Format comparison
BMP vs SVG
How do BMP and SVGcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.bmp
Full guide →Bitmap Image File
BMP is an uncompressed raster image format native to Windows. While it produces very large files, BMP preserves every pixel with zero quality loss, making it useful for raw image data and legacy applications.
.svg
Full guide →Scalable Vector Graphics
SVG is a vector image format based on XML. Unlike raster formats, SVG images scale to any size without losing quality, making them perfect for logos, icons, and responsive web design.
| Specification | BMP | SVG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bitmap Image File | Scalable Vector Graphics |
| Extension | .bmp | .svg |
| MIME type | image/bmp | image/svg+xml |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | Microsoft | W3C |
| Year introduced | 1986 | 2001 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
BMP advantages
- Zero quality loss — completely uncompressed
- Simple format, easy to read and write
- Native Windows support
- No compression artifacts
BMP limitations
- Very large file sizes
- No transparency support in most versions
- Not suitable for web use
- Outdated format for most modern applications
SVG advantages
- Infinitely scalable without quality loss
- Tiny file sizes for simple graphics
- Can be styled with CSS and animated with JavaScript
- Text remains searchable and accessible
SVG limitations
- Not suitable for photographs or complex images
- Can be slow to render with many paths
- Security concerns when accepting user uploads
- Inconsistent rendering across browsers for complex SVGs
Which should you use?
Both BMP and SVG have their strengths. BMP excels at legacy windows applications, while SVG is better for logos and brand marks.
Best uses for BMP
Legacy Windows applications
Raw image data storage
Intermediate format during editing
Embedded systems and simple displays
Best uses for SVG
Logos and brand marks
Icons and UI elements
Data visualizations and charts
Responsive web graphics
Convert between BMP and SVG
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.