Compare
PDF vs PNG
Choose PDF for paginated documents and print-ready layouts; choose PNG for screenshots, pixel artwork, or transparency.
Which format should you choose?
Use PDF for reports and multi-page handouts. Use PNG for screenshots and transparent raster graphics. Check image resolution when exporting.
Good fit for PDF
Document distribution · Print-ready data
- Sharing a fixed layout
- Handouts and deliverables
Good fit for PNG
UI graphics · Screenshots · Transparent images
- Images requiring transparency
- Text and line art
Basic information
| Field | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .png | |
| MIME type | application/pdf | image/png |
| Common uses | Document distribution · Print-ready data | UI graphics · Screenshots · Transparent images |
| How to open | Open PDF in a browser or PDF reader. | Most operating-system viewers, web browsers, and image editors can open PNG files. |
| Export or convert | Print, extract text, or export images according to the purpose. Check page order, fonts, links, and image quality after conversion. | Export PNG to JPEG only when transparency and lossless quality are no longer needed. Keep the original PNG for editing, and use a proper export command rather than changing the filename extension. |
Choose by use case
Sharing a fixed layout
Document distribution · Print-ready data
PDFHandouts and deliverables
Document distribution · Print-ready data
PDFImages requiring transparency
UI graphics · Screenshots · Transparent images
PNGText and line art
UI graphics · Screenshots · Transparent images
PNGKey point 1
PDF preserves a page-oriented document; PNG stores a raster image; exporting a PDF page to PNG turns text and shapes into pixels.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
PDF can contain text, vector graphics, and images across pages. PNG is a lossless raster format with transparency support. PNG is not an editable page-document format.
Frequently asked questions
Can PNG replace a PDF document?
Only if you need a flat image rather than searchable, multi-page document content.