PNG VS GIF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Portable Network Graphics and Graphics Interchange Format.
PNG
pngLossless 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)
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 PNG wins
Stay with PNG when you need logos or screenshots. Its strengths center on lossless quality and a feature set native to PNG Development Group.
When GIF wins
Choose GIF when your workflow prioritizes memes or simple banners. It delivers simple animation plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | PNG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/png | image/gif |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | CompuServe |
| Release Year | 1996 | 1987 |
| Best For | Logos, Screenshots, Graphics with transparent backgrounds | Memes, Simple banners, Loading spinners |
Need to switch?
Where PNG still wins
Keep PNG when you need lossless quality and workflows depend on logos / screenshots. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship GIF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .png glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use GIF for memes while archiving originals as PNG.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.