ICO vs PNG: what's the difference?
Short answer: ICO is a container for icons at several sizes (often PNGs inside). Use ICO for favicons and Windows shortcuts, PNG for everything else.
| ICO | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Windows Icon | Portable Network Graphics |
| File extensions | .ico | .png |
| MIME type | image/x-icon | image/png |
| Introduced | 1985 | 1996 |
| Compression | PNG or BMP inside | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes (full alpha) |
| Animation | No | APNG only |
| Typical file size | Small | Large |
| Best for | website favicons and Windows application icons | screenshots, logos, graphics with text and anything that needs a transparent background |
| Compatibility | All browsers (favicon) and Windows | Universal: every browser, OS and editor |
File size
An ICO holds several sizes, so it's larger than one PNG, but it replaces multiple files.
Image quality
Same pixels; ICO can embed PNG images directly.
Transparency and animation
ICO: transparency yes, animation no. PNG: transparency yes (full alpha), animation apng only.
Compatibility
ICO: All browsers (favicon) and Windows.
PNG: Universal: every browser, OS and editor.
When to use ICO
- favicon.ico for websites
- Windows application and shortcut icons
When to use PNG
- App icons for iOS, Android and web manifests
- Any normal image use
Convert between ICO and PNG
Frequently asked questions
Is ICO better than PNG?
ICO is a container for icons at several sizes (often PNGs inside). Use ICO for favicons and Windows shortcuts, PNG for everything else.
Which is smaller, ICO or PNG?
An ICO holds several sizes, so it's larger than one PNG, but it replaces multiple files.
Which has better quality, ICO or PNG?
Same pixels; ICO can embed PNG images directly.
How do I convert ICO to PNG?
Open the free ICO to PNG converter, add your files and download the results. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.