HEIC vs JPG
HEIC is the container Apple uses for HEIF images on iPhones and iPads. It stores photos at roughly half the size of JPG with equal or better quality. JPG is older and far less efficient, but it opens on every device and platform without conversion.
Keep HEIC on Apple devices to save storage with better quality. Convert to JPG before sharing with Windows users, uploading to sites that reject HEIC, or printing — JPG is universally supported.
HEIC vs JPG: side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying tech | HEIF / HEVC (H.265) coding | JPEG DCT compression |
| File size | ~50% smaller than JPG | Baseline |
| Quality at same size | Higher | Lower |
| Compatibility | Apple, modern Android, limited elsewhere | Universal |
| Extra features | 16-bit color, depth, Live Photos, bursts | Single still, 8-bit |
| Default on | iPhone (iOS 11+) | Almost everything else |
What is HEIC and what is JPG?
HEIC
HEIC files use the High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) with HEVC/H.265 compression. They support 16-bit color, transparency, image sequences, and depth maps, and they cut storage roughly in half versus JPG. The catch is that many non-Apple apps and websites cannot open them directly.
JPG
JPG remains the lingua franca of digital photography. It lacks HEIC's efficiency and 16-bit color, but its near-universal support means a JPG will open on any phone, computer, browser, printer, or upload form without friction.
When to use which
Choose HEIC
Keep HEIC for photos that stay within the Apple ecosystem, where you benefit from smaller files, higher quality, and features like Live Photos.
Choose JPG
Convert to JPG before emailing, uploading to a site that rejects HEIC, sharing with Windows or older Android users, or sending to a print service.
Convert between these formats
Use our free, browser-based converters: