In the present digital world, choosing a file format for online and offline use is easier because of the presence of different formats, GIF and PNG. While PNG offers more detailed files than GIF, GIF files support animation and provide faster loading times than PNG files.
Hence, when gauging PNG vs. GIF, users look at the structure, image quality, file size, performance, browser support, compression method, support for animation and transparency, and storage, as discussed in this article.
When is PNG better than GIF?
The PNG format offers detailed, high-quality, high-resolution images, while GIF images are less detailed, low-resolution, and low-quality. Hence, PNG is suitable for generating printouts because its images are thorough and high-quality, giving them a predictable or less fragmented look.
When is GIF better than PNG?
A GIF file type supports animation and lively animated content, while PNG images hardly have inherent support for animation or animated images. Thus, GIFs are suitable when creating humorous clips, online animations, and memes widely used across social media platforms.
The pros of GIF images include their creation of animations, allowing users to change backgrounds since they support alpha channel transparency, and offering smaller files that increase web loading times.
GIF versus PNG Table Comparison
| Element | PNG | GIF |
| Transparency | Supports transparency | Supports transparency |
| File Size | There is no definite size limit, and they are larger than GIFs. | It is less detailed and smaller than a GIF |
| Image Quality | High-quality, very detailed, supports 8 and 16 bits per sample supports and 16 million colors; high-resolution with 300 dpi. | Law-quality; less detailed, supports 8 bits and 256 indexed colors; low-resolution with 72 to 90 dpi. |
| Performance | Loading time is slower than GIFs due to their large size. | Loading time is faster than PNGs due to their small size. |
| Structure | It consists of an 8-byte signature header and various chunks containing control data, image data, or metadata. | It starts with a fixed-length header and a logical screen descriptor, followed by image data and a linked list of sub-blocks for extensions and metadata. |
| Animation | It does not support animation or lively content | Supports animation or lively content |
| Storage | Lossless PNG necessitates more storage space than GIF; files can be stored indefinitely on DVDs, HDDs, CDs, floppy drives, file systems, CDNs, and the cloud. | Lossless GIF requires less storage space than PNG; files are stored indefinitely in DVDs, CDs, HDDs, file systems, floppy drives, CDNs, and the cloud. |
| Compression | Uses lossless compression with Huffman coding and LZ77. | Uses lossy compression with LZW algorithms. |
| Browser Support | Supported by all known browsers. | Supported by all known browsers. |
Differences and similarities between PNG and GIF images
While PNG and GIF are two distinct file formats, they are identical in lossless compression, transparency support, browser support, and storage medium used. On the other hand, the file formats differ in image size, image quality, performance, animation support, and structure.
When doing a GIF versus PNG, it is essential to understand which file format is best for a given case.
Transparency
PNG and GIF formats support transparency. In GIF cases, the GIF89a format has the alpha transparency channel, allowing for the arrangement of one of the palette colors to be ignored.
GIF’s alpha channel concurrently processes the images to be displayed on platforms or devices alongside their transparent backgrounds, making GIF images appear professional. On the other hand, PNG similarly supports transparency by supporting the 'alpha channel.'
In PNG, the alpha channel sets each pixel to a transparency level between the completely transparent background, denoted by 0, and the completely opaque background, represented by 255. Thereafter, the transparent structure in PNG is controlled by the tRNS ancillary chunk.
Unlike GIF, PNG supports the RGBA color scheme, which supplements the non-compulsory alpha channel with 256 levels of transparency. Hence, PNG stands out in terms of transparency support compared to GIF.
File Size
A PNG file format has no size limit. It can be 140 GB or even larger. However, the maximum file dimension is 2G x 2G pixels. PNG files or images are very detailed compared to GIF files. Thus, PNG files/images are larger than GIF files/images.
The maximum file size for a GIF is 2 MB to 3 MB, which is the maximum size for any text document or message. Compared to PNG’s 140GB file size, a GIF file can be sent as a text message, given that it is smaller than PNG files or images.
Image Quality
GIF is a low-quality file format since it supports only 8 bits per pixel and holds a maximum or limited color space of 256 indexed colors. The bit depth allows a single GIF file to reference its palette of up to 256 various colors, although it has access to 16 million colors.
GIF is a low-resolution file format, which results in low-quality images. Its smaller pixel scopes are necessary for low-resolution apps, thumbnails, or simple web displays. Most GIF images have 72 to 90 dpi resolutions, which are only perfect for on-screen broadcasting.
On the other hand, PNG is a high-quality file format. It retains transparency data, color information, and additional image details. The 8 and 16 bits per sample support PNG's bit depth in RBG, corresponding to 24 and 48 bits per pixel.
PNG can support 256 colors using a quantized palette, but a TrueColor file supports up to 16 million colors. It supports full-color non-palette-based RGBA/RGB images, grayscale images, and palette-based images with 32-bit RGBA or 24-bit RGB colors. It is a high-resolution format, with 300 pixels per inch.
Performance
GIF files or images are smaller than PNG files/images. Their smaller size implies that they necessitate less bandwidth and storage space and load faster than PNG images on browsing platforms, websites, or applications.
Besides, while both file formats preserve image details during and after compression, PNG files are more detailed than GIF files, making them attractive and increasing user experience. Nonetheless, the effect of PNG file quality is insignificant when file format users prioritize efficiency and speed.
When file or image loading times are essential, GIF performs better than PNG. As a result, regarding web responsiveness and improved user experience, GIF’s smaller file size should be considered over PNG.
Structure
PNG and GIF are raster graphic formats. A PNG file comprises an 8-byte signature header, closely followed by various chunks with image info, control data, or metadata. Each chunk contains three standard fields: a 4-byte CRC, a 4-byte type code, and a 4-byte length.
A PNG file also has several interior fields subject to a chunk. The multiple IDAT chunks contained in it compactly hold the compressed image information. Each chunk conforms to the mainly defined structure.
Each chunk has its identification corresponding to its inner format and is read serially from the start to the end of the data stream or file. A PNG file has critical chunks that each PNG file writer and reader need support. Both PNG and GIF compare in terms of raster graphics files.
In contrast, the GIF file format starts with a fixed-length header, namely GIF89a or GIF87a. It has a logical screen descriptor and file version with a specific length, specifying different GIF features, and its logical screen scales in pixels.
GIF’s logical screen checks for the existence of the Global Color Table and the size description. It then divides the screen into diverse segments, starting with a one-byte sentry comprising an image, extension block, and trailer.
The GIFs image module commences with a fixed-length picture descriptor affirming the presence and size of the global color table. The descriptor is closely followed by image data, with a single byte defining the width of the unencoded icon.
The GIF’s image data is trailed by a linked list containing sub-blocks, which outline data encrypted using the LZW compression algorithm. The extension block expands the GIZ87a description using the distinct tool from the GIF87a specs.
Each GIF block has a byte identifying the extension type and a sentinel, trailed by a related list with a sub-block for the extension info. The extension block modifying the GIF image heads the GIF file subdivision containing the related image.
The image data and extension blocks exploit associated lists, including several sub-blocks. A distinct byte denotes the beginning of every sub-block and identifies the amount of data bytes following it inside the sub-block. All sub-block series end with a zero-byte sub-block.
Animation
GIF supports animation, while PNG does not. GIF supports animation through the GIF89a, which has specifications that can integrate different enhancers into the GIF image file header and allow browsers to display lively GIF image content in a looped sequence or programmed series.
The GIF images and frames can be merged to produce simple animations. However, unlike non-animated PNG images, GIF’s animation mechanism allows small and crude animations to be created. It is difficult to edit and create lively animated content using PNG files.
However, PNG specifications are extended in APNG, which supports animation by introducing the animation control chunk. Animated PNG vs. GIF are comparable as both enjoy extensive browser support.
The GIF defines the logical screen with a graphical range of static size. The screen either contains zero, one, or even multiple images. It splits the screen into discretely smaller pictures or a distinct image filling the logical screen. The images operate like animation edges in lively GIF files.
Storage
GIF and PNG store losslessly compressed files. The resultant files are larger since no image data is lost in either format. However, PNG files are comparatively larger than GIF files because PNG has no definite file size limit. Hence, PNG requires more storage space than GIF.
PNG and GIF data are stored in an interlaced and compressed format. The storage format allows the interlaced files to be progressively displayed. Both formats can store images or files indefinitely without degradation while repeatedly editing and compressing.
However, the storage medium used, improper handling, and conditions that PNG and GIF files are subjected to can cause degradation. The storage mediums for PNG and GIF files include the cloud, file systems, hard drives, floppy drives, Content Delivery Network (CDN), DVDs, and CDs.
Compression
PNG and GIF use lossless compression methods. However, the GIF format integrates lossless compression with the Lempel Ziv Welch (LZW) algorithm to compress image data. The decompressed image file is smaller, preserving its quality and remaining identical to the original image.
PNG uses a lossless compression technique with Huffman coding and LZ77 algorithms. This technique preserves each image data point and does not compromise data during compression. The Huffman compression algorithm effectively represents similar image data to produce the same image as the initial PNG file after decompression.
The LZW exploits repetition in data streams to efficiently store simple graphical images, but it takes advantage of flat colors. LZW transforms images by altering color space, merging local palettes, replacing alpha channels, spatially predicting pixels, and merging different pixels in one pixel.
PNG files almost always offer better compression and a reduced file size compared to GIFs. Although GIF and PNG use lossless compression to preserve image details and quality, the resultant PNG files/images are larger than GIF images/files.
Thus, users' decision regarding lossless GIF or lossless PND ultimately depends on their choice to use higher-quality PNG or storage-efficient GIF files.
Browser Support
Most websites and browsers, such as Brave, Discord, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera Mini, and Mozilla Firefox, are extensively supported by PNG. Nonetheless, compared to GIFs, older browsers, including Internet Explorer 6, do not support PNG images or files.
In contrast, GIF images or files are widely supported by almost all modern and old browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Opera Mini, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, Discord, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi.
While both file formats enjoy universal browser support, GIF has a comparative browser support advantage over PNG.
Converting PNG to GIF or GIF to PNG
Users would want to convert PNG to GIF using “convertjack†because GIF supports animation and allows for multiple image sequences in one file, which is not possible with PNG, except in APNG format. Besides, GIFs are smaller than PNGs, which increases web efficiency and image loading speed.
On the other hand, users would convert their GIF files to PNG files because PNG is a new file format that supports more colors, is high-quality, and is open-source. You can convert your files using Convertjack’s GIF to PNG converter.