HEIC vs JPG on iPhone: Which Should You Use?
On this page, 6 sections
Keep HEIC unless something you use cannot open it. That is my answer, and the rest of this page is the reasoning. Where Apple has said something I quote it, and where Apple has not I say so.
I build Grabio, a free Shortcut with a Photo to JPG option, so weigh that. I will also tell you when you do not need it.
Short answer
- HEIC is what your iPhone camera records on the High Efficiency setting. JPG is what it records on Most Compatible.
- Apple says HEIF gives the same visual quality in less space. It publishes no ratio, so I do not quote one.
- Switch to JPG only when a site, app or computer rejects HEIC. Convert that one photo instead of changing the whole camera.
HEIC and JPG side by side
| HEIC (HEIF) | JPG (JPEG) | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera setting | Settings, Camera, Formats, High Efficiency | Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible |
| Storage | Apple: better compression than JPEG, so less space on your device and in iCloud Photos | The format Apple compares HEIF against |
| Visual quality | Apple: “the same visual quality” as JPEG. That is Apple’s statement, with no test shown. | JPEG’s main modes are lossy, per the Library of Congress |
| Size ratio | Apple publishes none | Apple publishes none |
| Opens fully on | iOS 11 or later and macOS High Sierra 10.13 or later. Other systems have limitations. | Apple calls the older formats “more broadly compatible with other devices and operating systems” |
| AirDrop, Messages or email to a device that cannot read it | May be shared as JPEG automatically | Stays JPEG |
| iCloud Photos | Kept in its original format | Kept in its original format |
| USB import to Photos, Image Capture or a PC | May be converted to JPEG. Settings, Apps, Photos, Keep Originals stops it. | Not affected |
| Camera support | iPhone 7 or later can capture HEIF. iPhone 17 lists HEIF and JPEG as captured formats. | Same iPhone 17 line |
What Apple says, and what it does not
Apple’s support page says HEIF and HEVC “offer better compression than JPEG and H.264, so they use less storage space on your devices and iCloud Photos, while preserving the same visual quality.” It was published on 5 December 2025.
That is the whole claim. There is no percentage, no test photo and no table behind it. Plenty of pages say HEIC is about half the size of JPG. I could not trace that to a primary source, so I do not repeat it. Your own ratio depends on the photo.
With Grabio Photo to JPG, a JPEG is saved to your Photos.
The diagram shows where a HEIC photo can turn into a JPG. Most of those turns happen to you rather than because of you, which is why what HEIC is is worth a read if a file ever surprised you.
When to keep HEIC, and when JPG wins
Keep HEIC when your photos mostly live on Apple devices and in iCloud Photos, where Apple says the original format is kept. Keep it too when storage is tight, since Apple says it uses less space. And keep it when you share with people on other systems, because Apple says it might convert the photo for them.
JPG wins when a site or app rejects the extension, when a Windows PC or an older device will not open the file, or when you want one format that opens everywhere. For those cases see converting HEIC to JPG on iPhone.
| If this is you | Do this |
|---|---|
| A job portal or form rejects your photo | Convert that one photo to JPG. Grabio’s Photo to JPG does it, or on a Mac use File, Export in Photos or Preview. |
| You sent a photo to a friend on Windows | Try sending it as it is first. Apple says it might be converted automatically. If it still will not open, convert it. |
| Photos arrive as JPEG after a USB import | Apple says the import may convert them. Turn on Keep Originals if you want HEIC. |
| Your storage is nearly full | Stay on High Efficiency. Apple says it uses less space. |
| You want every photo to open everywhere | Use Most Compatible, and remember Apple says it also moves new video from HEVC to H.264. |
How to switch your camera to JPG
- Open Settings, then tap Camera.
- Tap Formats, then tap Most Compatible.
- Shoot as normal. Apple says all new photos and videos will now use JPEG or H.264.
To go back, choose High Efficiency in the same place. Apple says the setting only appears on iPhones and iPads that can capture HEIF or HEVC. Note the video part: Most Compatible changes your video from HEVC to H.264 as well as your photos, and H.264 files are bigger. For the video side, see converting MOV to MP4.
How to convert one photo you already have
Changing the camera setting does nothing for photos you already took. For one photo, use the Shortcut:
- Add the Shortcut once from the install page.
- Open the photo in Photos and tap Share, then Grabio.
- Tap Photo → JPG in the menu.
- Grabio converts it on your iPhone, saves the JPG to your Photos and shows a Done alert.
Get Grabio, free
A Shortcut for your iPhone share sheet. Share a link to save it, or share a file to convert it on your device. No account.
On a Mac, Apple’s own route is to open the image in Photos or Preview, choose File, Export, then pick JPEG or PNG.
For a photo that is too large for a form rather than the wrong type, read fixing a photo that is too big for an online form or reducing a photo’s file size. Related guides: converting a HEIC photo to JPG for WhatsApp, converting an iPhone photo to JPG and saving an iPhone photo as JPEG.
Grabio does this step with an Apple action on your phone. How Grabio works sets out what it does and does not send anywhere.
HEIC vs JPG: FAQ
Is HEIC better than JPG?
Apple says HEIF has better compression than JPEG and keeps the same visual quality, so it uses less space. JPG opens in more places. Which is better depends on where the photo is going.
How much smaller is HEIC than JPG?
Apple gives no figure. Many pages say about half, but I could not trace that to a primary source, so I do not repeat it. The ratio depends on the photo.
If I switch to Most Compatible, do my old photos change?
Apple’s instructions describe new photos and videos only: they will use JPEG or H.264. The page does not say existing photos change.
Does sending a HEIC photo by AirDrop or email break it?
Apple says that if the receiving device does not support the newer format, the media might automatically be shared in a more compatible format, such as JPEG or H.264. Might is the word Apple uses, so check with the other person.
Does converting with Grabio upload my photo?
Grabio’s Photo to JPG runs Apple’s convert-to-JPEG action on your iPhone and saves the result to your Photos, so the photo is not uploaded for that step.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
JPEG’s main modes are lossy, per the Library of Congress, so a converted copy is a new lossy file. Keep the original HEIC if you may edit the photo again.
If you came here to pull a video down first, the best free video downloader for iPhone covers the same Shortcut.