What to know
HEIC produces smaller files at similar quality, while JPG is older and works almost everywhere. Convert HEIC to JPG when compatibility matters more than file size.
- Size: HEIC is usually about half the size of JPG at similar quality.
- Quality: HEIC supports more color depth; JPG is limited to 8-bit.
- Compatibility: JPG is supported almost universally; HEIC is not.
| Format | Compression | Typical size | Transparency | Compatibility | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEIC | Lossy (HEVC) | Smallest | Yes | Apple devices | Saving space on iPhone |
| JPG | Lossy | Small | No | Universal | Sharing photos anywhere |
| PNG | Lossless | Large | Yes | Universal | Graphics, screenshots, editing |
| WebP | Lossy or lossless | Small | Yes | Modern browsers | Web images |