PNG vs GIF
How do PNG and GIFcompare? 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.
.gif
Full guide →Graphics Interchange Format
GIF is a widely recognized format best known for animated images and short loops. While limited to 256 colors, GIF's animation support and universal compatibility make it a staple of web culture.
| Specification | PNG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics | Graphics Interchange Format |
| Extension | .png | .gif |
| MIME type | image/png | image/gif |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | CompuServe |
| Year introduced | 1996 | 1987 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
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)
GIF advantages
- Animation support — multiple frames in one file
- Universal browser and platform support
- Small file sizes for simple graphics
- Supports basic transparency
GIF limitations
- Limited to 256 colors per frame
- Poor quality for photographs
- Large file sizes for animations compared to video
- Binary transparency only (no partial transparency)
Which should you use?
Both PNG and GIF have their strengths. PNG excels at website graphics and logos, while GIF is better for animated images and memes.
Best uses for PNG
Best uses for GIF
Convert between PNG and GIF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.