PNG VS SVG
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Portable Network Graphics and Scalable Vector Graphics.
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)
SVG
svgVector format for infinite scaling without quality loss.
Pros
- Infinite scalability
- Small text-based files
- Programmable with CSS/JS
Cons
- Not for photos
- Complex rendering for detailed art
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 SVG wins
Choose SVG when your workflow prioritizes logos or icons. It delivers infinite scalability plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | PNG | SVG |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/png | image/svg+xml |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | W3C |
| Release Year | 1996 | 2001 |
| Best For | Logos, Screenshots, Graphics with transparent backgrounds | Logos, Icons, Illustrations |
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 SVG deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .png glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use SVG for logos 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.