SVGO vs Scour — Which SVG Optimizer Should You Use?
SVGO is the standard Node.js SVG optimizer. Scour is a Python-based SVG cleaner integrated with Inkscape. Compare for your optimization workflow.
SVGO — Node.js SVG Optimizer
SVGO (SVG Optimizer) is the industry-standard SVG optimization tool. Run via npm, it offers 20+ configurable plugins for removing metadata, merging paths, minimizing precision, and more. Used by web build tools, Squoosh, and most SVG optimization pipelines.
- Install: npm install -g svgo
- Run: svgo --multipass input.svg -o output.svg
- 20+ plugins: remove comments, merge paths, precision, clean defs
Scour — Python SVG Cleaner
Scour is a Python-based SVG cleaner integrated into Inkscape's Save Optimized SVG dialog. It removes Inkscape editor metadata, unused defs, and cleans up SVG for web use. Less configurable than SVGO but convenient within Inkscape without a terminal workflow.
- Inkscape: File > Save As > Optimized SVG uses Scour
- Standalone: pip install scour; scour -i input.svg -o output.svg
- Best for: Inkscape-created SVG cleanup within a GUI workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SVGO produce smaller files than Scour?
Generally yes — SVGO with --multipass achieves better compression than Scour on most SVGs, especially complex illustrations. SVGO's plugin system targets more optimization passes than Scour's simpler cleanup approach.
Can I use both SVGO and Scour on the same SVG?
Yes — Scour first (as Inkscape's Optimized SVG export) for initial cleanup, then SVGO for deeper optimization is a valid pipeline. The combined approach often yields the best results on Inkscape-generated SVG.
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