The best HEIC to JPG converters in 2026, honestly compared
There are dozens of ways to convert iPhone photos to JPG. The meaningful differences are three: where the conversion runs (your device or someone's server), what the free tier actually allows, and whether you control the output quality. We compared the eight options people actually use.
| Tool | Runs | Free limit | Your files stored? | Batch | Quality control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Photo Converter (this site) | Browser, local | Unlimited | Never uploaded | Up to 200 | Slider |
| heictojpg.com | Server upload | Unlimited | Up to 48h | Yes | Fixed (auto-compressed) |
| CloudConvert | Server upload | 10/day | Up to 24h | Paid tiers | Detailed options |
| FreeConvert | Server upload | Limited, ads | Hours | Capped free | Options |
| iLoveIMG | Server upload | Monthly cap | Hours | Yes | None |
| Mac Preview / Photos | Built into macOS | Unlimited | Stays local | Yes (Preview) | Slider |
| CopyTrans HEIC | Windows app | Free for home use | Stays local | Via Explorer | Fixed |
| iMazing HEIC Converter | Desktop app | Unlimited | Stays local | Yes | Slider |
Data as of July 2026, from each tool's published documentation and our own testing. Details change; check the linked sites for current terms.
If you are on a Mac: use Preview first
Honest answer number one: macOS converts HEIC natively. Open photos in Preview, select all, then File and Export, choose JPEG, done, including batches. It is free, offline and already installed. The reasons to use anything else on a Mac are convenience (drag-drop-download is faster than the export dialog) or needing formats Preview does not offer, like WebP or PDF.
If you want a browser tool: the upload question decides it
Browser converters split into two architectures. Upload-based tools (heictojpg.com, CloudConvert, FreeConvert, iLoveIMG) send your photos to their servers, convert there, and retain files for hours per their policies, up to 48 hours in heictojpg.com's case. That architecture costs real money to run, which is why free tiers keep shrinking: CloudConvert allows 10 conversions per day, iLoveIMG caps monthly operations, FreeConvert funds itself with ads and subscription upsells. They are all competent tools, and CloudConvert in particular is excellent if you need an API or its two hundred other formats.
Browser-local tools like ours run the conversion inside your browser with WebAssembly. Nothing uploads, so there is nothing to retain, nothing to breach and nothing worth metering: our converter is unlimited with a quality slider and 200-photo batches. The claim is verifiable rather than promised: load the page, disconnect from the internet, and it still converts. Where upload tools beat us: server hardware handles gigantic batches without depending on your device's memory, and CloudConvert's format coverage is broader than ours.
If you convert constantly on Windows: consider a desktop app
CopyTrans HEIC integrates into Windows Explorer so right-clicking any HEIC offers "Convert to JPEG", and it lets Windows preview HEIC thumbnails, free for home use. iMazing HEIC Converter is a free, polished drag-drop desktop app with a quality slider. Both run fully offline. The trade-off is installation and Windows-only (iMazing also ships a Mac version), and neither helps on a borrowed machine, Chromebook or phone, which is where a browser tool wins.
The bottom line
On a Mac with no special needs, Preview. On Windows converting daily, CopyTrans or iMazing. Needing an API or exotic formats, CloudConvert. For everyone else, including anyone whose photos are sensitive, the shortest safe path is a browser-local converter: no install, no upload, no limits. That conclusion is obviously convenient for us, which is why we built the tool so you can check it: our methodology page lists every library, and the offline test takes ten seconds.
Common questions
Is it safe to upload photos to a converter website?+−
It depends on the site, and you usually cannot verify their claims. Upload-based converters hold your files on their servers for anywhere from 1 to 48 hours per their own policies, and the FBI has warned about malicious file converter sites. Tools that convert locally, whether in-browser or as desktop apps, remove the question entirely because there is nothing to trust: the file never leaves your machine.
Can ChatGPT or other AI chatbots convert HEIC to JPG?+−
Mostly no. ChatGPT, Claude and most AI assistants reject HEIC uploads outright, which is why they commonly point users to a converter instead. If an assistant sent you here, drop your files into any of the browser tools in this comparison.
Do I even need a converter, or can my computer do it?+−
If you use a Mac, you may not need anything: Preview exports HEIC to JPG natively, including in batches. Windows is the gap; it cannot open HEIC without a paid codec extension, which is why converters exist. Phones can share photos as JPG case by case, but converting an existing folder of HEIC files still needs a tool.
Why does the same photo get bigger after converting to JPG?+−
HEIC compresses roughly twice as efficiently as JPG, so a 2 MB HEIC typically becomes a 3 to 4 MB JPG at comparable quality. Every converter on this list produces this size increase because it is a property of the formats, not the tool.
Try the no-upload option
Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser