BMP vs PNG
Comparing Bitmap Image File and Portable Network Graphics — which format should you use?
| BMP | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Bitmap Image File | Portable Network Graphics |
| Extension | .bmp | .png |
| MIME Type | image/bmp | image/png |
| Category | image | image |
BMP Pros
- +Zero compression artifacts
- +Fast to render (no decompression)
- +Simple format, easy to parse
- +Native Windows support
BMP Cons
- -Extremely large file sizes
- -No transparency support
- -No web browser optimization
- -Obsolete for most modern use cases
PNG Pros
- +Lossless compression — no quality loss
- +Full alpha transparency support
- +Wide browser and software support
- +Good for graphics, logos, screenshots
PNG Cons
- -Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs
- -No animation support (use APNG or GIF)
- -Not ideal for print (use TIFF or PDF)
- -No EXIF metadata support
Use BMP when...
- -Windows system graphics
- -Legacy application support
- -Simple image processing pipelines
Use PNG when...
- -Website graphics and logos
- -Screenshots and UI mockups
- -Images requiring transparency
- -Digital art and illustrations