CUR vs PNG Format Comparison
CUR
Windows Cursor
image/x-win-cursor
VS
Portable Network Graphics
image/png
PNG
A complete technical comparison of Windows Cursor and Portable Network Graphics — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
PNG wins on browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | CUR | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | Yes |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| EXIF Metadata | ✕ No | Yes |
| ICC Color Profile | ✕ No | Yes |
Windows Cursor
image/x-win-cursor
Extension
.cur
Container
ICO/CUR Container File
Compression
Uncompressed (BMP) / PNG (Supported in newer versions)
Algorithm
None (DIB / BMP)Deflate (If PNG embedded)
Color Depth
1-bit (Monochrome), 4-bit (16 colors), 8-bit (256 colors), 24-bit (True Color), 32-bit (True Color with Alpha)
Developed by
Microsoft Corporation
Released
1985
Magic Bytes
00 00 02 00
Portable Network Graphics
image/png
Extension
.png
Container
PNG
Compression
Lossless
Algorithm
DEFLATE
Color Depth
1-bit, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit
Developed by
PNG Development Group
Released
1996
Magic Bytes
89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | CUR | PNG |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✓ 1
|
✓ All
|
Firefox
|
✓ 1
|
✓ All
|
Safari
|
✓ 1.2
|
✓ All
|
Edge
|
✓ 12
|
✓ All
|
IE (Legacy)
|
✓
|
✓
|
CUR
CUR Strengths
- Natively supported by Windows for desktop cursor customization
- Widely supported by modern web browsers for custom CSS cursors
- Supports an exact hotspot coordinate, which standard image formats like PNG and JPEG lack
Limitations
- Legacy format that is being gradually replaced by SVG and PNG for web implementations
- Does not support animation (animated cursors use the distinct .ani format)
- The MIME type is highly fragmented across systems (e.g., image/cursor, image/x-win-cursor, application/x-cursor)
PNG
PNG Strengths
- Lossless compression — zero quality degradation, pixel-perfect reproduction
- Full alpha channel transparency with 256 levels of opacity
- Ideal for sharp edges: text, logos, line art, screenshots
Limitations
- File sizes significantly larger than JPEG or WebP for photographs
- No native animation support (requires APNG extension)
- Not suitable for high-resolution photographs where file size matters
When to choose which format
CUR
Use CUR when…
- Operating System Custom Cursors
- Custom Web Browser Mouse Pointers (via CSS)
- Desktop Application UI
PNG
Use PNG when…
- Logos
- Icons
- Screenshots
- UI Assets
- Transparency
Convert & Edit Online
Free online web tools for CUR and PNG 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
PNG to WebP Converter
Modern Web
Convert PNG graphics to WebP for 26% smaller file sizes with alpha transparency.
Use Tool
WebP to PNG Converter
Lossless
Convert WebP images to lossless PNG format with transparency.
Use Tool