PicSVG vs VTracer: which one a designer needs

PicSVG and VTracer turn images into vectors. Compare each converter's own pages on price, systems, output and everyday use.

By 2Dex · 2026-10-17

2Dex is published by the makers of SageThumbs 2K, RēDesign and VectorMagik, which are compared here alongside other tools.

PicSVG and VTracer both change a picture into vector shapes. PicSVG is a free online converter that runs in the browser with no install ^[1]. VTracer is open source software that turns raster images like jpg and png into SVG, and it offers a desktop app for Windows ^[2] ^[3]. VTracer's page says it traces curves into compact files, handles coloured images, and was made for gigapixel blueprint scans and low resolution pixel art ^[2] ^[2] ^[2] ^[2].

Option	Price	Card fee	Systems	Output
PicSVG	Free ^[1]; the page says nothing about commercial use	Not published	An online converter, no install named ^[1]	SVG ^[1]
VTracer	Released under the MIT license, no separate price published ^[2]	Not published	A desktop app for Windows ^[3]	SVG ^[3]
VectorMagik	Free for everyone; business use needs a licence ^[4]	Not published	Windows x64, macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, Linux x64, plus a browser version ^[4]	SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG ^[4]

The short answer

PicSVG and VTracer both turn a picture into vector shapes. PicSVG is a free online converter that converts an image to an SVG file, running in the browser with no install needed ^[1]. VTracer is open source software that converts raster images such as jpg and png into vector graphics in SVG, and its page promotes a desktop app for Windows ^[2] ^[3].

VTracer's page says it can vectorize graphics and photographs and trace curves into compact vector files, and that its pipeline handles coloured images ^[2] ^[2]. It was also built for gigapixel blueprint scans and for low resolution pixel art ^[2] ^[2].

What PicSVG and VTracer are built for

PicSVG is a free online converter that can convert an image to an SVG file ^[1]. It accepts an uploaded jpg, gif or png file up to 4 MB ^[1].

VTracer is open source software that converts raster images like jpg and png into vector graphics in SVG ^[2]. It can vectorize graphics and photographs and trace the curves to output compact vector files ^[2]. Its page says its image processing pipeline handles coloured images, unlike Potrace ^[2], and that its output is much more compact because it uses a stacking strategy and avoids shapes with holes ^[2]. VTracer was originally designed for high resolution scans of historic blueprints up to gigapixels ^[2] and also handles low resolution pixel art for retro game artworks ^[2]. The desktop app adds an A/B comparator and a curve inspector ^[2] ^[2].

What VectorMagik is built for

VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site. It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine ^[4]. A designer saves the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG ^[4]. A tolerance slider merges neighbouring curve pieces, and Auto picks the largest tolerance that keeps the picture ^[4]. After converting, the designer can move or delete curve nodes and round individual corners ^[4]. Colours can be limited to between 1 and 64 ^[4]. It can add a die-cut sticker outline with a border, white rim and optional drop shadow ^[4]. A designer can click shapes to delete them, such as a background, or merge two shades into one ^[4]. The vector can be compared with the bitmap side by side, or flipped between them with the B and V keys ^[4]. A browser version runs with the same engine ^[4], and a command-line version does the same work without a window and lets an AI assistant trace pictures on the computer ^[4].

Pricing and fees

PicSVG's page describes it as a free online converter that can convert an image to an SVG file ^[1]. It doesn't say whether that free use covers commercial work, so read PicSVG's own page before using it for paid design. VectorMagik is free for everyone ^[4]; business use needs a licence because it is licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 ^[4]. No payment service or card fee is stated for any of the three tools.

Getting started and everyday use

PicSVG is an online converter, so there is nothing to install. A designer uploads a jpg, gif or png file up to 4 MB and converts it ^[1].

VTracer is open source software that converts raster images like jpg and png into SVG ^[2]. Its page promotes a desktop app for Windows with native speed, curve simplification and higher tracing quality ^[3], and offers a Download as SVG option ^[3]. In the app, a designer compares the trace against the original with an A/B comparator ^[2] and inspects fitted curves with a curve inspector ^[2]. Curve simplification gives fewer nodes, often half the file size ^[2].

VectorMagik installs with a Windows installer, a portable zip, a macOS zip, a Debian or Ubuntu .deb or a Linux tar.gz, all from GitHub releases ^[4], and downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel, and Linux x64, plus a browser version ^[4]. In daily use, a designer flips between the vector and the bitmap with the B and V keys ^[4].

Things to check before you choose

Which source files do you have? PicSVG's page names jpg, gif and png up to 4 MB; check whether your larger files are covered ^[1].
Where do you want to trace, in a browser or on your own machine? PicSVG is online ^[1], and VTracer's page names a Windows desktop app ^[3].
What format do you need in the end? VTracer's page offers SVG; check whether any tool you pick exports the format your next step needs ^[3].
Will you charge for the work? Read each tool's licence and terms before paid client work.
Which systems do you use? Check each tool's platform support against every machine you work on.
Do you want to adjust the result after tracing, such as editing nodes or limiting colours? Check which tool lists each task.

How to choose

You want an online converter with no install: PicSVG ^[1].
You want open source software you run on your own machine: VTracer ^[2].
You want a Windows desktop app with an A/B comparator and a curve inspector: VTracer ^[3] ^[2] ^[2].
You work with high resolution scans or low resolution pixel art: VTracer ^[2] ^[2].
You want compact output with fewer nodes: VTracer ^[2] ^[2].
You want to export to several formats and edit curve nodes after tracing: VectorMagik ^[4] ^[4].
You want to run the same tracing in a browser or through an AI assistant: VectorMagik ^[4] ^[4].

Frequently asked questions

Is PicSVG free?

PicSVG's page describes it as a free online converter that can convert an image to an SVG file ^[1]. The page doesn't say whether that free use covers commercial work. If the tool is for client work, read PicSVG's own terms before uploading a file.

Can VTracer convert photos as well as graphics?

Yes. VTracer's page says it can vectorize graphics and photographs and trace the curves to output compact vector files, and that its image processing pipeline handles coloured images, unlike Potrace ^[2] ^[2]. It was also built for high resolution scans of historic blueprints up to gigapixels and for low resolution pixel art ^[2] ^[2].

What file size can PicSVG accept?

PicSVG's page says it accepts an uploaded jpg, gif or png file up to 4 MB ^[1]. If the source files are larger than 4 MB, check whether another converter takes them ^[1].

Does VTracer have a desktop app?

Yes. The VTracer page promotes a VTracer Desktop App for Windows with native speed, curve simplification and higher tracing quality ^[3]. The app includes an A/B comparator to compare the trace against the original ^[2] and a curve inspector to inspect fitted curves up close ^[2]. Curve simplification gives fewer nodes, often half the file size ^[2].

What formats can VectorMagik export?

VectorMagik lets a designer save the traced result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG ^[4]. Colours can be limited to between 1 and 64 ^[4], and curve nodes can be moved or deleted after converting ^[4].

Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). ^[4]

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