TIFF vs PNG: what's the difference?
Short answer: Both are lossless. PNG is web-friendly and compact; TIFF is for print workflows and multi-page scans.
| TIFF | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tagged Image File Format | Portable Network Graphics |
| File extensions | .tif, .tiff | .png |
| MIME type | image/tiff | image/png |
| Introduced | 1986 | 1996 |
| Compression | None, LZW, Deflate or JPEG | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes (full alpha) |
| Animation | No (multi-page) | APNG only |
| Typical file size | Very large | Large |
| Best for | scanning, professional printing, publishing and archiving | screenshots, logos, graphics with text and anything that needs a transparent background |
| Compatibility | Printers, scanners and pro editors; browsers (except Safari), phones and websites can't open it | Universal: every browser, OS and editor |
File size
PNG compresses better than most TIFF files and is much easier to share.
Image quality
Equal for 8-bit images. TIFF also supports CMYK, 16-bit channels and layers used in print.
Transparency and animation
TIFF: transparency yes, animation no (multi-page). PNG: transparency yes (full alpha), animation apng only.
Compatibility
TIFF: Printers, scanners and pro editors; browsers (except Safari), phones and websites can't open it.
PNG: Universal: every browser, OS and editor.
When to use TIFF
- Print shops and publishers
- CMYK artwork
- Scanner archives
When to use PNG
- Screenshots and web graphics
- Sharing lossless images online
Convert between TIFF and PNG
Frequently asked questions
Is TIFF better than PNG?
Both are lossless. PNG is web-friendly and compact; TIFF is for print workflows and multi-page scans.
Which is smaller, TIFF or PNG?
PNG compresses better than most TIFF files and is much easier to share.
Which has better quality, TIFF or PNG?
Equal for 8-bit images. TIFF also supports CMYK, 16-bit channels and layers used in print.
How do I convert TIFF to PNG?
Open the free TIFF to PNG converter, add your files and download the results. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.