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JPG to HEIC Converter

Store JPG photos as HEIC and get the same picture in about half the space.

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Up to 50 MB per file. Sign up free to convert files up to 100 MB.

JPG to HEIC: legacy compression to modern codec

HEIC's HEVC codec achieves 40-50% better compression than JPG's DCT algorithm at equivalent perceptual quality. The conversion decodes JPG's DCT-compressed data to raw pixels and re-encodes with HEVC's block-based prediction and transform coding. Since the source is already lossy, the HEIC output preserves the JPG's quality ceiling while potentially achieving smaller file size. HEIC also supports 10-bit color depth, though this provides no benefit when the source is 8-bit JPG.

Convert JPG to HEIC for integration into Apple photo libraries or when consolidating a mixed photo collection into HEIC format for iOS/macOS storage efficiency. The conversion saves space but limits compatibility with non-Apple platforms.

JPG vs HEIC: Side-by-side

Technical comparison of the two formats, useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.

Property JPG HEIC
Full name JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) High Efficiency Image Container
Year introduced 1992 2017
Developer / standard body JPEG Committee MPEG / Apple
MIME type image/jpeg image/heic
File extension .jpg / .jpeg .heic / .heif
Compression Lossy (DCT-based) Lossy (HEVC)
Color / data depth 24-bit truecolor 8/10-bit
Max dimensions / size 65,535 × 65,535 px 8,192 × 4,320 px
Transparency No Yes
Animation No Yes
Standard / specification ISO/IEC 10918 ISO/IEC 23008-12
Best for Photos, web images, email attachments iPhone photo storage (50% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality)

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

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

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

Can I convert JPG to HEIC without losing quality?

HEIC is Apple's efficient HEIF format. Converting to a lossless target such as PNG, TIFF or BMP preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy one such as JPG or WebP re-encodes the image, and iFormat uses a high default quality so the difference is invisible at normal viewing size. For the sharpest result, always convert from the highest-quality source you have.

What is JPG?

JPG is a lossy raster format, typically used for photos and web images where small size matters. Converting it to HEIC produces a file that opens on systems without JPG support.

JPG vs HEIC - which format should I use?

JPG is a lossy raster format best for photos and web images where small size matters. HEIC is Apple's efficient HEIF format best for iPhone photos at small file sizes. Choose HEIC when the site or application you are submitting to asks for it, or when you need high quality at a small file size.

How do I open JPG files?

On Windows: Photos, or any browser. On a Mac: Preview, or any browser. Universally supported, if a JPG will not open, the file is probably corrupt or misnamed.

JPG vs HEIC - which format should I use?

JPG is a lossy raster format best for photos and web images where small size matters. HEIC is Apple's efficient HEIF format best for iPhone photos at small file sizes. Use HEIC when a website, form, or app requires it, or when you need high quality at a small file size.

Should I convert my JPG photos to HEIC for iPhone storage?

It won't save meaningful space. HEIC is efficient when the camera captures directly in HEIC, but converting an already-compressed JPG to HEIC just re-encodes lossy data, the file may get slightly smaller but quality degrades further. For storage savings, convert future photos to HEIC at capture time.

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Image guides and fixes

HEIC Explained - Why Your iPhone Uses It and What to Do About It What is HEIC? Why does your iPhone use it? How to open HEIC on Windows and convert to JPG. Complete guide to Apple's photo format. RAW vs JPG: When to Shoot Each and When to Convert Every photography forum says "always shoot RAW" but that's not always the right advice. Here's when RAW genuinely matters and when JPG is the smarter choice. How to Compress WebP Images: Quality Settings and Best Practices WebP is already smaller than JPG and PNG, but you can compress it further. Here are the optimal quality settings and when to use lossy vs lossless WebP. AVIF vs WebP vs JPEG XL - Which Next-Gen Image Format Should You Use? AVIF, WebP, and JPEG XL all promise smaller files and better quality than JPEG. This guide compares them on compression, browser support, features, and real-world use cases.
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