TIFF vs PNG
TIFF vs PNG
TIFF is the choice for print, scanning, and archival masters, where 16-bit color and exact fidelity matter. PNG is the lossless format for the web — far smaller, and supported by every browser.
Reviewed by Chad Solomon · Updated June 2026
At a glance
Key differences
| Attribute | TIFF | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless (or uncompressed) | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | No |
| Best for | Print, scanning, and professional archival masters | Logos, graphics, screenshots, transparency |
Guidance
When to use each format
Use TIFF
Choose TIFF for print production, scanned documents, and master archives that need 16-bit color depth and editing layers.
Use PNG
Choose PNG for anything shown on screen — websites, apps, and screenshots — where you need lossless quality with small, universally supported files.
File size
PNG files are typically far smaller than TIFF, because TIFF is often stored uncompressed or lightly compressed for fidelity, while PNG always applies lossless compression.
Questions
Frequently asked
- Which is better, TIFF or PNG?
- TIFF is the choice for print, scanning, and archival masters, where 16-bit color and exact fidelity matter. PNG is the lossless format for the web — far smaller, and supported by every browser.
- Which is smaller, TIFF or PNG?
- PNG files are typically far smaller than TIFF, because TIFF is often stored uncompressed or lightly compressed for fidelity, while PNG always applies lossless compression.
- Can I convert between TIFF and PNG for free?
- Yes. convertimage converts TIFF and PNG images for free, right in your browser. Your files are never uploaded.