HEIC vs JPG
HEIC and JPG both hold photos. HEIC makes smaller files and is the iPhone default. JPG opens on almost every device, app and website. Keep HEIC on Apple devices, and use JPG when you share.
HEIC vs JPG at a glance
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Smaller. Apple said up to about half the size of JPG for the same look | Larger |
| Picture quality | The same to the eye at normal settings | The same to the eye at normal settings |
| Opens on iPhone, iPad and Mac | Yes, since iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra (2017) | Yes |
| Opens on Windows | Needs Microsoft Store extensions on many PCs | Yes |
| Opens on Android | Many phones from Android 9 on | Yes |
| Websites and upload forms | Often rejected | Almost always accepted |
| Colour detail | Can store more than 8 bits per colour | 8 bits per colour |
| Extras | Can hold depth data for Portrait mode, image sequences and transparency | One flat picture |
HEIC is a kind of HEIF file whose pictures are compressed with HEVC, the same method used for modern video. JPG uses an older and simpler method. That is the whole reason HEIC files are smaller: the newer method packs the same picture into fewer bytes.
One real iPhone photo, measured
We converted one original 12 megapixel HEIC photo from an iPhone 17 Pro on 29 October 2026. This is one photo, so treat the numbers as an example, not an average: a photo of a plain sky and a photo of leaves will give different sizes.
| Version of the same photo | File size | Compared with the HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Original HEIC | 2.25 MB | 1x |
| JPG, quality 90, this site's converter in Chrome | 2.4 MB | About the same |
| JPG, quality 90, Apple's own encoder on a Mac | 3.69 MB | 1.6x |
| JPG, quality 100, Apple's own encoder on a Mac | 7.87 MB | 3.5x |
| PNG, Apple's own encoder on a Mac | 14.2 MB | 6.3x |
On quality, we compared the quality 90 JPG with the original using PSNR, a standard score for how close two pictures are. It scored 44.5 dB. Scores above 40 dB are generally seen as no visible difference.
So for this photo, JPG cost some extra space and no visible quality. That matches what Apple says about the format.
Which one should you use?
Keep HEIC when:
- The photos stay on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, or in iCloud Photos.
- Storage is tight. Smaller files mean more photos on the phone.
- You want to edit Portrait mode depth effects later.
Use JPG when:
- You send photos to someone on Windows or Android.
- You upload to a website, a job or school portal, or a print shop.
- You attach photos to email and are not sure what the other person uses.
You do not have to choose one for good. Keep the camera on HEIC and convert copies when you share. On iPhone, Settings, Photos, Transfer to Mac or PC, Automatic makes the iPhone send JPG copies when you copy photos to a computer with a cable. To make the camera save JPG from now on, go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose Most Compatible.
How to turn HEIC into JPG
Use the HEIC to JPG converter. It runs in your browser, converts hundreds of photos at once, keeps the date taken, and never uploads the photos. For every built-in way on each device, read how to convert HEIC to JPG.
Questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At normal settings they look the same. HEIC's advantage is size: it stores the same picture in a smaller file. It can also hold more colour detail, which matters mostly for editing.
Why does my iPhone save photos as HEIC?
Because the camera is set to High Efficiency, the default since iOS 11. It saves storage. You can switch to JPG in Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
A little in theory, because JPG compresses the picture again. At quality 90 the loss is not visible in normal viewing. On the one real photo we measured, the score was 44.5 dB, which reads as no visible difference.
Why is my JPG bigger than the HEIC?
JPG uses an older, less efficient compression method, so the same picture takes more space. If you need a small file, use compress HEIC to fit the JPG under a limit like 1 MB.
Should I set my iPhone to Most Compatible?
Only if you often send photos to Windows PCs or websites and do not want to convert them. Your photos will take more space on the phone.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
HEIF is the general format. HEIC is a HEIF file with HEVC-compressed pictures, which is what iPhones save. See what is a HEIC file.
Can Windows open HEIC files?
Many PCs need Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store first, and the HEVC one costs a small fee. A browser tool works without them. See HEIC on Windows.
HEIC tools
- HEIC to JPG ConverterThe main converter: HEIC photos to JPG in bulk, in your browser.
- HEIC to PNG ConverterHEIC photos to PNG, for editing and design tools.
- HEIC to PDF ConverterHEIC photos to one combined PDF, or one PDF per photo.
- HEIC to JPEG ConverterHEIC photos to JPEG, saved with the .jpeg file ending.
- HEIF to JPG ConverterHEIF and .hif files from phones and cameras to JPG, PNG or PDF.
- Bulk HEIC to JPG ConverterDrop a whole folder of HEIC photos, get one ZIP of JPGs.
- HEIC to WebP ConverterHEIC photos to small WebP files for websites (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).
- HEIC ViewerOpen a HEIC file in the browser and see its date, camera and location.
- Remove Metadata From PhotoStrip the location or all details from photos, without uploading them.
- Compress HEICShrink HEIC photos into small JPGs under a size limit, like 1 MB.
- EXIF ViewerSee a photo's date, camera, settings and GPS location, without uploading it.
- Remove Location From PhotoTake the GPS location out of photos and keep the date, without uploading.
On iPhone or iPad?
Convert right from the Photos app
The NoHEIC app adds "Convert" to the share sheet: select photos in Photos, tap Share, pick JPG, PNG or PDF. It keeps the date taken, so converted photos stay in order. No ads, no subscription: free for up to 25 photos at a time, $4.99 once for unlimited. Coming to the App Store soon.
See what the app does- Hundreds at oncefrom the photo picker, no library access needed
- Dates and names keptIMG_1234.HEIC becomes IMG_1234.jpg
- Fits upload formsset a size limit like "under 2 MB"