JPG VS HEIC
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Joint Photographic Experts Group and High Efficiency Image Container.
JPG
jpgUniversal image format with lossy compression, perfect for photography.
Pros
- Small file size
- Universal compatibility
- Adjustable compression levels
Cons
- Lossy compression (quality degrades)
- No transparency support
- No animation
HEIC
heicStandard format on modern Apple devices, highly efficient storage.
Pros
- Half the size of JPG
- 16-bit color
- Live photo support
Cons
- Limited support on Windows/Android
- Licensing issues
When JPG wins
Stay with JPG when you need web images or digital photography. Its strengths center on small file size and a feature set native to Joint Photographic Experts Group.
When HEIC wins
Choose HEIC when your workflow prioritizes iphone photography or apple ecosystem. It delivers half the size of jpg plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | JPG | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/jpeg | image/heic |
| Developer | Joint Photographic Experts Group | MPEG |
| Release Year | 1992 | 2015 |
| Best For | Web images, Digital photography, Email attachments | iPhone photography, Apple ecosystem |
Need to switch?
Where JPG still wins
Keep JPG when you need small file size and workflows depend on web images / digital photography. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship HEIC deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .jpg glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use HEIC for iphone photography while archiving originals as JPG.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.