Compare
PDF vs SVG
Use PDF to share or print page layouts; use SVG for scalable logos, icons, and diagrams on the web.
Which format should you choose?
Choose PDF for paginated material and SVG for graphics that need to scale cleanly. Check the destination app and treat untrusted SVG files carefully.
Good fit for PDF
Document distribution · Print-ready data
- Sharing a fixed layout
- Handouts and deliverables
Good fit for SVG
Logos, icons, and diagrams · UI graphics needing scalable edges
- Illustrations resized across displays
- Simple editable shapes and icons
Basic information
| Field | SVG | |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .svg | |
| MIME type | application/pdf | image/svg+xml |
| Common uses | Document distribution · Print-ready data | Logos, icons, and diagrams · UI graphics needing scalable edges |
| How to open | Open PDF in a browser or PDF reader. | Open SVG in a browser, vector editor, or compatible viewer. |
| Export or convert | Print, extract text, or export images according to the purpose. Check page order, fonts, links, and image quality after conversion. | Export SVG to PNG when a raster image is needed. Check the target size, fonts, color, and transparency. |
Choose by use case
Sharing a fixed layout
Document distribution · Print-ready data
PDFHandouts and deliverables
Document distribution · Print-ready data
PDFIllustrations resized across displays
Logos, icons, and diagrams · UI graphics needing scalable edges
SVGSimple editable shapes and icons
Logos, icons, and diagrams · UI graphics needing scalable edges
SVGKey point 1
PDF is page-oriented; SVG describes vector graphics; conversion may extract elements rather than preserve a whole document page.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
PDF is suited to document layout and printing. SVG is a vector image whose shapes can scale without becoming pixelated. Conversion does not guarantee identical layout or editing.
Frequently asked questions
Can SVG replace a PDF for printing?
Sometimes, if the print workflow accepts SVG; for multi-page documents, PDF is usually the more suitable handoff.