Quick Verdict
Use PDF when…
Use PDF for modern document workflows — sharing, archival, OCR, web display, e-mail attachments, and almost everything.
Use TIFF when…
Use TIFF for medical imaging (DICOM uses TIFF internally), fax archives (Group 4 TIFF), and high-volume scanning systems that haven't migrated to PDF/A.
Convert PDF and TIFF files
Free, browser-based converters — no upload, no signup required.
Popular PDF converters: JPG to PDF · PDF to JPG · PNG to PDF
Popular TIFF converters: TIFF to JPG · TIFF to PNG · PNG to TIFF
PDF vs TIFF: Feature Comparison
| Feature | TIFF | |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-page | Yes | Yes |
| OCR text layer | Yes (searchable PDF) | External (separate file) |
| Vector graphics | Yes | No (raster only) |
| Compression | Per-element (mixed) | LZW, ZIP, JPEG, Group 4 fax |
| Browser support | Universal | None (download only) |
| Industry use | Universal | Medical, legal archives, fax |
When PDF wins
- ✓Multi-page: Yes
- ✓OCR text layer: Yes (searchable PDF)
- ✓Vector graphics: Yes
When TIFF wins
- ✓Multi-page: Yes
- ✓OCR text layer: External (separate file)
- ✓Vector graphics: No (raster only)
Frequently asked questions
Should I convert TIFF archives to PDF?
Generally yes — PDF (especially PDF/A) is the modern archival standard with broad tool support. TIFF archives from old systems benefit from migration to searchable PDF/A for long-term accessibility.
Which has better quality for scans?
Effectively identical when both use high-quality settings. TIFF with LZW or ZIP compression is lossless. PDF can embed TIFF images losslessly. The choice is about workflow and access, not quality.
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