PNG VS ICO
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Portable Network Graphics and Icon File.
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)
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
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 ICO wins
Choose ICO when your workflow prioritizes favicons or desktop icons. It delivers contains multiple resolutions plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | PNG | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/png | image/x-icon |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | Microsoft |
| Release Year | 1996 | 1985 |
| Best For | Logos, Screenshots, Graphics with transparent backgrounds | Favicons, Desktop icons |
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 ICO deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .png glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use ICO for favicons 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.