For a logo or icon specifically — as opposed to a photograph, where the choice is different — PNG and SVG are the two formats worth actually considering, and picking between them comes down to one main question: will this graphic ever need to be a different size than it is right now?
SVG: the better default for most logos and icons
SVG is vector-based, meaning it is described as mathematical shapes rather than fixed pixels. It scales to any size — a favicon, a business card, a building sign — with no loss of sharpness, from a single file. It is also typically a very small file size for simple graphics, since it only needs to store the shape instructions, not millions of individual pixel values. For a logo that will be used at multiple sizes across a website, print materials and app icons, SVG is almost always the better master format to keep.
PNG: the right choice for specific situations
- The destination platform or tool does not support SVG (many email clients, some older design and document software).
- You need a fixed-size raster image and do not want the overhead of an SVG renderer at that destination.
- The graphic includes photographic elements or complex gradients that do not translate well to clean vector shapes.
A practical rule
Keep SVG as your master file whenever the graphic is genuinely flat, simple shapes — a logo mark, a line-based icon set. Export PNG copies at the specific fixed sizes you need for platforms that require it (favicons, certain social media uploads, email signatures). This gives you the scalability benefit of SVG as your source of truth, with PNG copies generated on demand exactly where compatibility requires it.
Converting between them
- Have a PNG logo and need a scalable SVG? PNG to SVG traces it — works well for simple, flat, high-contrast graphics.
- Have an SVG and need a PNG at a specific size? SVG to PNG exports at exactly the pixel dimensions you set.
File size in practice
For a simple flat logo, SVG is usually dramatically smaller than an equivalent PNG — sometimes by a factor of ten or more — because it is storing a handful of shape descriptions rather than a full grid of pixels. This makes SVG the better choice for web performance too, on top of its scalability advantage, wherever the platform supports it.
When PNG genuinely wins
If a logo or icon includes photographic detail, complex shading, or fine texture that does not reduce cleanly to flat vector shapes, forcing it into SVG through tracing usually produces a worse result than simply keeping it as a well-optimised PNG. Not every graphic benefits from being vector — the format should match what the content actually is, not the other way around.
Frequently asked questions
Can a website use both formats for the same logo?
Yes, and this is common — SVG as the primary logo with a PNG fallback for compatibility, or PNG specifically for a favicon where SVG support is inconsistent across browsers and devices.
Does SVG work for animated logos?
SVG can support simple animation, though for more complex animated graphics a format like WebP or a video format may be more practical.
Is SVG safe to accept from other people?
SVG files can technically contain embedded scripts, so treat SVGs from unknown sources with the same caution you would any other file type from an untrusted origin.
Which format do most design tools export by default?
This varies by tool, but most modern design software offers both as export options — check your specific tool’s export settings for the option you need.
Is converting between them free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, and files are removed from the server automatically about an hour after processing.