SVG is an XML-based vector format that stays sharp at any size. Current browsers open SVG, but support in programs and services is uneven.
ICO is a container format for favicons and Windows icons. When you convert SVG to ICO, it can be used as an icon or favicon. See the comparison below for what changes.
This converter reads the file itself to confirm it is SVG, then converts it to ICO right in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
SVG vs ICO: what's the difference?
| Item | SVG | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Vector (stored as math) | Lossless |
| Transparent background | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | Yes | No |
| Introduced | 2001 | 1985 |
| Support in programs and upload forms | moderate | moderate |
| Shown directly in browsers | Yes | Yes |
| Photo file size (JPG = 1) | n/a | n/a |
What is SVG?
SVG stores lines, shapes and curves as math in text (XML) instead of pixels. It stays sharp however far you zoom, and a simple logo can be just a few KB.
What is ICO?
ICO is the format used for Windows icons and website favicons. Its distinguishing feature is that one file can hold several sizes, such as 16×16, 32×32 and 256×256.
What changes when you convert SVG to ICO
The vector becomes a fixed-size pixel image
The moment you convert SVG to ICO, the resolution is fixed. Set the width in px in the options first so it is drawn sharply at the size you need; enlarging it later makes it blurry.
Moving images keep only their first frame
ICO can't hold animation. If your SVG file is animated, only the first frame is converted.
It is fitted into a square of at most 256×256
ICO is limited to 256×256. Larger images are scaled down with their aspect ratio kept, and images that aren't square are centered with the leftover area left transparent.
ICO has no quality setting
ICO is lossless, so the quality slider doesn't apply. Instead, when converting from SVG you can manage file size by resizing (exact width and height, or a percentage).
How the file size changes
SVG is a resolution-independent vector, so its size depends on how complex the shapes are. A simple logo is far smaller as SVG than as ICO, but once rasterized it needs pixel data for the exact width and height you choose.
When to convert
- You're making a website favicon or a Windows shortcut icon
- You're preparing an image for typical ICO uses (website favicons, windows program icons)
- You want to tidy a SVG file into a format that's easier to edit or archive
SVG → ICO: practical tips
You can make a favicon straight from an SVG logo. If you don't set a size, it is fitted inside 256×256 with the aspect ratio kept.