lightbulbUnderstanding Image Formats
Your iPhone takes photos in HEIC. Your website needs WebP. Your printer wants JPG. Three formats, three different uses — here's when to use each one.
The choice of image format profoundly impacts everything from website loading speeds and storage efficiency to image quality and cross-device compatibility. For example, a single photo taken with an iPhone 15 Pro (48MP resolution) might have these file sizes:
- HEIC: 5.2 MB
- JPG: 8.9 MB
- WebP: 4.1 MB
warningThe Compatibility Trap
While newer formats offer impressive compression, compatibility remains a critical factor:
- HEIC: Primarily an Apple format. Windows 10/11 requires an optional codec pack, and many older applications or non-Apple devices cannot open HEIC files without conversion.
- WebP: Excellent browser support (97%+), but still has gaps in older email clients or some niche photo editing software. Always consider a JPG fallback for absolute maximum reach on websites.
- JPG: The undisputed champion of universal compatibility. If you need an image to be viewable by anyone, anywhere, without special software or updates, JPG is the only truly safe choice.
photo_libraryJPG (JPEG): The Universal Standard
The Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format, or JPG, has been the workhorse of digital photography since 1992. It uses lossy compression, which permanently discards some image data to achieve smaller file sizes. JPG supports 24-bit color, displaying millions of colors, making it suitable for complex photographic images.
speedWebP: Google's Modern Alternative
Introduced by Google in 2010, WebP is an image format designed for the web, offering superior lossy and lossless compression. It creates smaller, richer images that help websites load faster. WebP images are typically 25-34% smaller than comparable JPGs at similar visual quality.
diamondHEIC (HEIF): Apple's Premium Format
HEIC, or High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF), is a container format Apple adopted as the default for photos on iPhones and iPads with iOS 11 (2017) and newer. It uses the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC/H.265) standard for compression. HEIC files are typically about 50% smaller than JPGs of similar visual quality.
balanceFormat Comparison Table
| Feature | JPG | WebP | HEIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| File Size (relative) | Medium | Small (25-34% smaller than JPG) | Very Small (~50% smaller than JPG) |
| Quality | Good (Lossy) | Excellent (Lossy & Lossless) | Excellent (Lossy) |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Animation | No | Yes | Yes (for image sequences) |
| Browser Support | Universal (100%) | Broad (97%+) | Limited (Apple Ecosystem) |
| Editor Support | Universal | Growing | Limited (primarily Apple) |
| Best For | Web photos, social media, email | Modern web, performance, transparency | iPhone photos, Apple ecosystem |
ruleWhen to Use Each Format: A Decision Tree
Choosing the right image format can be simplified based on your primary goal:
- Maximum Compatibility: Need an image viewable everywhere, instantly? → Use JPG.
- Modern Website Performance & Features: Building a fast website with transparency or animation needs? → Use WebP (with a JPG fallback for older browsers).
- iPhone Photo Archiving: Storing high-quality photos efficiently on your Apple device? → Keep as HEIC.
- Sharing iPhone Photos: Sending HEIC photos to non-Apple users or uploading to most platforms? → Convert HEIC to JPG.
- Converting for Web: Optimizing an existing JPG for web performance? → Convert JPG to WebP.
errorCommon Mistakes to Avoid
- Converting HEIC → JPG → WebP: This "double compression" adds unnecessary quality loss. If your goal is WebP, convert directly from HEIC to WebP.
- Using JPG for Screenshots with Text: For screenshots containing text or sharp lines, PNG is almost always a better choice. JPG's lossy compression introduces artifacts that make text blurry, even at high quality settings.
- Ignoring Fallbacks for WebP: While browser support for WebP is strong, older browsers or email clients may not support it. Always implement a JPG fallback using the `<picture>` HTML element for maximum compatibility.
autorenewHow to Convert Between Formats
Given the compatibility challenges, especially with HEIC, converting images between formats is a common necessity. FastlyConvert provides a suite of easy-to-use online tools designed for exactly this purpose:
- HEIC to JPG: Quickly convert your iPhone's HEIC photos to the universally compatible JPG format for sharing with non-Apple users or uploading to most websites. Our HEIC to JPG converter makes it effortless.
- JPG to WebP: Optimize your existing JPG images for web performance by converting them to WebP. This significantly reduces file size while maintaining visual quality. Try our JPG to WebP tool.
- WebP to JPG: If you encounter a platform or editor that doesn't yet support WebP, you can easily convert your WebP files back to JPG using our WebP to JPG converter.
These tools use powerful server-side processing to ensure high-quality conversions without requiring any software installation on your part.
Need to convert your iPhone photos?
Don't let compatibility issues slow you down. Convert your HEIC images to JPG or WebP with ease.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my iPhone photos have a .heic extension and what are they?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) is the default image format used by Apple iPhones and iPads. It uses advanced compression to save photos at roughly half the file size of a traditional JPG, but with comparable or even better image quality, which helps save storage space on your device.
What is the main problem with using HEIC files?
The biggest issue with HEIC is its limited compatibility outside of the Apple ecosystem. While it works perfectly on iPhones, Macs, and iPads, many Windows PCs, older Android devices, and web browsers cannot open HEIC files natively. This often requires you to convert them to a more universal format like JPG before sharing.
Which format is best for websites: JPG or WebP?
For modern websites, WebP is generally the superior choice. It provides significantly smaller file sizes than JPG for similar quality, which makes websites load faster. WebP also supports transparency, unlike JPG, making it more versatile for web design elements like logos and icons.
Do all browsers support the WebP format?
As of 2026, browser support for WebP is excellent, with over 97% of modern browsers—including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge—able to display WebP images without any issues. While it's very safe to use for general audiences, JPG remains the only format with truly 100% universal support across all devices, old and new.
Can HEIC or WebP be used for social media?
It depends on the platform. Most major social media sites automatically convert uploaded images to a standard format like JPG or WebP for consistency and performance. You can upload a JPG without issue. If you upload a HEIC file, the platform will likely convert it, but to avoid any potential compatibility problems, it is often safer to convert HEIC to JPG yourself before uploading.