TIFF vs PNG: Which Format Is Better?

Both TIFF and PNG are lossless image formats. At the same pixel dimensions and color depth, they contain identical image data — there is no quality difference between a properly converted TIFF and a PNG. The differences are in compression efficiency, compatibility, feature support, and what the formats are actually used for.

The answer to "which is better" depends entirely on what you're doing with the file.

Quality comparison: TIFF vs PNG

Converting a TIFF to PNG (or back) produces an identical image at the pixel level. Both formats are lossless. A TIFF and a PNG containing the same image will look identical on any screen because they contain the same data.

Where TIFF has an advantage in quality terms:

• Bit depth: TIFF supports 16-bit and 32-bit per channel. PNG supports up to 16-bit per channel but not 32-bit. For HDR photography and scientific imaging, TIFF provides richer data.
• CMYK: TIFF supports CMYK color space; PNG does not. Print production workflows that require CMYK must use TIFF.
• Layers: Photoshop TIFF files can preserve layers. PNG is always a flattened image.

For standard 8-bit RGB images — which is the vast majority of photography and graphics — TIFF and PNG have identical quality.

File size: which is smaller?

PNG is generally smaller than uncompressed TIFF. Comparable to LZW-compressed TIFF.

Practical file sizes for the same 20MP landscape photo:

• TIFF uncompressed: 137MB
• TIFF LZW compressed: 68MB
• PNG: 42MB
• JPG quality 90: 7MB

PNG wins against uncompressed TIFF because PNG's DEFLATE compression is more efficient than none. Against LZW-compressed TIFF, PNG is usually 20–40% smaller. Against ZIP-compressed TIFF, the difference shrinks further.

The important note: PNG is still much larger than JPG for photographic content. PNG's lossless compression doesn't match what JPG achieves with lossy compression. For web photos where transparency isn't needed, JPG at quality 90 is 6–10x smaller than PNG at equal visual quality.

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Compatibility: where TIFF and PNG work (and where they don't)

Environment	TIFF	PNG
Web browser (display)	Not supported natively	Universal support
iOS (Photos app)	Not supported	Full support
Android	Limited support	Full support
WordPress / CMS	Usually rejected	Supported
Photoshop	Full support	Full support
Commercial printing	Industry standard	Sometimes accepted
Email inline display	Doesn't display	Displays correctly
Figma / Sketch / design tools	Limited	Full support
Windows Photo Viewer	Supported (sometimes)	Full support

PNG wins on compatibility for every web and app context. TIFF wins in professional print and archiving. If you're working with clients who can't open your TIFF files, converting to PNG solves the problem without any quality loss.

When to use TIFF and when to use PNG

Use TIFF when:

• Sending files to a commercial printer or print production workflow
• Your files are CMYK and need to stay CMYK
• You're working with 16-bit or 32-bit image data for editing
• Archiving original scans for institutional or professional use
• Software specifically requires TIFF (some scientific tools, some GIS applications)

Use PNG when:

• Publishing to any website, app, or web-based tool
• Sending files to people who will open them on phones
• The image needs transparency
• Uploading to a CMS that doesn't accept TIFF
• Creating logos, icons, UI elements, or screenshots
• You want lossless quality with broader compatibility

For most web and sharing scenarios, PNG is the practical choice. For print production and archival workflows, TIFF is the standard. Both can coexist in a professional workflow — TIFF for the master, PNG for the web output.

Scanning: should you scan to TIFF or PNG?

Scanners default to TIFF for a reason: it's the archival standard for scanned documents and images, particularly at 300+ DPI. For archival scanning, keep TIFF as the master.

For scanned documents that need to be shared, emailed, or used in a web system — convert to PNG for lossless quality with full compatibility. Or convert to JPG if file size is the primary concern and the document is text-heavy.

The scan-to-PNG workflow: scan to TIFF (keeps the scanner's native output), then convert for distribution. Don't scan directly to JPG if you have a choice — JPG compression on scanner output can lose fine text detail at lower quality settings.

For more on the comparison, see TIFF vs PNG vs JPG — which format to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TIFF higher quality than PNG?

Not for standard 8-bit RGB images. Both are lossless, so quality is identical. TIFF is technically superior for 16-bit and 32-bit workflows, CMYK, and professional archiving. For ordinary photography and web graphics, the quality is the same.

Should I save my photos as TIFF or PNG for long-term storage?

For long-term archiving of original photos, TIFF remains the professional standard, particularly for 16-bit RAW exports. For most casual and semi-professional archiving, PNG is a perfectly viable lossless alternative and has better compatibility for viewing on any device. Both are far better than JPG for archival purposes.

Can I convert TIFF to PNG without any software?

Yes — the browser converter at the top of this page handles the conversion entirely in your browser. No software installation needed, no files uploaded to any server. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.