HEIC vs JPG – which is better?
Both formats store photos with lossy compression, but they make different trade-offs. Here's how they compare in practice – and a simple rule for which to use when.
At a glance
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size at the same quality | About half | Reference |
| Colour depth | Up to 10-bit | 8-bit |
| HDR | Yes | No |
| Transparency | Possible | No |
| Several images in one file | Yes (bursts, depth, thumbnails) | No |
| Opens on Windows without extras | No | Yes |
| Accepted by upload forms | Rarely | Almost always |
| Year introduced | 2015 (standard), 2017 (iPhone) | 1992 |
Image quality
At the same file size, HEIC keeps more detail: fine textures, gradients in the sky and dark areas look cleaner. At the same quality level, HEIC needs fewer bytes. JPG catches up when you give it more space – at high quality settings both look excellent.
Colour and HDR
iPhones record photos in Display P3, a colour range wider than the sRGB used by most monitors and websites. HEIC stores that, plus HDR information on newer models. A JPG converted properly keeps the colours looking right on normal screens, but the extra HDR brightness is lost – most people only notice it on an HDR display.
Compatibility
This is where JPG wins outright. Every computer, phone, browser, printer, social network and form understands JPG. HEIC is limited to Apple devices, most recent Android phones and Windows with extra extensions.
Which should you use?
- On your iPhone: keep HEIC. It saves storage and keeps the best quality.
- When sharing with non-Apple users, uploading or printing: use JPG.
- For editing with layers or repeated saving: convert to PNG, which doesn’t lose anything more each time you save.
If you need every photo as JPG from now on, see how to make your iPhone save photos as JPG.
Need a JPG now? Convert it here
Drop your HEIC photos here
or
You can also paste an image with Ctrl+V.
Converted on this device. Nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
A little, because the photo is compressed again. At JPG quality 90 or higher the difference is very hard to see, even when you zoom in.
Should I switch my iPhone camera to JPG?
Only if you regularly need JPGs straight from the phone. Otherwise keep HEIC to save space and convert the photos you share – it's quick and you keep the better original.
Which format is better for printing?
Print services almost always want JPG. Convert at quality 95 or higher for prints and photo books.
Learn more
- What is a HEIC file?HEIC is the photo format iPhones use by default. What it is, why Apple chose it, which devices open it, and how to turn it into a JPG when you need one.
- How to open HEIC files on WindowsWindows can't open iPhone HEIC photos out of the box. Four ways to view them – with Microsoft's extensions, free viewers or by converting to JPG.
- How to make your iPhone save photos as JPGThree ways to get JPGs from an iPhone – change the camera format, convert during transfer, or convert only the photos you share.