HEIC vs JPG: which format should you use?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) is what iPhones save photos as by default since iOS 11. It halves file size versus JPG at the same visible quality — great for iCloud storage. The trade-off: HEIC is spotty on Windows, older Android versions, most CMSes, and plenty of web forms. If you're sharing iPhone photos beyond the Apple ecosystem, converting to JPG is usually mandatory.

Head-to-head comparison

Aspect	HEIC	JPG
Compression	HEVC (H.265)	JPEG (DCT-based)
Typical file size	About half the size of JPG	Baseline
Transparency (alpha)	No	No
Colour depth	10-bit possible	8-bit
Windows support	Since Win 10 with codec add-on	Universal since ~1995
Android support	Newer devices only	Universal
Web browser support	Safari only	Universal
Native on	iPhone, iPad, macOS	Everything
Best for	Storage on Apple devices	Sharing with anyone

When to use each

Use HEIC when

You're keeping photos on iCloud or Apple devices only
Storage space matters more than universal compatibility
You'll only ever open the photos in Apple's Photos app

Use JPG when

You're sending the photo to a Windows or Android user
You're uploading to a website, form, or CMS
You're embedding in a document, email, or presentation
You want the file to open on literally any device

The verdict

For anything leaving the Apple ecosystem, convert to JPG. The file gets bigger, but it also opens on every phone, laptop, and web form on the planet. Most people set their iPhone Camera to "Most Compatible" (Settings → Camera → Formats) to save as JPG directly, avoiding the conversion step entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my iPhone HEIC photos open on Windows?

Windows 10 (build 1803+) and Windows 11 support HEIC only after you install two separate paid codecs from the Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99). Without both, Explorer shows the icon but Photos fails to open the file. Most users find it faster to convert to JPG on the iPhone side.

How much smaller is HEIC vs JPG?

Typically 50% smaller at the same visual quality. A 4 MB JPG from a 12 MP iPhone becomes a 2 MB HEIC. Over an iCloud library of thousands of photos, that's hundreds of GB saved. This is why Apple defaulted to HEIC in iOS 11 (2017).

Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?

A small amount. HEIC uses HEVC compression which is more efficient than JPG, so converting to JPG at the same visual quality produces a bigger file. If you convert at JPG quality 90 or higher, the visible loss is imperceptible. At quality 80 you may see minor artifacts in skies and skin tones.

How do I stop my iPhone taking HEIC photos in the first place?

Settings → Camera → Formats → choose Most Compatible. iPhones will now save as JPG (photos) and H.264 (video) instead of HEIC/HEVC. Trade-off: 2× the storage used, but no more compatibility headaches. You can toggle back anytime.

Can I email HEIC photos directly?

iOS Mail and Messages automatically convert HEIC to JPG on send when the recipient is on a non-Apple device — most of the time. When it doesn't (third-party mail apps, forwarded attachments, saved and re-sent), the recipient gets an unopenable HEIC. Convert manually to be safe.

Does HEIC preserve EXIF and location data like JPG?

Yes. HEIC files carry the same EXIF metadata as JPG — camera model, exposure settings, GPS coordinates, timestamps. Converting to JPG preserves this metadata by default unless the tool strips it (some privacy-focused converters do, ours preserves it).

What about HEIF vs HEIC — are they the same?

HEIF is the container format (High Efficiency Image File Format, ISO/IEC 23008-12). HEIC is HEIF specifically encoded with HEVC. HEIF can also hold AVC, AV1, or JPEG. In practice on Apple devices, .heic and .heif files are the same thing.