PNG vs SVG: When to Use Each Format (2026 Guide)

The Quick Answer

Use SVG for:

Logos

Icons

Simple illustrations

UI elements

Anything that needs to scale

Use PNG for:

Photos

Complex images with many colors

Screenshots

Images with transparency over photos

Understanding the Formats

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

PNG is a raster format - images made of pixels.

Characteristics:

Fixed resolution

Supports transparency

Lossless compression

Good for photos

Limitations:

Becomes blurry when scaled up

File size increases with resolution

Can't be edited easily

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

SVG is a vector format - images made of mathematical paths.

Characteristics:

Infinite scalability

Usually smaller file size

Editable with code/CSS

Perfect for simple graphics

Limitations:

Not suitable for photos

Complex images can be large

Browser rendering varies slightly

Decision Framework

Question 1: Is it a photo?

Yes → Use PNG (or JPG)
No → Continue to next question

Question 2: Does it need to scale?

Yes → Strong preference for SVG
No → Either could work

Question 3: How many colors?

< 256 colors → SVG likely smaller
> 256 colors → PNG might be smaller

Question 4: Does it have fine details?

Simple shapes → SVG
Complex textures → PNG

Real-World Examples

Logo

Format: SVG
Why: Needs to work from favicon (16px) to billboard

Product Photo

Format: PNG/JPG
Why: Photographic content, many colors

Social Media Icon

Format: SVG
Why: Simple shape, needs to be crisp at all sizes

Screenshot

Format: PNG
Why: Exact pixel representation needed

Illustration

Format: Depends

Simple/flat: SVG

Complex/textured: PNG

Background Pattern

Format: SVG
Why: Tiles perfectly, small file size

File Size Comparison

Simple Logo

| Format | Size | Quality |
|--------|------|---------|
| PNG 64px | 3 KB | Good at 64px only |
| PNG 512px | 25 KB | Good up to 512px |
| PNG 1024px | 90 KB | Good up to 1024px |
| SVG | 5 KB | Perfect at ANY size |

Complex Illustration

| Format | Size | Quality |
|--------|------|---------|
| PNG | 150 KB | Fixed resolution |
| SVG | 250 KB | Scalable but larger |

Verdict: Sometimes PNG wins for complex graphics.

Converting Between Formats

PNG to SVG

When you have a PNG but need SVG:

1. Use AI vectorization (VectoSolve)

2. Upload PNG

3. Download clean SVG

Best for: Logos, icons, simple graphics

SVG to PNG

When you have SVG but need PNG:

1. Open in any design tool

2. Export at desired resolution

3. Save as PNG

Note: You can always go SVG → PNG, but PNG → SVG requires vectorization.

Web Performance

SVG Advantages

Smaller files for simple graphics

No resolution-specific assets needed

Can be inlined in HTML

CSS animations

PNG Advantages

Consistent browser rendering

Better for complex images

No security concerns with inline code

Modern Best Practice

For Logos/Icons: SVG First

1. Create/convert to SVG

2. Optimize with SVGO

3. Use SVG everywhere possible

4. Export PNG only when required

For Photos: Stay Raster

1. Use JPG for photos without transparency

2. Use PNG for photos with transparency

3. Use WebP for modern browsers

4. Never try to vectorize photos

Converting Your Assets

Need to convert PNG logos/icons to SVG?

Traditional method: Manual tracing (30+ min/image)
Modern method: AI conversion (seconds)

[Convert PNG to SVG Instantly](/pricing)

Conclusion

The format debate is simple:

Scalable graphics → SVG

Photos and complex images → PNG

When in doubt, try SVG first. It's almost always the better choice for logos, icons, and UI elements.