PNG vs BMP
How do PNG and BMPcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.png
Full guide →Portable Network Graphics
PNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for GIF. PNG is ideal for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image where quality preservation is critical.
.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.
| Specification | PNG | BMP |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics | Bitmap Image File |
| Extension | .png | .bmp |
| MIME type | image/png | image/bmp |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1996 | 1986 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
PNG advantages
- Lossless compression — no quality loss
- Supports full transparency (alpha channel)
- Great for text, logos, and sharp-edged graphics
- Universally supported across all browsers and platforms
PNG limitations
- Larger file sizes than JPG for photographs
- No animation support (use APNG or GIF instead)
- Not ideal for print workflows (CMYK not supported)
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- Outdated format for most modern applications
Which should you use?
Both PNG and BMP have their strengths. PNG excels at website graphics and logos, while BMP is better for legacy windows applications.
Best uses for PNG
Best uses for BMP
Convert between PNG and BMP
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.