HEIC vs JPG: Differences, Compatibility & When to Convert

Laura Cummins

Jan 15, 2026 5 min read

Updated Jan 15, 2026

Every photo your iPhone takes is a HEIC file. That works fine inside Apple's ecosystem, but the moment you try to upload one to a website, attach it to an email for a Windows user, or open it on an Android phone, you hit a compatibility wall. Here is what separates these two formats and when you need to convert.

HEIC or JPG: The Core Differences

JPG has been the universal photo format since 1992. HEIC arrived 23 years later, built on the HEVC (H.265) video codec -- the same compression technology behind 4K video streaming. Apple adopted HEIC as the default iPhone camera format in 2017 with iOS 11, choosing storage efficiency over compatibility.

The core tradeoff: HEIC produces files half the size of JPG at the same visual quality, but almost nothing outside Apple's ecosystem can open them natively.

File Size: HEIC Cuts Storage in Half

A 12-megapixel iPhone photo saves as roughly 1,750 KB in HEIC or 3,500 KB in JPG. That 50% reduction comes from HEVC's block-based prediction and more advanced entropy coding -- the same techniques that let streaming services deliver 4K video without melting your bandwidth cap.

For a 128 GB iPhone with 40,000 photos, the difference is concrete: HEIC photos consume about 70 GB, while JPG equivalents would fill the entire device. Apple's decision to default to HEIC was a storage play, and it works.

HEIC also stores 16-bit color data, compared to JPG's 8-bit. That means 65,536 shades per color channel instead of 256. The difference shows in smooth gradients, sunset skies, and HDR photography where subtle tonal shifts matter.

Compatibility: JPG Works Everywhere, HEIC Almost Nowhere

This is where the comparison tilts hard. JPG has 34 years of universal support. Every browser, operating system, image editor, CMS, email client, and social media platform reads JPG without hesitation.

HEIC support is far more limited:

• Browsers: Only Safari on macOS and iOS displays HEIC natively. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge cannot render HEIC files. That leaves 82% of web users unable to see your images.
• Windows: Windows 10 and 11 require the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Without it, HEIC files appear as blank icons in File Explorer.
• Android: Android 10+ includes HEIC decoding support, but most Android camera apps still default to JPG.
• Software: Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom added HEIC support in 2020. Many other image editors still cannot open the format.

Apple built a quiet workaround into iOS: when you share a HEIC photo via email or Messages to a non-Apple device, the phone automatically converts it to JPG. But this only works for direct sharing from the Photos app. Uploading to a website, CMS, or web form does not trigger automatic conversion.

How to Convert HEIC to JPG for Web Use

If you need to get HEIC photos onto a website or share them broadly, conversion is required. Here is the fastest approach:

1. Collect your HEIC photos. Export the HEIC files you need from your iPhone or Mac. Use AirDrop, iCloud, or a USB cable to transfer them to your computer and gather them in one folder.
2. Upload to LighterImage. Drag your HEIC photos into the upload area. The tool accepts HEIC files directly without any pre-conversion step.
3. Automatic conversion and compression. LighterImage converts HEIC to JPG and compresses the output in a single step. No separate conversion tool needed.
4. Download web-ready JPGs. The output files work on every browser, device, and platform. Use them for websites, email attachments, social media, or any sharing context.

If you are preparing photos for a specific size requirement -- such as a US visa or passport photo -- convert from HEIC first, then resize to the exact dimensions needed.

When to Convert HEIC to JPG (and When Not To)

Keep HEIC when...

• Storing photos on your iPhone or iPad where storage space matters
• Sharing within the Apple ecosystem via AirDrop or iCloud Photo Sharing
• Archiving HDR photography where 16-bit color depth preserves more detail
• Using Live Photos or burst sequences, which HEIC stores in a single container file

Convert to JPG when...

• Uploading images to any website or CMS platform
• Sending photos by email to recipients who may not use Apple devices
• Posting to social media platforms or e-commerce product listings
• Sharing with anyone on Windows, Android, or Linux

For more on image format differences, browse our format comparisons or read about sending high-resolution photos by email.