNG Development Group
Release Year19901996
Best ForWindows system files, Legacy softwareLogos, Screenshots, Graphics with transparent backgrounds

Need to switch?

Convert BMP to PNG Convert PNG to BMP
Opportunity map

Where BMP still wins

Keep BMP when you need uncompressed quality and workflows depend on windows system files / legacy software. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship PNG deliverables without leaving their browser.

  • • Reference the .bmp glossary from this page.
  • • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
  • • Use PNG for logos while archiving originals as BMP.
Internal linking plan

Keep crawlers in the conversion hub

Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.

BMP to PNG converterPNG to BMP converterUse case libraryImplementation docs