diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4099323..458b0e6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ go run ./cmd/webterm -- --compose-manifest ./docker-compose.yaml
 - `WEBTERM_DOCKER_USERNAME`: user for Docker exec sessions
 - `WEBTERM_DOCKER_AUTO_COMMAND`: override auto command (`/bin/bash` default)
 - `WEBTERM_SCREENSHOT_FORCE_REDRAW`: force redraw before screenshots (`true/1/yes/on`)
+- `WEBTERM_SCREENSHOT_MODE`: screenshot format for dashboard thumbnails (`svg` default, set `png` to enable PNG)
 - `DOCKER_HOST`: Docker daemon endpoint override
 
 ## Development (Makefile-first)
diff --git a/webterm/constants.go b/webterm/constants.go
index 2955caf..2a38fdc 100644
--- a/webterm/constants.go
+++ b/webterm/constants.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const (
 	DefaultTerminalHeight = 45
 
 	ScreenshotForceRedrawEnv = "WEBTERM_SCREENSHOT_FORCE_REDRAW"
+	ScreenshotModeEnv       = "WEBTERM_SCREENSHOT_MODE"
 	DockerUsernameEnv        = "WEBTERM_DOCKER_USERNAME"
 	DockerAutoCommandEnv     = "WEBTERM_DOCKER_AUTO_COMMAND"
 	DockerHostEnv            = "DOCKER_HOST"
diff --git a/webterm/coverage_table.go b/webterm/coverage_table.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0310c3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/webterm/coverage_table.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package webterm
+
+import "unicode"
+
+const (
+	coverageSpace      = 0
+	coveragePunctLight = 32
+	coveragePunct      = 64
+	coverageLower      = 96
+	coverageUpper      = 112
+	coverageDigit      = 104
+	coverageDefault    = 96
+)
+
+var firaCodeCoverage = map[rune]uint8{}
+
+func init() {
+	firaCodeCoverage[' '] = coverageSpace
+	for _, r := range []rune(".,:;'\"") {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = coveragePunctLight
+	}
+	for _, r := range []rune("`") {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = coveragePunctLight
+	}
+	for _, r := range []rune("+-*/=<>()[]{}") {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = coveragePunct
+	}
+	for _, r := range []rune("|!#@$%^&?_") {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = coveragePunct
+	}
+
+	// Box drawing block — approximate light line density.
+	for r := rune(0x2500); r <= 0x257F; r++ {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = 72
+	}
+
+	// Block elements and shading.
+	firaCodeCoverage['░'] = 64
+	firaCodeCoverage['▒'] = 128
+	firaCodeCoverage['▓'] = 192
+	firaCodeCoverage['█'] = 255
+	firaCodeCoverage['▀'] = 128
+	firaCodeCoverage['▄'] = 128
+	firaCodeCoverage['▌'] = 128
+	firaCodeCoverage['▐'] = 128
+
+	verticalBlocks := []rune{'▁', '▂', '▃', '▄', '▅', '▆', '▇', '█'}
+	for i, r := range verticalBlocks {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = uint8((i + 1) * 255 / len(verticalBlocks))
+	}
+	leftBlocks := []rune{'▏', '▎', '▍', '▌', '▋', '▊', '▉', '█'}
+	for i, r := range leftBlocks {
+		firaCodeCoverage[r] = uint8((i + 1) * 255 / len(leftBlocks))
+	}
+}
+
+func coverageForRune(r rune) uint8 {
+	if value, ok := firaCodeCoverage[r]; ok {
+		return value
+	}
+	if unicode.IsSpace(r) {
+		return coverageSpace
+	}
+	switch {
+	case r >= '0' && r <= '9':
+		return coverageDigit
+	case r >= 'A' && r <= 'Z':
+		return coverageUpper
+	case r >= 'a' && r <= 'z':
+		return coverageLower
+	}
+	if unicode.IsPunct(r) || unicode.IsSymbol(r) {
+		return coveragePunct
+	}
+	return coverageDefault
+}
diff --git a/webterm/png_exporter.go b/webterm/png_exporter.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc2fe83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/webterm/png_exporter.go
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package webterm
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"image"
+	"image/color"
+	"image/draw"
+	"image/png"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/rcarmo/webterm/internal/terminalstate"
+)
+
+const (
+	pngCharWidth  = 8
+	pngCellHeight = 17
+	pngPadding    = 10
+)
+
+func RenderTerminalPNG(
+	buffer [][]terminalstate.Cell,
+	width, height int,
+	background, foreground string,
+	palette map[string]string,
+) ([]byte, error) {
+	if background == "" {
+		background = "#000000"
+	}
+	if foreground == "" {
+		foreground = "#d3d7cf"
+	}
+	if palette == nil {
+		palette = ansiColors
+	}
+	cellHeight := pngCellHeight
+	imgWidth := width*pngCharWidth + pngPadding*2
+	imgHeight := height*cellHeight + pngPadding*2
+	if imgWidth <= 0 || imgHeight <= 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	bgColor := mustParseHexColor(background)
+	img := image.NewRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, imgWidth, imgHeight))
+	draw.Draw(img, img.Bounds(), &image.Uniform{bgColor}, image.Point{}, draw.Src)
+
+	for rowIdx := 0; rowIdx < len(buffer); rowIdx++ {
+		row := buffer[rowIdx]
+		rectY := pngPadding + rowIdx*cellHeight
+		for col := 0; col < len(row); col++ {
+			cell := row[col]
+			if cell.Data == "" && cell.BG == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			x := pngPadding + col*pngCharWidth
+			fg := colorToHex(cell.FG, true, palette, foreground, background)
+			bg := colorToHex(cell.BG, false, palette, foreground, background)
+			if cell.Reverse {
+				fg, bg = bg, fg
+			}
+			bgColor := mustParseHexColor(bg)
+			coverage := uint8(0)
+			if cell.Data != "" {
+				coverage = coverageForRune(firstRune(cell.Data))
+			}
+			cellColor := blendColors(mustParseHexColor(fg), bgColor, coverage)
+			draw.Draw(
+				img,
+				image.Rect(x, rectY, x+pngCharWidth, rectY+cellHeight),
+				&image.Uniform{cellColor},
+				image.Point{},
+				draw.Src,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	var out bytes.Buffer
+	if err := png.Encode(&out, img); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return out.Bytes(), nil
+}
+
+func firstRune(value string) rune {
+	for _, r := range value {
+		return r
+	}
+	return ' '
+}
+
+func blendColors(fg, bg color.RGBA, coverage uint8) color.RGBA {
+	inv := 255 - uint16(coverage)
+	cov := uint16(coverage)
+	r := (uint16(fg.R)*cov + uint16(bg.R)*inv + 127) / 255
+	g := (uint16(fg.G)*cov + uint16(bg.G)*inv + 127) / 255
+	b := (uint16(fg.B)*cov + uint16(bg.B)*inv + 127) / 255
+	return color.RGBA{R: uint8(r), G: uint8(g), B: uint8(b), A: 255}
+}
+
+func mustParseHexColor(value string) color.RGBA {
+	value = strings.TrimSpace(strings.TrimPrefix(value, "#"))
+	if len(value) != 6 {
+		return color.RGBA{A: 255}
+	}
+	r, err := strconv.ParseUint(value[0:2], 16, 8)
+	if err != nil {
+		return color.RGBA{A: 255}
+	}
+	g, err := strconv.ParseUint(value[2:4], 16, 8)
+	if err != nil {
+		return color.RGBA{A: 255}
+	}
+	b, err := strconv.ParseUint(value[4:6], 16, 8)
+	if err != nil {
+		return color.RGBA{A: 255}
+	}
+	return color.RGBA{R: uint8(r), G: uint8(g), B: uint8(b), A: 255}
+}
diff --git a/webterm/server.go b/webterm/server.go
index d4df423..d85ac7b 100644
--- a/webterm/server.go
+++ b/webterm/server.go
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ type screenshotCacheEntry struct {
 	etag string
 }
 
+type screenshotPNGCacheEntry struct {
+	when time.Time
+	png  []byte
+	etag string
+}
+
 type wsClient struct {
 	routeKey string
 	conn     *websocket.Conn
@@ -164,6 +170,7 @@ type LocalServer struct {
 	theme      string
 	fontFamily string
 	fontSize   int
+	screenshotMode string
 
 	sessionManager *SessionManager
 	landingApps    []App
@@ -177,6 +184,7 @@ type LocalServer struct {
 	mu                    sync.RWMutex
 	wsClients             map[string]*wsClient
 	screenshotCache       map[string]screenshotCacheEntry
+	screenshotPNGCache    map[string]screenshotPNGCacheEntry
 	routeLastActivity     map[string]time.Time
 	routeLastSSE          map[string]time.Time
 	sseSubscribers        map[chan string]struct{}
@@ -231,6 +239,10 @@ func NewLocalServer(config Config, options ServerOptions) *LocalServer {
 	if fontSize <= 0 {
 		fontSize = DefaultFontSize
 	}
+	screenshotMode := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(ScreenshotModeEnv)))
+	if screenshotMode != "png" {
+		screenshotMode = "svg"
+	}
 	apps := append([]App{}, config.Apps...)
 	for _, app := range options.LandingApps {
 		apps = append(apps, app)
@@ -241,6 +253,7 @@ func NewLocalServer(config Config, options ServerOptions) *LocalServer {
 		theme:      theme,
 		fontFamily: options.FontFamily,
 		fontSize:   fontSize,
+		screenshotMode: screenshotMode,
 
 		sessionManager: NewSessionManager(apps),
 		landingApps:    append([]App{}, options.LandingApps...),
@@ -253,6 +266,7 @@ func NewLocalServer(config Config, options ServerOptions) *LocalServer {
 		},
 		wsClients:             map[string]*wsClient{},
 		screenshotCache:       map[string]screenshotCacheEntry{},
+		screenshotPNGCache:    map[string]screenshotPNGCacheEntry{},
 		routeLastActivity:     map[string]time.Time{},
 		routeLastSSE:          map[string]time.Time{},
 		sseSubscribers:        map[chan string]struct{}{},
@@ -812,6 +826,118 @@ func (s *LocalServer) handleScreenshot(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	writeSVG(responseSVG, responseETag)
 }
 
+func (s *LocalServer) handleScreenshotPNG(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if s.screenshotMode != "png" {
+		http.Error(w, "PNG screenshots disabled", http.StatusNotFound)
+		return
+	}
+	download := r.URL.Query().Get("download") == "1"
+	routeKey := r.URL.Query().Get("route_key")
+	routeKey, session, ok := s.chooseRouteForScreenshot(routeKey)
+	if !ok && routeKey != "" {
+		if _, exists := s.sessionManager.AppBySlug(routeKey); exists {
+			_ = s.createTerminalSession(routeKey, DefaultTerminalWidth, DefaultTerminalHeight)
+			deadline := time.Now().Add(500 * time.Millisecond)
+			for {
+				session = s.sessionManager.GetSessionByRouteKey(routeKey)
+				if session != nil {
+					ok = true
+					break
+				}
+				if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+					break
+				}
+				time.Sleep(20 * time.Millisecond)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if !ok || session == nil {
+		http.Error(w, "Session not found", http.StatusNotFound)
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeNotModified := func(etag string) {
+		w.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "no-cache")
+		w.Header().Set("ETag", etag)
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotModified)
+	}
+	writePNG := func(pngBytes []byte, etag string) {
+		w.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "no-cache")
+		w.Header().Set("ETag", etag)
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "image/png")
+		if download {
+			filename := sanitizeFilenameToken(routeKey) + "-screenshot.png"
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Disposition", fmt.Sprintf(`attachment; filename="%s"`, filename))
+		}
+		_, _ = w.Write(pngBytes)
+	}
+	useConditional := !download
+
+	s.mu.RLock()
+	cached, hasCached := s.screenshotPNGCache[routeKey]
+	lastActivity := s.routeLastActivity[routeKey]
+	s.mu.RUnlock()
+	if hasCached && time.Since(cached.when) < s.screenshotTTL(routeKey) && len(cached.png) > 0 {
+		if useConditional && etagMatches(r.Header.Get("If-None-Match"), cached.etag) {
+			if !lastActivity.After(cached.when) {
+				writeNotModified(cached.etag)
+				return
+			}
+		} else {
+			writePNG(cached.png, cached.etag)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	if s.screenshotForceRedraw {
+		_ = session.ForceRedraw()
+	}
+
+	snapshot := session.GetScreenSnapshot()
+	if hasCached && !snapshot.HasChanges && len(cached.png) > 0 {
+		if useConditional && etagMatches(r.Header.Get("If-None-Match"), cached.etag) {
+			writeNotModified(cached.etag)
+			return
+		}
+		writePNG(cached.png, cached.etag)
+		return
+	}
+
+	app, _ := s.sessionManager.AppBySlug(routeKey)
+	theme := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(app.Theme))
+	if theme == "" {
+		theme = strings.ToLower(s.theme)
+	}
+	palette := ThemePalettes[theme]
+	if palette == nil {
+		palette = ThemePalettes["xterm"]
+	}
+	background := palette["background"]
+	if background == "" {
+		background = ThemeBackgrounds["xterm"]
+	}
+	foreground := palette["foreground"]
+	if foreground == "" {
+		foreground = "#e5e5e5"
+	}
+
+	pngBytes, err := RenderTerminalPNG(snapshot.Buffer, snapshot.Width, snapshot.Height, background, foreground, palette)
+	if err != nil || len(pngBytes) == 0 {
+		http.Error(w, "Screenshot render failed", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+	hash := sha1.Sum(pngBytes)
+	etag := fmt.Sprintf(`"%x"`, hash[:])
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	s.screenshotPNGCache[routeKey] = screenshotPNGCacheEntry{when: time.Now(), png: pngBytes, etag: etag}
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+	if useConditional && etagMatches(r.Header.Get("If-None-Match"), etag) {
+		writeNotModified(etag)
+		return
+	}
+	writePNG(pngBytes, etag)
+}
+
 func (s *LocalServer) handleCPUSparkline(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	container := r.URL.Query().Get("container")
 	if strings.TrimSpace(container) == "" {
@@ -960,6 +1086,14 @@ func (s *LocalServer) handleRoot(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		if s.dockerWatch {
 			dockerWatchJS = "true"
 		}
+		screenshotEndpoint := "/screenshot.svg"
+		screenshotDownloadQuery := "sanitize_font_urls=1&download=1"
+		screenshotDownloadExt := "svg"
+		if s.screenshotMode == "png" {
+			screenshotEndpoint = "/screenshot.png"
+			screenshotDownloadQuery = "download=1"
+			screenshotDownloadExt = "png"
+		}
 		html := fmt.Sprintf(`<!DOCTYPE html>
 <html>
 <head>
@@ -1016,6 +1150,9 @@ func (s *LocalServer) handleRoot(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		let tiles = %s;
 		const composeMode = %s;
 		const dockerWatchMode = %s;
+		const screenshotEndpoint = %q;
+		const screenshotDownloadQuery = %q;
+		const screenshotDownloadExt = %q;
 		let cardsBySlug = {};
 
 		let searchQuery = '';
@@ -1035,8 +1172,8 @@ func (s *LocalServer) handleRoot(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		function downloadSanitizedScreenshot(slug) {
 			if (!slug) return;
 			const link = document.createElement('a');
-			link.href = '/screenshot.svg?route_key=' + encodeURIComponent(slug) + '&sanitize_font_urls=1&download=1&_t=' + Date.now();
-			link.download = slug + '-screenshot.svg';
+			link.href = screenshotEndpoint + '?route_key=' + encodeURIComponent(slug) + '&' + screenshotDownloadQuery + '&_t=' + Date.now();
+			link.download = slug + '-screenshot.' + screenshotDownloadExt;
 			document.body.appendChild(link);
 			link.click();
 			link.remove();
@@ -1282,7 +1419,7 @@ func (s *LocalServer) handleRoot(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 				return;
 			}
 			screenshotRequestInFlight = true;
-			const url = '/screenshot.svg?route_key=' + encodeURIComponent(slug);
+			const url = screenshotEndpoint + '?route_key=' + encodeURIComponent(slug);
 			const controller = new AbortController();
 			const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 5000);
 			const headers = {};
@@ -1468,7 +1605,7 @@ func (s *LocalServer) handleRoot(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 	</script>
 </body>
-</html>`, string(tilesJSON), composeModeJS, dockerWatchJS)
+</html>`, string(tilesJSON), composeModeJS, dockerWatchJS, screenshotEndpoint, screenshotDownloadQuery, screenshotDownloadExt)
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/html; charset=utf-8")
 		_, _ = io.WriteString(w, html)
 		return
@@ -1604,6 +1741,7 @@ func (s *LocalServer) Handler() http.Handler {
 	mux := http.NewServeMux()
 	mux.HandleFunc("/ws/", s.handleWebSocket)
 	mux.HandleFunc("/screenshot.svg", s.handleScreenshot)
+	mux.HandleFunc("/screenshot.png", s.handleScreenshotPNG)
 	mux.HandleFunc("/cpu-sparkline.svg", s.handleCPUSparkline)
 	mux.HandleFunc("/events", s.handleEvents)
 	mux.HandleFunc("/health", s.handleHealth)
@@ -1633,6 +1771,11 @@ func (s *LocalServer) evictStaleScreenshots(ctx context.Context) {
 					delete(s.screenshotCache, key)
 				}
 			}
+			for key, entry := range s.screenshotPNGCache {
+				if time.Since(entry.when) > maxScreenshotCacheTTL {
+					delete(s.screenshotPNGCache, key)
+				}
+			}
 			s.mu.Unlock()
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/webterm/server_test.go b/webterm/server_test.go
index c3d7e0c..afd20ba 100644
--- a/webterm/server_test.go
+++ b/webterm/server_test.go
@@ -455,6 +455,38 @@ func TestScreenshotAndETag(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestScreenshotPNGAndETag(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv(ScreenshotModeEnv, "png")
+	server, httpServer, _ := newServerForTests(t, false)
+	if _, err := server.sessionManager.NewSession("shell", "sid", "shell", 80, 24); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewSession error = %v", err)
+	}
+	resp, err := http.Get(httpServer.URL + "/screenshot.png?route_key=shell")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("screenshot request error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	etag := resp.Header.Get("ETag")
+	body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	_ = resp.Body.Close()
+	if etag == "" || len(body) < 8 || string(body[:8]) != "\x89PNG\r\n\x1a\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected png body and etag")
+	}
+
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, httpServer.URL+"/screenshot.png?route_key=shell", nil)
+	req.Header.Set("If-None-Match", etag)
+	resp2, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("etag request error = %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = resp2.Body.Close()
+	if resp2.StatusCode != http.StatusNotModified {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 304, got %d", resp2.StatusCode)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestScreenshotCreatesSessionFromRequestedRoute(t *testing.T) {
 	_, httpServer, _ := newServerForTests(t, false)
 	resp, err := http.Get(httpServer.URL + "/screenshot.svg?route_key=shell")
@@ -502,6 +534,24 @@ func TestDashboardIncludesContextMenuSanitizedDownload(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(text, "contextmenu") || !strings.Contains(text, "sanitize_font_urls=1&download=1") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected contextmenu sanitized download wiring in dashboard page")
 	}
+	if !strings.Contains(text, "screenshot.svg") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected dashboard to request svg screenshots by default")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDashboardUsesPNGWhenEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv(ScreenshotModeEnv, "png")
+	_, httpServer, _ := newServerForTests(t, true)
+	resp, err := http.Get(httpServer.URL + "/")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("dashboard request error = %v", err)
+	}
+	body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	_ = resp.Body.Close()
+	text := string(body)
+	if !strings.Contains(text, "screenshot.png") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected dashboard to request png screenshots when enabled")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestRootTerminalPageAndSparklineValidation(t *testing.T) {