Quick Answer
Use HEIC for storing photos on an iPhone or other Apple device, where it saves storage space. Use WebP for images on websites and web apps, where browser support and fast loading matter. Most people convert HEIC to WebP when they move photos from their phone to the web.
HEIC vs WebP Comparison
| Feature | HEIC | WebP |
|---|---|---|
| Created by | Apple (MPEG) | |
| Primary use | iPhone photo storage | Web image delivery |
| Compression | Lossy and lossless | Lossy and lossless |
| Browser support | Safari only | 97%+ of browsers |
| Transparency | Limited | Yes (alpha channel) |
| Animation | No | Yes (native) |
| File size | Very small (~50% smaller than JPG) | Very small (~30% smaller than JPG) |
| Editing support | Limited (Apple ecosystem) | Good (web-focused tools) |
| Depth/GPS | Retains all EXIF and depth data | Retains basic EXIF data |
When to Use HEIC
- iPhone photo storage, where it saves 50% compared with JPG
- Sharing between Apple devices with AirDrop, iMessage or iCloud Photos
- Live Photos and depth data, which HEIC keeps
- Burst mode and panoramas, the more complex iPhone photo types
- Short iOS video clips stored alongside stills
When to Use WebP
- Website images, since WebP is built for web delivery and widely supported
- Progressive web apps that need fast loading and a small footprint
- Email attachments, as the files are smaller and most email clients can display them
- Social media uploads, a format most platforms accept
- Animated graphics, where it replaces GIF with smaller, higher-quality animations
Key Differences Explained
The most important difference is where each format works. HEIC is built into Apple's photo pipeline and works best on Apple devices. WebP was designed for the open web and works on all platforms and browsers except the oldest ones. A photo taken on an iPhone starts as HEIC, and to put it on a website it has to become WebP (or JPG/PNG).
The formats handle metadata differently. HEIC keeps all iPhone-specific metadata, including depth maps, Live Photo data, ProRAW information and detailed EXIF. WebP supports standard EXIF metadata, but Apple-specific data is stripped during conversion. If you need the depth map or the Live Photo, keep the HEIC original.
Quality depends on the content. HEIC is tuned for the photos iPhone cameras take, such as natural scenes, portraits and everyday shots. WebP is more general-purpose and also handles computer-generated graphics and screenshots well.
Try It Now
Convert HEIC to WebP or other formats in your browser, with no software to install and no uploads to a server.