If you have an iPhone, you have probably met both. Photos are captured as HEIC by default; but when you email them or upload them to a website, they sometimes become JPG, or arrive as a file that will not open. Here is the short version of what is going on.
Side by side
| HEIC / HEIF | JPG / JPEG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Modern (HEVC), roughly half the size for similar quality | Older (1992), larger files for the same quality |
| Colour depth | Up to 10-bit and wide colour | 8-bit |
| Extras | Transparency, depth data, multiple images, Live Photo parts | One flat image |
| Compatibility | Great on Apple devices; patchy on Windows, Linux and the web | Opens on virtually everything made in the last 25 years |
| Editing | Supported in major editors, with caveats | Universal |
Why HEIC exists
Phones take a lot of pictures, and storage is finite. HEIC squeezes the same image into a smaller file, which is why Apple made it the default on iPhones. The downside is licensing and software support: the underlying video codec has patent baggage, so some operating systems and browsers ship with partial support or ask you to install an extension.
When to keep HEIC
- You live inside the Apple ecosystem and mostly view photos on Apple devices.
- You want to save space in your library.
- You plan to edit with software that understands HEIC and want the extra colour range.
When to convert to JPG
- You are sending photos to someone whose device may not support HEIC.
- You are uploading to a site or a form that only accepts JPG or PNG.
- You are sending photos to be printed.
- You are archiving files for the long term. JPG will be readable for as long as computers exist.
Converting without a quality disaster
Converting HEIC to JPG is a second round of lossy compression, but at around 85–90% the extra loss is almost impossible to see. File sizes will grow, because JPG is less efficient. Convert a copy and keep your originals if the photos matter.
The HEIC to JPG converter on this site handles batches with a quality slider, and does it entirely in your browser, so you do not have to hand your family photos to an upload service.
Prefer JPG from the start?
On an iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. New photos will be JPG. Your existing ones stay as they are.
A side effect worth knowing
Conversion through our tool outputs the pixels only, so the new JPG does not carry the original's EXIF location or timestamps. Good for privacy; just remember to note the date elsewhere if you need it.
Try it yourself
Use the HEIC to JPG Converter. It runs in your browser and your files stay on your device.