BMP vs PNG

BMP is an uncompressed Windows bitmap - full color, zero compression. PNG is lossless and about 10× smaller than BMP; BMP survives only in niche raw-buffer and legacy pipelines.

image format comparison

BMP.bmp

BMP is an uncompressed Windows bitmap - full color, zero compression.

Pros

Zero compression - every pixel stored exactly
Universal support in Windows and virtually all imaging libraries
Fastest to read and write - no codec needed

Cons

Huge files - a 12-megapixel photo is about 36 MB as BMP
No transparency in classic BMP
Obsolete for web or distribution use

PNG.png

PNG is a lossless compressed bitmap - the same image, much smaller.

Pros

Lossless with files often 5–10× smaller than BMP
Supports transparency (alpha channel)
Universal support in browsers, editors, and operating systems

Cons

Encoding takes slightly longer than writing raw pixels
Not a raw pixel buffer - some embedded pipelines prefer BMP
No advantage for short-term in-memory use

Which should you use?

BMP: Choose BMP when a legacy or embedded system expects an uncompressed pixel buffer.

PNG: Choose PNG for everything else: lossless, small, and universal.

Convert between BMP and PNG

Convert BMP to PNG →Convert PNG to BMP →

Free, runs in your browser - files are never uploaded.

Quick Answer

BMP and PNG are both image formats with different trade-offs. PNG is lossless and about 10× smaller than BMP; BMP survives only in niche raw-buffer and legacy pipelines. Choose BMP when a legacy or embedded system expects an uncompressed pixel buffer. Choose PNG for everything else: lossless, small, and universal.

Key Facts

BMP: BMP is an uncompressed Windows bitmap - full color, zero compression.
PNG: PNG is a lossless compressed bitmap - the same image, much smaller.
BMP strengths: Zero compression - every pixel stored exactly; Universal support in Windows and virtually all imaging libraries; Fastest to read and write - no codec needed.
PNG strengths: Lossless with files often 5–10× smaller than BMP; Supports transparency (alpha channel); Universal support in browsers, editors, and operating systems.
BMP trade-offs: Huge files - a 12-megapixel photo is about 36 MB as BMP; No transparency in classic BMP; Obsolete for web or distribution use.
PNG trade-offs: Encoding takes slightly longer than writing raw pixels; Not a raw pixel buffer - some embedded pipelines prefer BMP; No advantage for short-term in-memory use.
BMP to PNG and PNG to BMP are both perfectly lossless - the pixels are identical, only the file size changes.
PNG is lossless and about 10× smaller than BMP; BMP survives only in niche raw-buffer and legacy pipelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, BMP or PNG?

PNG is lossless and about 10× smaller than BMP; BMP survives only in niche raw-buffer and legacy pipelines. Choose BMP when a legacy or embedded system expects an uncompressed pixel buffer. Choose PNG for everything else: lossless, small, and universal.

Is BMP lossless or lossy?

BMP is lossless, so no data is removed. PNG is lossless, so no data is removed.

Can I convert BMP to PNG without quality loss?

BMP to PNG and PNG to BMP are both perfectly lossless - the pixels are identical, only the file size changes. You can convert either direction with the free tools linked on this page.

What happens to my file when I convert BMP to PNG?

BMP to PNG and PNG to BMP are both perfectly lossless - the pixels are identical, only the file size changes. Your original file is never modified - the converter downloads a new file.