PNG VS HEIC
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Portable Network Graphics and High Efficiency Image Container.
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)
HEIC
heicStandard format on modern Apple devices, highly efficient storage.
Pros
- Half the size of JPG
- 16-bit color
- Live photo support
Cons
- Limited support on Windows/Android
- Licensing issues
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 HEIC wins
Choose HEIC when your workflow prioritizes iphone photography or apple ecosystem. It delivers half the size of jpg plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | PNG | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/png | image/heic |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | MPEG |
| Release Year | 1996 | 2015 |
| Best For | Logos, Screenshots, Graphics with transparent backgrounds | iPhone photography, Apple ecosystem |
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 HEIC deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .png glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use HEIC for iphone photography 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.