Should I use HEIC or JPEG?

For most use cases, JPEG is the recommended default. Use HEIC when: camera sources, apple-focused workflows. Use JPEG when: web delivery, sharing, tooling compatibility.

Can I convert between HEIC and JPEG?

Yes. Use optimo to convert between them with a single command. Run "npx optimo file --format jpeg" to convert from HEIC to JPEG.

HEIC vs JPEG

HEIC is common from phones and efficient, but it’s not web-native. JPEG is universally supported and safer for sharing and delivery.

Last updated: 2026-03-18

HEIC is common from phones and efficient, but it’s not web-native. JPEG is universally supported and safer for sharing and delivery. For most projects, JPEG is the recommended default.

Key differences

Topic	HEIC	JPEG
Web delivery	Not ideal	Ideal
Tooling support	Mixed	Universal
Typical role	Source format	Delivery format

When to use HEIC

Camera sources
Apple-focused workflows

When to use JPEG

Web delivery
Sharing
Tooling compatibility

Our recommendation

For most web projects, use JPEG. JPEG is best for web delivery. Choose HEIC when camera sources.

Next steps

Optimize HEIC Compress HEIC Resize HEIC HEIC format guide

Convert between them

Convert HEIC to JPEG Convert JPEG to HEIC

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between HEIC and JPEG?: HEIC is common from phones and efficient, but it’s not web-native. JPEG is universally supported and safer for sharing and delivery.
Should I use HEIC or JPEG?: For most use cases, JPEG is the recommended default. Use HEIC when: camera sources, apple-focused workflows. Use JPEG when: web delivery, sharing, tooling compatibility.
Can I convert between HEIC and JPEG?: Yes. Use optimo to convert between them with a single command. Run "npx optimo file --format jpeg" to convert from HEIC to JPEG.