Skip to the converter

How-to guides

HEIC vs JPG: which should you use?

Updated 2026-11-13

Quick answer

HEIC makes photos about half the size of JPG at similar quality, but fewer programs open it. Use HEIC to save space on your phone, and convert to JPG when you need to share, upload or edit a photo anywhere else.

Steps

  1. Check the file ends in .heic or .heif. That is what an iPhone saves by default.
  2. If you need to share or upload it, convert it to JPG with the HEIC to JPG converter on iDuckIMG, which runs in your browser.
  3. Keep the original HEIC if you may edit it again: it holds more colour detail than a JPG.
  4. To stop your iPhone saving HEIC, go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose Most Compatible.

The real differences

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) uses the same compression family as modern video. Apple made it the iPhone default in 2017 because it stores a photo in roughly half the space of a JPG, and it can hold 10-bit colour, depth data and several images in one file.

JPG is from 1992. Its compression is less efficient, but every phone, computer, website, printer and photo editor opens it without a fuss.

Why HEIC causes trouble

Many websites and forms refuse HEIC uploads. Windows needs an extra codec to show them, and older Android phones, some printers and plenty of older software cannot open them at all.

Converting to JPG costs you a little quality, because JPG is lossy and has less colour range. For sharing and uploads you will not notice. For serious editing, keep the original.

A simple rule

Keep HEIC while the photo stays on your phone or in iCloud. Convert a copy to JPG the moment you need to send it to someone or put it on a website.

Try it now

Questions

Is HEIC better quality than JPG?

At the same file size, yes: it keeps more detail. At the same quality it is about half the size. It also supports more colour.

Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?

A small amount, because JPG is a lossy format. At high quality settings the difference is very hard to see.

Where do I convert HEIC to JPG?

The HEIC to JPG converter lives on iDuckIMG, a sister site. It also works in your browser and does not upload your photos.

More guides