ICO VS GIF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Icon File and Graphics Interchange Format.
ICO
icoStandard format used for computer icons and favicons.
Pros
- Contains multiple resolutions
- Standard for Windows/Web icons
Cons
- Limited use case
- Inefficient for general images
GIF
gifSupports simple animations and limited color palette, a classic internet format.
Pros
- Simple animation
- Universal support
- Small size for simple graphics
Cons
- Limited to 256 colors
- No audio
- Inefficient compression for video
When ICO wins
Stay with ICO when you need favicons or desktop icons. Its strengths center on contains multiple resolutions and a feature set native to Microsoft.
When GIF wins
Choose GIF when your workflow prioritizes memes or simple banners. It delivers simple animation plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | ICO | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/x-icon | image/gif |
| Developer | Microsoft | CompuServe |
| Release Year | 1985 | 1987 |
| Best For | Favicons, Desktop icons | Memes, Simple banners, Loading spinners |
Need to switch?
Where ICO still wins
Keep ICO when you need contains multiple resolutions and workflows depend on favicons / desktop icons. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship GIF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .ico glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use GIF for memes while archiving originals as ICO.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.