Compare
20 comparisons currently published.
- PNG vs GIF — PNG for stills, skip GIF for animation when you can.png vs .gif
For still images PNG wins on every axis. For animation, WebP or MP4 almost always beats GIF on size and quality.
- WebP vs JPG — which to ship on the web.webp vs .jpg
WebP is 25–35% smaller at the same quality and supports transparency. JPG is the universal fallback. Serve both via `<picture>`.
- APK vs IPA — mobile app distribution basics.apk vs .ipa
APK delivers Android apps; IPA delivers iOS apps. They differ mostly in sideload permissiveness and store gatekeeping.
- CSV vs TSV — which tabular format should you use?.csv vs .tsv
CSV uses commas; TSV uses tabs. The decision hinges on whether your data contains commas, quotes, or newlines — and on how the file will be consumed.
- DOCX vs PDF — edit vs final delivery.docx vs .pdf
DOCX is for documents still being edited; PDF is the locked-down final delivery. Attach both if the recipient might need either one.
- EPUB vs PDF — reflowable ebook or fixed-layout print.epub vs .pdf
EPUB reflows to fit the screen; PDF preserves exact layout. Pick EPUB for reading comfort, PDF for page fidelity.
- EXE vs MSI — choosing a Windows installer format.exe vs .msi
EXE installers are freeform; MSI is Microsoft's transactional package. Enterprise deployment strongly prefers MSI.
- HEIC vs JPG — how to store iPhone photos.heic vs .jpg
Apple markets HEIF/HEVC as a "high-efficiency" format that tends to produce smaller files at the same perceived quality. JPG remains the safer default for universal compatibility.
- JPG vs JPEG — the same format, with a compatibility caveat.jpg vs .jpeg
.jpg and .jpeg are byte-for-byte identical. The only reason to pick one over the other is compatibility with ancient tools that still only know the three-letter form.
- Markdown vs HTML — which one should you write in?.md vs .html
Markdown is easier to author; HTML is what the browser ultimately renders. Modern pipelines author in Markdown and publish HTML.
- MP3 vs FLAC — which should you use?.mp3 vs .flac
MP3 is lossy, compact, and universally compatible. FLAC is lossless, twice as big, and ideal for archival. Pick based on whether it is the master or a day-to-day copy.
- MP4 vs MOV — nearly identical, compatibility makes the difference.mp4 vs .mov
Both MP4 and MOV build on ISO BMFF. MP4 wins on broad compatibility; MOV is preferred inside Apple's editing ecosystem.
- MP4 vs WebM — which to ship for web video.mp4 vs .webm
MP4 has unrivalled compatibility; WebM with VP9 or AV1 delivers smaller payloads. Serve both for resilient web delivery.
- RTF vs DOCX — rich text versus the modern document.rtf vs .docx
RTF is OS-agnostic lightweight rich text; DOCX is the official modern Word format. DOCX wins for almost every use case.
- SVG vs PNG — which should you export?.svg vs .png
SVG for logos, icons, and diagrams; PNG for photos, screenshots, and bitmap assets. SVG scales infinitely, PNG is universally supported.
- tar.gz vs ZIP — Linux distribution versus Windows-friendly.tar vs .zip
tar.gz is Unix-idiomatic and preserves permissions; ZIP opens natively on Windows and macOS. Choose based on your audience.
- WAV vs MP3 — production master vs distribution copy.wav vs .mp3
Keep the master as WAV, ship MP3 to listeners. Different jobs, different files.
- XLSX vs CSV — which one for business data?.xlsx vs .csv
xlsx carries formatting, formulas, and multiple sheets. CSV is the minimal text-only table. Pick based on the consumer.
- YAML vs JSON — which one for configuration?.yaml vs .json
YAML favours human editing with comments and fewer braces; JSON is unambiguous and machine-friendly. Configure with YAML, transport with JSON.
- ZIP vs 7z — compatibility versus compression.zip vs .7z
ZIP extracts anywhere but compresses less. 7z squeezes more but requires the recipient to have matching tooling. Choose based on the distribution channel.