HEIC vs JPG: What's the Difference?
The short version
| Feature | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| File size | ~50% smaller than JPG | Larger, especially at high quality |
| Colour depth | 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Transparency | Yes (optional) | No |
| Compatibility | Apple-native; limited elsewhere | Universal |
| Browser support | Limited (Safari only natively) | All browsers |
| Editing support | Limited third-party support | Universal |
| Upload form support | Often rejected | Accepted everywhere |
File size and compression
HEIC wins on compression. The format uses HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), which is a more advanced algorithm than the decades-old JPEG compression. The practical result is that a HEIC file is typically around half the size of a JPEG with equivalent visual quality.
For a single photo the difference might be 1.5MB vs 3MB — noticeable, but not transformative. Across 10,000 photos, that difference becomes significant storage savings.
Image quality
HEIC supports 16-bit colour depth versus JPEG's 8-bit. In most everyday photos this difference is invisible. Where it matters is in high-contrast scenes, night photography, and professional post-processing — HEIC retains more tonal information for editing.
For a passport photo destined for a government portal, the quality difference is irrelevant. For a landscape photo you plan to edit in Lightroom, HEIC's quality advantage is meaningful.
Compatibility
This is where HEIC falls short. JPG is a 30-year-old standard and works on every device, browser, operating system, and application on the planet. HEIC is comparatively new and was championed by Apple, which means support outside Apple's own ecosystem is inconsistent.
Windows 11 can open HEIC files if you install the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Most web browsers cannot display HEIC images natively (except Safari). Most websites, portals, and upload forms reject HEIC.
When to keep HEIC vs when to convert
- Keep HEIC if you are only using photos on your Apple devices or sharing within Apple ecosystem apps. The storage savings are real and the quality is good.
- Convert to JPG when you need to upload to a website, form, or any system outside Apple's ecosystem. Any portal asking for a “JPG photo” will reject HEIC.
The simplest workflow: leave your iPhone camera on High Efficiency for storage, but convert to JPG when you need to upload or share externally.
How to convert HEIC to JPG
Use ToolKB's HEIC to JPG converter — it runs in your browser using WebAssembly. No file upload, no account, no software. You select the HEIC file, the browser converts it, and you download the JPG.
If the resulting JPG needs to meet a specific file size limit, use the image compressor to reduce it to any KB target.