What is an SVG file?
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It was created by the World Wide Web Consortium and first released in 2001. SVG describes shapes as text instructions, so it stays sharp at any size and a simple logo can be under 5 KB. Turning it into pixels fixes it at one resolution, so choose the output size before converting.
| Type | image |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless |
| Colour | any colour, described as shapes rather than pixels |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | Yes |
| In a browser | renders natively in every browser |
| Common uses | logos, icons, charts and illustrations on the web |
| MIME type | image/svg+xml |
Which format should you convert SVG to?
- SVG to JPG for photos that must open everywhere and stay small.
- SVG to PNG for screenshots, logos and anything with transparency.
- SVG to WebP for the smallest file on a website.
- SVG to PDF to print, or to attach as a document.
- SVG to ICO to use as a website favicon.
SVG is lossless, so converting it to a lossy format is where the file gets much smaller.
How to open an SVG file
Whether an SVG file opens with a double click depends on the device. Here is what works on each, without buying software:
| Windows | The Photos app opens common image formats. If SVG is not among them, a browser or a free viewer such as IrfanView will open it. |
|---|---|
| Mac | Preview opens most image formats and PDF files; Quick Look (press the space bar in Finder) shows a preview without opening an app. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app and Photos show common image types and PDF files. Other formats need an app, or converting here. |
| Android | Google Photos and Files by Google open common images and PDFs. Other formats need a viewer app, or converting here. |
| Web browser | SVG renders natively in every browser. |
Want the technical details? See what a .svg file is, with its MIME type, file signature and a viewer.
SVG compared with other image formats
How SVG stacks up against the formats people most often convert it to or from:
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Released | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVG | Lossless | Yes | 2001 | logos, icons, charts and illustrations on the web |
| EPS | Lossless | No | 1987 | logos and artwork for print, and stock vector graphics |
| Either | No | 1993 | documents, forms, invoices and print-ready files | |
| AI | Lossless | Yes | 1987 | logos, illustrations and print artwork made in Illustrator |
| EMF | Lossless | No | 1993 | charts and clip art copied between Windows programs, and vector pictures in Office documents |
How to use the SVG converter
- Choose the format you want in the Convert to menu.
- Drop your SVG files on the box, or press Choose SVG files. Several files can go in at once.
- Adjust the settings if you need to; the defaults suit most people.
- Press Convert and save each file with its Download button. Converting to DXF, EMF, PSD, WMF uses our server, which deletes the file right after; the rest never leave your device.
Tips for converting SVG files without losing quality
SVG is a vector format, so it is a good source for any conversion. Converting it to another vector format keeps shapes as shapes; converting it to PNG or JPG draws it at one fixed size.
- Choose by content: photos belong in JPG or WebP, while screenshots, logos and anything with transparency belong in PNG or WebP.
- Resize before you send. A modern phone photo is far wider than any screen, and scaling it to 1920 pixels removes most of the file size.
- Keep originals. Re-saving a JPG again and again slowly degrades it; convert from the original each time.
- Converting through the browser removes EXIF metadata such as GPS location, which is useful when sharing photos publicly.
Convert SVG files from the command line
Everything this page does can also be done in a terminal. The most common SVG conversion, to PNG, looks like this with ImageMagick:
magick input.svg output.pngChange the output extension to pick another format. The converter above runs the same kind of conversion inside your browser, so you get the result without installing anything.
SVG converter FAQ
What is an SVG file?
SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics, an image format created by the World Wide Web Consortium in 2001. SVG describes shapes as text instructions, so it stays sharp at any size and a simple logo can be under 5 KB. Turning it into pixels fixes it at one resolution, so choose the output size before converting.
How do I open an SVG file?
SVG renders natively in every browser. If the program you need will not open it, convert it to a more widely supported format above.
What is the most common SVG conversion?
SVG to PNG is the conversion people search for most. The image is decoded and written as a lossless 32-bit PNG.
Does converting SVG files here upload them?
Only for some conversions. Converting to DXF, EMF, PSD, WMF uses our conversion server, where the file is deleted as soon as the result is sent back; the other conversions run inside your browser and never leave your device.
Is the SVG converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Conversions that use our server accept files up to 25 MB, with a fair-use limit per hour. The site is supported by advertising.
Can I convert SVG files on iPhone or Android?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on iPhone and iPad, or in Chrome on Android, choose your SVG files and download the results to your Downloads folder.
Can I convert several SVG files at once?
Yes. Drop as many as you like; they are converted one after another, each with its own download button.