APNG vs GIF
GIF is universally recognized, but APNG usually wins on image quality and alpha precision. Use this page as a practical decision matrix.
Format comparison
| Feature | GIF | APNG |
|---|---|---|
| Color depth | 8-bit indexed (max 256 colors/frame) | 24-bit true color (16.7M colors) |
| Transparency | Binary transparency only | Full 8-bit alpha (smooth edges) |
| Compression quality | LZW with stronger banding artifacts | PNG-style DEFLATE, better for gradients |
| Visual fidelity | Dithering often required | Near-lossless appearance |
| Fallback behavior | Always animated | Can degrade to first PNG frame in old decoders |
Decision rule
If your animation needs clean anti-aliased edges, gradients, or partial transparency, APNG is usually the right default. Keep GIF only when ancient platform compatibility is the top constraint.