HEIC vs JPG: what’s the difference, and how to convert

2026-06-19

Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC by default. It's a modern, efficient format — but it doesn't open everywhere, which is why you sometimes need a plain old JPG.

What is HEIC?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) stores HEVC-compressed images at roughly half the size of JPG for similar quality. Great for saving phone storage — less great when you email a photo to someone on Windows or upload it to an older web form.

HEIC vs JPG at a glance

• File size: HEIC is ~50% smaller than JPG at similar quality.
• Compatibility: JPG opens literally everywhere; HEIC support is still patchy outside Apple.
• Features: HEIC supports transparency, 16-bit colour and image sequences; JPG is 8-bit and opaque.

How to convert HEIC to JPG

Open the Image Converter, drop your .heic files, choose JPG (or PNG/WebP), and download. It decodes HEIC right in your browser — your photos never leave your device.

Want smaller files instead of a format change? Try the Image Compressor. Need a specific size for an upload? Use the Image Resizer.