Best SVG Optimizers Compared  SVGO, Nano SVG & Scour
SVG files from design tools contain bloat  compare SVGO, Nano SVG, and Scour for maximum file size reduction without breaking your SVG.
SVGO  The Standard SVG Optimizer
SVGO (SVG Optimizer) is the most widely used SVG optimization tool. It removes editor metadata, merges paths, minimizes decimal precision, and eliminates unused defs. Runs as CLI, npm module, or VS Code extension.
- CLI: npx svgo logo.svg -o logo.optimized.svg
- Typical reduction: 30–60% smaller SVG file size
- Configurable: disable specific plugins for animation compatibility
SVGO vs Nano SVG vs Scour
SVGO is fastest and most configurable. Nano SVG is a simpler alternative with good defaults. Scour is a Python-based optimizer that also handles SVG validation. For most web workflows, SVGO is the industry standard.
- SVGO: fastest, most configurable, npm ecosystem integration
- Nano SVG: simpler config, good for non-technical users
- Scour: Python-based, produces valid SVG, useful for cleanup
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SVGO break SVG animations?
Some SVGO plugins can remove animation-related attributes. Disable the removeHiddenElems and collapseGroups plugins when optimizing animated SVG, or use the --config preset:safe option.
How much can SVGO reduce an SVG file size?
Typically 20–60% depending on how the SVG was created. Inkscape SVG with namespace bloat reduces the most; hand-coded SVG has less to optimize.
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