HEIC vs JPG vs PNG: Which Format Should You Use?
HEIC, JPG and PNG can all hold the same photo, but they make different trade-offs between file size, quality and how many apps can open them. Here’s how to choose — and what you gain or lose when you convert.
Open HEIC to JPGHEIC: small files, limited support
HEIC stores an image compressed with HEVC, the same technology as modern video. Photos are typically around half the size of a JPG of similar quality, and the format supports 10-bit colour, transparency and several images in one file. Apple devices use it by default, but many Windows and Android apps, older software and websites can’t open it.
JPG: the format everything opens
JPG is lossy like HEIC but much older, so almost every device, app, website and print service accepts it. Files are larger than HEIC for the same visible quality, there is no transparency, and colour is limited to 8 bits per channel. For sharing photos, it is the safe choice.
PNG: lossless, but large
PNG stores every pixel exactly and supports transparency, which makes it ideal for screenshots, graphics and images you will keep editing. For photos, a PNG is usually several times larger than a JPG and gives no visible benefit once the photo has already been compressed as HEIC or JPG.
Quick rules
Keep the HEIC originals in your photo library — they are the best-quality copy. Convert to JPG to share or upload photos. Convert to PNG when an app needs PNG, when the image has transparency, or before editing so you don’t add another round of JPG compression. Converting never restores detail the original compression removed.
What converting changes
TextVix converts the main image in the file, applies its rotation, keeps its colour profile and leaves out metadata such as GPS location. 10-bit and HDR photos are reduced to standard 8-bit colour in both JPG and PNG.
Try HEIC to JPG
Convert iPhone HEIC photos to JPG in your browser — up to 30 at once, upright and with their colour profile.
Frequently asked questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At the same file size, usually yes: HEIC keeps more detail. At the same quality setting the difference is small, but the HEIC file is smaller.
Should I convert my whole photo library to JPG?
Usually not. Keep the HEIC originals and convert copies when you need to share them; converting everything makes the library bigger and loses a little quality.
Which format keeps transparency?
HEIC and PNG can; JPG can’t. Convert HEIC to PNG to keep a transparent background.