HEIC vs JPEG: Which Photo Format Should You Use?
HEIC vs JPEG compared in plain words: file size, picture quality, what opens where, and when to switch your iPhone to JPG. Plus how to convert in seconds.
Updated · 4 min read
Use the free HEIC to JPG ConverterTurn HEIC files into JPG in seconds. Batch convert as many as you like.No sign-up, no upload – runs in your browserConvert nowHEIC vs JPEG comes down to one trade-off: HEIC photos are smaller, JPEG photos open everywhere. An iPhone HEIC photo looks just as good as a JPEG while taking up roughly half the space, but Windows, many websites and older apps can't read it. Keep HEIC on your phone to save storage, and convert to JPEG whenever you need to share or upload a photo.
HEIC vs JPEG side by side
| HEIC | JPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical file size | Smaller (often about half) | Larger |
| Picture quality | Excellent | Excellent at high quality |
| Colour detail | Up to 16-bit (iPhones save 10-bit) | 8-bit |
| Transparent backgrounds | Supported | Not supported |
| Several images in one file | Yes (Live Photos, bursts) | No |
| Opens on iPhone, iPad, Mac | Yes | Yes |
| Opens on Windows | Only with an extra extension | Yes |
| Accepted by upload forms | Often rejected | Almost always |
| First released | 2015 (on iPhones since 2017) | 1992 |
What is the difference between HEIC and JPEG?
Both formats store a photo by squeezing it into a smaller file. They just do it differently.
JPEG has been around since the early 1990s. Every phone, computer, browser, printer and photo website understands it. It is the "safe" format.
HEIC is Apple's name for photos saved in the newer HEIF format, using the same compression as HEVC video. It packs the same picture into fewer bytes. Apple made it the iPhone default in iOS 11 to save storage space. If you want the full background, read what a HEIC file is.
Where HEIC wins
- Storage space. Smaller photos mean more room on your phone and in iCloud. Over thousands of photos, that adds up.
- Richer colour. HEIC can hold more shades of colour, so skies and sunsets are less likely to show bands.
- Extras in one file. Live Photos, burst shots and depth information for Portrait mode can all live in one HEIC.
Where JPEG wins
- It works everywhere. No extensions, no errors, no "file type not supported."
- Upload forms accept it. Job applications, visa and passport sites, school portals and online shops nearly always ask for JPEG.
- Easy editing. Every photo editor, including old versions of Word, PowerPoint and Photoshop, can open it.
HEIC vs JPEG quality: can you see a difference?
For everyday photos, no. A HEIC photo and a high-quality JPEG of the same scene look the same on a phone or computer screen. The difference shows up in file size, not in the picture.
Converting a HEIC to JPEG does re-compress the photo once, but at a high quality setting the change is too small to notice. What you will notice is that the JPEG file is bigger. If that's a problem, the image compressor can bring it back down.
If you want a copy with no compression at all – for printing or editing – convert to PNG with HEIC to PNG. PNG files are much larger, though.
Which should you use?
Keep HEIC if:
- You mostly look at photos on Apple devices.
- Your iPhone or iCloud storage is often full.
- You're happy to convert the odd photo when needed.
Switch to JPEG if:
- You often send photos to people with Windows PCs or Android phones.
- You regularly upload photos to websites or forms.
- You don't want to think about formats at all.
To switch, open Settings → Camera → Formats on your iPhone and choose Most Compatible. Our iPhone guide walks through it, including what happens to photos you already have.
How to turn HEIC into JPEG
- Open the free HEIC to JPG converter on any phone or computer.
- Drop in your HEIC photos, or tap the box to choose them.
- Each photo converts in your browser within a second or two – nothing is uploaded.
- Download the JPEGs one at a time or all together as a ZIP.
Prefer the tools already on your computer? See the step-by-step guides for Windows and Mac.
Does converting keep the date and location?
It depends on the tool. The date a photo was taken, and the location if your camera saved one, are stored as hidden details inside the photo. Apple's own tools, like Preview and the Photos app on a Mac, usually keep them. Browser converters, including ConvertLime, save just the picture, which leaves those details out. That is handy if you'd rather not share where a photo was taken, but keep your HEIC originals if you rely on the dates for sorting.
What about WebP and AVIF?
You may see these newer formats on websites. Like HEIC, they make smaller files than JPEG, and unlike HEIC, modern browsers show them. They're great for websites – for example, JPG to WebP can make a site's photos load faster – but for sharing with family or filling in a form, JPEG is still the safest choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPEG?
At the same file size, yes – HEIC keeps more detail. At normal settings, most people can't see a difference between an iPhone HEIC photo and a high-quality JPEG of the same picture.
Why is a JPEG bigger than the same photo in HEIC?
HEIC uses a newer way of squeezing the picture, so it needs fewer bytes for the same look. A JPEG is often around one and a half to two times the size.
Should I switch my iPhone to JPEG?
Only if you regularly send photos to Windows PCs or upload them to websites and don't want to convert. Otherwise HEIC saves storage space and you can convert the few photos you need.
Is JPEG the same as JPG?
Yes. JPEG and JPG are the same format. The shorter .jpg ending comes from older versions of Windows, which only allowed three letters.
Do I lose quality converting HEIC to JPEG?
A tiny amount, but at a high quality setting it isn't visible in normal photos. The JPEG will simply be a larger file.
Can websites read HEIC files?
Many can't. Most upload forms and web browsers expect JPEG or PNG, which is why HEIC photos are often rejected.