GIF vs PNG
A quick, plain-English comparison of the GIF and PNG file formats — and how to convert between them, free and in your browser.
| GIF | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | image | image |
| Extension | .gif | .png |
| MIME type | image/gif | image/png |
| Converts to | 35 formats | 33 formats |
| Direction here | read & write | read & write |
Convert between GIF and PNG
GIF vs PNG: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between GIF and PNG?
Palette (256-colour) raster supporting simple animation. Lossless raster image with alpha transparency; ideal for graphics and screenshots.
Should I use GIF or PNG?
Both are image formats — the right one depends on compatibility, quality and file size for your use. Whichever you have, you can convert it to the other below in seconds.
How do I convert GIF to PNG?
Open the GIF-to-PNG converter, drop your GIF file in, and download the PNG. We auto-detect the real format from the file's bytes, so a mislabeled file still works.