If you own an iPhone, every photo you take is saved as a HEIC file — whether you realise it or not. Apple switched its camera default to HEIC back in iOS 11, and for good reason: the format can cut photo file sizes roughly in half compared to JPG without any visible loss of quality. But the moment you try to share one of those photos with a Windows user, upload it to a web form, or attach it to an email for someone outside the Apple ecosystem, you may find it simply does not open. That is the HEIC dilemma in a nutshell, and it is why understanding the difference between the two formats actually matters.
What is HEIC?
HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container. It is Apple's implementation of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard, which was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group — the same organisation behind the MP4 video format. HEIC uses HEVC (H.265) video compression technology adapted for still images, which is why it achieves such impressive compression ratios.
A typical 12-megapixel iPhone photo saved as HEIC will land somewhere between 2 MB and 4 MB. The same photo saved as a JPG would be 4 MB to 8 MB. That difference adds up fast: if you take hundreds of photos on a trip, HEIC can save several gigabytes of storage. Beyond file size, HEIC supports 16-bit colour depth compared to JPG's 8-bit, which means smoother gradients, better shadow detail, and more accurate HDR rendering. HEIC also supports transparency (like PNG), Live Photos, and image sequences — features that JPG simply cannot handle.
The downside is compatibility. HEIC is natively supported on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and on Windows 10 and 11 with the right codec installed. But it is not universally supported across older operating systems, most web browsers until recently, and a huge range of third-party applications.
What is JPG/JPEG?
JPG — or JPEG, the names are interchangeable — has been the dominant photo format since the early 1990s. It was created by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (hence the name) and quickly became the internet's default format for photographs because it struck a useful balance between file size and image quality.
JPG uses lossy compression, which means it permanently discards some image data every time you save the file. At high quality settings (85–95%) this is essentially invisible to the human eye. At lower settings you start to see blocky artefacts, especially in areas with smooth colour transitions like sky or skin tones. JPG does not support transparency, 16-bit colour, or animation. It is a straightforward format: one image, compressed, delivered.
Its great strength is universal support. Every operating system, every web browser, every email client, every image editing application, and virtually every website that accepts photo uploads handles JPG without issue. That ubiquity is why JPG remains relevant even three decades after its invention.
HEIC vs JPG: Key Differences
Here is a direct comparison of the two formats across the factors that matter most in everyday use:
- File size: HEIC files are typically 40–50% smaller than JPG at equivalent visual quality. For the same 12-megapixel photo, HEIC might be 2 MB while JPG is 4 MB.
- Image quality: HEIC preserves more detail at smaller file sizes. It supports 16-bit colour and HDR. JPG is 8-bit and can show banding in gradients at high compression. At high quality settings, JPG still looks excellent for most uses.
- Compatibility: JPG works everywhere. HEIC works natively on Apple devices and recent Windows, but many Android devices, older software, web platforms, and online services cannot open it without a conversion step.
- Transparency: HEIC supports transparency (alpha channel). JPG does not — transparent areas become white.
- Editing support: JPG is supported by every photo editor ever made. HEIC is supported in recent versions of Photoshop, Lightroom, and Apple's own apps, but older software and many free tools cannot open it.
- Metadata and features: HEIC supports Live Photos, image sequences, depth maps, and auxiliary images. JPG stores EXIF data but nothing more.
When to Use HEIC
HEIC makes the most sense when you are staying entirely within the Apple ecosystem or when storage is your primary concern. If you shoot on an iPhone and view photos mainly on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, HEIC gives you noticeably better quality-to-size ratios with no friction whatsoever. iCloud Photo Library stores and syncs HEIC natively, so your library stays compact even as it grows.
Professional photographers who shoot on iPhone and process in Lightroom or Photoshop (recent versions) can also stay in HEIC throughout their editing workflow and only convert at export time. The 16-bit colour support means you have more data to work with when pulling shadows or correcting exposure.
HEIC is also worth keeping if you use Apple's own editing tools like Photos or Final Cut Pro, since they can take full advantage of all the format's capabilities including Live Photos and depth information.
When to Convert to JPG
Convert to JPG any time you are sharing a photo outside the Apple ecosystem. If you are sending a photo to a Windows user, attaching it to a work email, uploading it to a website, sharing it on social media, or submitting it to any online form, JPG is the safe choice. The recipient will always be able to open it.
Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn accept HEIC in some cases, but they re-encode the image on their end anyway — and the results are often better when you supply a high-quality JPG to begin with. Stock photo sites, print labs, and most government or official submission portals require JPG or TIFF and will reject HEIC outright.
If you are building a website or web application that needs to display user-uploaded photos, JPG (or WebP) is far more appropriate than HEIC. Most web servers and browsers will serve JPG reliably to every visitor.
Finally, if you are archiving photos for the very long term and are uncertain about future software support, JPG's decades-long track record of universal support makes it the more conservative archival choice — although HEIF/HEIC support has been growing rapidly and will likely be universal within a few years.
How to Convert HEIC to JPG
Converting HEIC files to JPG is straightforward. On a Mac, you can open the file in Preview, go to File → Export, and choose JPEG from the format dropdown. On Windows 10 or 11, the Photos app can open HEIC files (once you install the free HEIC codec from the Microsoft Store) and save them as JPG.
For a faster option that works directly in your browser without installing anything, you can use ToolChop's free HEIC to JPG converter. Upload your HEIC file, choose a quality level, and download the converted JPG in seconds. No software to install, no account required, and your files are never stored on our servers.
iPhone users can also change their camera settings to shoot in JPG directly: go to Settings → Camera → Formats and choose “Most Compatible” instead of “High Efficiency.” This means your phone will produce JPGs from the start, at the cost of roughly twice the storage per photo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At the same file size, yes — HEIC preserves more detail and supports a wider colour range (16-bit vs 8-bit). At high quality settings, both formats look excellent to the human eye for most photos. HEIC's quality advantage becomes more visible in challenging shots with fine detail, smooth gradients, or HDR content.
Will converting HEIC to JPG reduce image quality?
Any conversion between lossy formats involves some quality loss. If you convert at a high JPG quality setting (85–95%), the result will look indistinguishable from the original in normal viewing conditions. Avoid converting at very low quality settings (below 70%) if the image matters to you.
Why can't Windows open HEIC files?
Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC files, but only after you install the HEVC Video Extensions codec from the Microsoft Store (it costs a small fee or comes bundled with some editions of Windows). Without it, Windows has no built-in way to decode the HEVC compression that HEIC relies on.
Does converting HEIC to JPG change the file's metadata?
Most converters preserve standard EXIF metadata such as date, time, GPS coordinates, and camera settings when converting to JPG. However, HEIC-specific data like Live Photo information, depth maps, and HDR auxiliary images cannot be stored in JPG and will be lost in the conversion.
Should I shoot in HEIC or JPG on my iPhone?
If storage is a concern and you primarily share photos within the Apple ecosystem, shoot in HEIC. If you frequently share photos with non-Apple users or upload to services that don't support HEIC, shoot in JPG (Most Compatible mode) to avoid needing to convert every time.