The short answer
Keep HEIC on your iPhone and inside iCloud; convert to JPG the moment a photo leaves that world. Android 9+ can decode HEIC but many apps won't display or share it, and Windows needs a paid extension. ConvertX converts HEIC to JPG on Android itself, without uploading.
HEIC vs JPG at a glance
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Transparency | No | No |
| Animation | No | No |
| Keeps EXIF in ConvertX | No | Yes |
| ConvertX reads it | Yes (Android 9+) | Yes |
| ConvertX writes it | No | Yes |
| Extensions | .heic, .heif | .jpg, .jpeg |
HEIC: Apple's default photo format since 2017. Half the size of JPG, opens in few places outside Apple. JPG: The universal photo format. Small, lossy, opens everywhere, no transparency.
Choose HEIC when
- Storage on an iPhone or iPad.
- Live Photos, bursts and depth data, which HEIC keeps together.
Choose JPG when
- Sending to Android or Windows users.
- Uploading to web forms, marketplaces, print services and most CMSs.
- Editing in software that lacks an HEVC licence.
File size
HEIC photos are typically 40–50 % smaller than JPG at the same quality. Converting HEIC to JPG at Balanced quality roughly doubles the file; the picture looks the same.
Converting between them, offline
ConvertX converts on your device with no upload, in batches, and strips location data by default. HEIC: Input on Android 9 or later only (system decoder). Not on desktop.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just rename .heic to .jpg?
No. The data inside is HEVC, not JPEG; the file must be decoded and re-encoded.
Does HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
Slightly, as HEIC is already lossy. At Light or Balanced quality the difference is not visible.
Can ConvertX write HEIC?
No. It reads HEIC on Android 9+ and writes JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, BMP or TIFF.