Quick Answer
HEIC wins on compression (slightly) and iPhone integration. WebP wins on browser support (95%+ vs ~0% for HEIC) and web compatibility. Use HEIC on your iPhone to save storage. Use WebP for your website. Use JPG when you need universal compatibility everywhere. Convert HEIC to JPG with the HEIC to JPG Converter extension.
Both HEIC and WebP were created to solve the same problem: JPG's outdated compression technology wastes storage and bandwidth. Both succeed technically. But they evolved in entirely different ecosystems — HEIC as Apple's iPhone format, WebP as Google's web format — and that shapes where each one makes sense.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | HEIC | WebP | JPG (baseline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Apple / MPEG | JPEG Committee | |
| Codec | HEVC (H.265) | VP8 / VP8L | DCT (JPEG) |
| License | Patented (HEVC) | Royalty-free | Royalty-free |
| Year introduced | 2017 (iPhone) | 2010 | 1992 |
| Compression vs JPG | ~50% smaller | ~30% smaller | Baseline |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | No |
| Animation | Yes (HEIF sequences) | Yes (Animated WebP) | No |
| Lossless mode | Yes | Yes (WebP lossless) | No |
| Chrome support | No | Yes (since 2014) | Yes |
| Firefox support | No | Yes (since 2019) | Yes |
| Safari support | Yes (Apple only) | Yes (since 2020) | Yes |
| iPhone native format | Yes | No | Optional (Most Compatible) |
Compression Efficiency
Both HEIC and WebP outperform JPG in compression efficiency. Head-to-head comparisons in multiple studies show:
- HEIC is typically 5–15% smaller than WebP at equivalent quality settings
- Both are roughly 30–50% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality
- The advantage varies by image content — HEIC performs best on smooth, photographic content; WebP is more consistent across content types
In practical terms, the compression difference between HEIC and WebP is much smaller than the shared advantage both have over JPG. For most use cases, either format provides excellent storage efficiency compared to JPG.
Convert HEIC to JPG for Universal Use
JPG remains the safest choice for sharing everywhere. Convert HEIC in your browser — no uploads.
Get HEIC to JPG ConverterBrowser Support: The Key Difference
Browser support is where WebP decisively wins over HEIC:
| Browser | WebP Support | HEIC Support |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome 32+ | Full | No |
| Firefox 65+ | Full | No |
| Safari 14+ | Full | Full |
| Edge (Chromium) | Full | No |
| Samsung Internet | Full | No |
| Global browser coverage | ~97% | ~18% (Safari only) |
WebP achieves near-universal browser support across all major platforms. HEIC is supported only in Safari (Apple devices), covering roughly 18% of global browser usage. For web use, this makes WebP the only viable modern format choice today.
Use Case Guide
| Use Case | Best Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone photo storage | HEIC | Native, most efficient on-device |
| Website images | WebP | 97% browser support, excellent compression |
| Sharing with anyone | JPG | 100% compatibility, always works |
| Web transparency/PNG replacement | WebP | Lossless WebP + transparency, browser-compatible |
| Email attachments | JPG | Universal email client support |
| Photo printing | JPG at 95%+ | Printing services require JPG/PNG |
| Social media | JPG | Platforms accept/display JPG universally |
| Long-term archival | JPG 95% or TIFF | Established archival formats |
The Licensing Factor
One of WebP's significant advantages over HEIC is licensing. WebP is based on Google's VP8/VP8L codecs, which are royalty-free and open source. Any browser, app, or service can implement WebP support without paying licensing fees. This is why Chrome, Firefox, and virtually every modern browser supports WebP.
HEIC's HEVC codec is governed by three separate patent pools. The licensing costs and complexity prevent most non-Apple browsers and services from implementing HEIC support. This licensing difference is the core reason for the vast gap in browser support between the two formats.
AVIF: The Format That May Replace Both
A third modern format is worth knowing: AVIF (AV1 Image File Format). AVIF uses the royalty-free AV1 codec and offers compression comparable to HEIC with near-universal browser support (Chrome, Firefox, Safari all support it in 2026). AVIF could represent the convergence point where HEIC's compression efficiency meets WebP's royalty-free licensing.
- AVIF is already supported by Chrome, Firefox, and Safari
- WordPress generates AVIF versions of uploaded images (when enabled)
- AVIF compression is similar to HEIC (5–10% better than WebP)
- Encoding speed is slower than WebP (though improving)
