BPG vs TIFF Format Comparison
BPG
Better Portable Graphics
image/bpg
VS
Tagged Image File Format
image/tiff
TIFF
A complete technical comparison of Better Portable Graphics and Tagged Image File Format — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
TIFF wins on browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | BPG | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | Yes |
| Animation Support | Yes | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | ✕ No | Yes |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | Yes |
Better Portable Graphics
image/bpg
Extension
.bpg
Container
Custom BPG Header
Compression
HEVC (H.265) Intra-frame / Lossless
Algorithm
HEVC (H.265)
Color Depth
8-bit (Per Channel), 10-bit (Per Channel), 12-bit (Per Channel), 14-bit (Per Channel)
Developed by
Fabrice Bellard
Released
2014
Magic Bytes
42 50 47 FB
Tagged Image File Format
image/tiff
Extension
.tif.tiff
Container
TIFF Tag Directory Structure
Compression
Uncompressed / LZW (Lossless) / ZIP / Deflate (Lossless) / PackBits (Lossless) / CCITT Group 3 / 4 (Fax) / JPEG (Lossy)
Algorithm
LZWZIPPackBitsCCITTJPEG
Color Depth
1-bit (B&W), 8-bit (Grayscale/Palette), 16-bit to 64-bit (RGB/CMYK/Float)
Developed by
Aldus Corporation (Now Adobe Inc.)
Released
1986
Magic Bytes
49 49 2A 00 (Little-Endian) / 4D 4D 00 2A (Big-Endian)
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | BPG | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ |
✓ 1.0+
|
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
BPG
BPG Strengths
- Exceptional compression efficiency that vastly outperforms standard JPEG at similar quality levels
- Supports high bit depths (up to 14 bits per channel), lossless compression, and alpha channel transparency within a single format
- The official JavaScript decoder allows the format to be rendered on standard HTML5 canvas elements
Limitations
- HEVC (H.265) patent encumbrance prevented native adoption in major web browsers
- Superseded conceptually by the open, royalty-free AVIF format
- Encoding BPG files is computationally intensive and requires specialized command-line tools
TIFF
TIFF Strengths
- Unparalleled flexibility: supports almost any color space (RGB, CMYK, Lab), bit depth, and metadata standard
- Lossless compression algorithms (LZW, ZIP) guarantee zero degradation of image quality
- Supports advanced features like multiple layers, multi-page documents, and alpha channels
Limitations
- File sizes can be massive, especially for uncompressed or multi-layered 16-bit files
- Poor native web browser support, rendering it useless for standard front-end web development
- The format's immense flexibility means some software cannot fully parse complex or proprietary TIFF extensions
When to choose which format
BPG
Use BPG when…
- High-Efficiency Image Archival
- Bandwidth-Constrained Environments (via JS decoder)
TIFF
Use TIFF when…
- Print Publishing & Pre-press
- High-Resolution Photography
- Master Archival Copies
- Medical & Scientific Imaging
- Geospatial Mapping (GeoTIFF)
Convert & Edit Online
Free online web tools for BPG and TIFF files.
Free Image Resizer
Editor
Resize, scale, crop, and modify dimensions for any photo or graphic.
Use Tool
Image Metadata Remover
Privacy
Clean EXIF, camera, lens, and location tags from your photos.
Use Tool
WebP to JPG Converter
Universal
Convert modern web images to universal high-compatibility JPG.
Use Tool
Compress WebP Images
Optimizer
Reduce image file sizes for faster web performance.
Use Tool