Updated June 2026 · ConvertCabin Guides
HEIC vs JPG
If you own an iPhone, your photos are probably saved as HEIC. Send one to a Windows PC or paste it into an old web form and it may simply refuse to open. Here is what HEIC is, how it stacks up against JPG, and when converting makes sense.
What each format is
HEIC is Apple's container for HEIF, a modern image format built on the HEVC video codec. It stores roughly the same visual quality as JPG in about half the file size, and supports extras like transparency, 16-bit colour and Live Photos.
JPG (JPEG) is the decades-old standard for photographs. It is lossy and less efficient than HEIC, but it opens on essentially every device, app and website ever made.
Side by side
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| File size (same quality) | ~50% smaller | Larger |
| Compatibility | Apple-first; patchy on Windows, older apps and some web forms | Universal |
| Quality | Excellent; supports 16-bit colour | Good; 8-bit |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Best for | Saving space on Apple devices | Sharing, uploading, printing anywhere |
When to keep HEIC, when to convert
Keep HEIC when the photos stay inside the Apple ecosystem and you want to save storage. Convert to JPG when you need to share with Windows or Android users, upload to a site that rejects HEIC, print at a lab, or guarantee a file opens for everyone.
All three run in your browser — your photos are never uploaded — and you can drop a whole batch at once.