GIF is limited to 256 colors, and synonymous with short moving images. GIF opens in most environments, but another format such as PNG may suit some uses better.
PNG is a versatile lossless format with transparency support. When you convert GIF to PNG, compatibility and typical uses change. See the comparison below for what changes.
This converter reads the file itself to confirm it is GIF, then converts it to PNG right in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
GIF vs PNG: what's the difference?
| Item | GIF | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Transparent background | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Introduced | 1987 | 1996 |
| Support in programs and upload forms | nearly everywhere | nearly everywhere |
| Shown directly in browsers | Yes | Yes |
| Photo file size (JPG = 1) | about 2.5× | about 3× |
What is GIF?
GIF is one of the oldest web image formats, created in 1987, and can use only up to 256 colors per image. The compression itself is lossless, but reducing the colors to 256 makes photos look visibly coarse.
What is PNG?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless format created in 1996 to avoid the patent problems around GIF. Because not a single pixel changes when you save and reopen it, it suits original artwork that goes through many edits.
What changes when you convert GIF to PNG
Pixel values are preserved exactly
GIF and PNG are both lossless, so there is no change in quality. Only the file structure, compatibility and size differ.
Moving images keep only their first frame
PNG can't hold animation. If your GIF file is animated, only the first frame is converted.
PNG has no quality setting
PNG is lossless, so the quality slider doesn't apply. Instead, when converting from GIF you can manage file size by resizing (exact width and height, or a percentage).
How the file size changes
GIF and PNG are about the same size for photos, and the quality setting can tip it either way.
When to convert
- You're preparing an image for typical PNG uses (logos and icons, screenshots)
- You want to tidy a GIF file into a format that's easier to edit or archive
GIF → PNG: practical tips
An animated GIF saves only its first frame as PNG. If you need the motion, use a video conversion tool instead of this conversion.
GIF has at most 256 colors, so converting to PNG doesn't add colors. It does give you a format that can handle transparent edges more smoothly.