The short answer
Keep HEIC to store photos on an Apple device, where it saves space. Use JPG to share, upload, print or publish, because every program and website accepts it. When you need to switch, convert HEIC to JPG.
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy, efficient (HEVC) | Lossy, older method |
| File size | About half of the JPG at similar quality | About 1.5 to 2 times the HEIC |
| Color depth | Up to 16 bits per channel, usually 10 on iPhone | 8 bits per channel |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Several images in one file | Yes (Live Photos, bursts) | No |
| Depth map for Portrait mode | Stored in the file | No |
| Opens on Windows, web, email forms | Often not | Everywhere |
| Camera data (EXIF) | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Storing photos on iPhone, iPad, Mac | Sharing, uploads, print, the web |
File size in practice
- A 12 megapixel iPhone photo is usually 1.5 to 3 MB as HEIC and 3 to 5 MB as JPG.
- On a phone with 1,000 photos, switching to HEIC can save a few gigabytes.
- The size after converting depends on the JPG quality you choose. Quality 90 is a good balance, 80 to 85 for email.
Image quality
At the same file size, HEIC looks cleaner than JPG, with fewer blocky artifacts in skies and shadows. At the same quality setting, a JPG is simply larger. A converted JPG at quality 90 or higher looks the same as the HEIC original in a photo. The extra bit depth of HEIC matters for editing, because gradients can be adjusted with less banding.
Compatibility
This is the big difference. JPG opens on every device, browser, printer and website made in the last 25 years. HEIC needs extensions on Windows, does not open in most browsers other than Safari, and is rejected by many forms. Email and messaging apps often convert it for you, but not always.
Metadata and privacy
Both formats can carry the date, camera settings and GPS location. A converter that works in the browser, like this one, does not copy that data into the JPG, which is useful when you want to share a photo without its location. If you need the original data, keep the HEIC.
For websites
Do not publish HEIC. Browsers other than Safari do not show it. Use JPG, or better WebP, which is smaller than JPG at the same quality. The JPG vs WebP guide shows how to serve WebP with a fallback.
For print
Print shops and photo kiosks usually ask for JPG. Convert at quality 90 to 95 and keep the full size. For sharp results you need about 300 pixels per inch of print size.
How to choose: a checklist
- Storing photos on an iPhone or Mac and short of space? Keep HEIC.
- Sending, uploading or printing? Use JPG.
- Posting on a website? Use JPG or WebP.
- Editing the photo several times? Convert to PNG first.
- Do you want new iPhone photos as JPG? Set Camera, Formats to Most Compatible.
Converting between HEIC and JPG
Use HEIC to JPG for single photos and bulk HEIC to JPG for folders. Converting a JPG back to HEIC does not restore anything and makes little sense, because HEIC is only worth it as the format the camera saves. More background is in the HEIC format guide.
Need a JPG now? Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser, with nothing uploaded.