📸 HEIC: Apple's default format. High compression — files are half the size of JPEG at the same quality. Limited compatibility.
🖼️ JPEG: The most universal format. Supported by virtually every device and platform. Great for photos, not for transparency.
🎨 PNG: Supports transparency and lossless compression. Larger files — ideal for logos, icons, screenshots, not bulk photos.
Same photo (4000×3000 pixels):
HEIC: ~1.5 MB
JPEG (high quality): ~3 MB
PNG: ~8-12 MB
HEIC preserves quality at half the file size of JPEG. That's why Apple chose it — to save storage.
📱 Use HEIC: iPhone photos, saving storage, sharing only within Apple ecosystem
🌐 Use JPEG: Website uploads, email, cross-platform sharing, social media posts
🎨 Use PNG: Transparency needed, screenshots, logos/icons, text-heavy images
Instagram: JPEG or PNG, max 30MB
Facebook: JPEG, PNG, GIF, max 10MB
Twitter/X: JPEG, PNG, GIF, max 5MB
WeChat Moments: JPEG, PNG, auto-compressed
Xiaohongshu: JPEG, PNG, 3:4 ratio recommended
Note: Most social platforms don't support HEIC. Convert to JPEG before uploading.
Q: Will HEIC replace JPEG?
A: Not anytime soon. JPEG's compatibility is too strong. Websites, email, and social platforms all favor JPEG.
Q: Does converting HEIC to JPEG lose quality?
A: Slightly, since JPEG uses lossy compression. But high-quality conversions (90%+) are virtually indistinguishable.