How we picked these tools
HEIC files are almost always personal photos, so we weighed privacy first, then ease, price, and how many photos each tool can handle in one go. Some links to third-party products are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for the details. It never changes which tools we recommend or the order they appear in.
1. PNGifier — best free, private, in-browser HEIC converter
Because HEIC files are your own photos, the last thing you want is to upload a phone full of personal shots to a stranger's server. PNGifier converts HEIC right inside your browser, so the image never leaves your device — no signup, no watermark, and nothing sitting on a server afterward. Drop a file into our HEIC to PNG converter and you get a standard PNG back in a moment, ready for any device or website.
The honest trade-off is scope: it targets the everyday HEIC-to-PNG job most people actually need, rather than a long menu of exotic output formats or server-side automation. If you want to see what else it handles, the full toolkit is here. New to the format? Our explainer on what HEIC actually is and how it compares in our PNG vs HEIC breakdown are worth a read.
2. CloudConvert — best for JPG output and an API
CloudConvert handles HEIC and HEIF cleanly and lets you pick exactly what you want out — JPG, PNG, WebP, even PDF — with fine control over quality and resizing. It also exposes a proper API, so if you need to convert HEIC photos as part of a backend workflow, this is the grown-up option in the list.
The catch is the usual one for online services: your photos are uploaded to its servers, and the free tier is metered in conversion minutes per day, so a big camera roll will push you toward a paid plan. For occasional batches where the files aren't sensitive, it's excellent.
3. iMazing HEIC Converter — best free desktop app
iMazing HEIC Converter is a free, dedicated desktop app for Windows and Mac that does one thing well: drag a pile of HEIC files onto it, choose JPG or PNG, set quality, and it converts the whole lot at once. It runs entirely on your machine, so nothing is uploaded — a real plus for personal photos in volume.
It's a download rather than a one-click web page, so it's slight overkill for a single file. But for clearing out a folder of hundreds of iPhone photos without touching the internet, it's one of the best free options going, and it even preserves EXIF data if you ask it to.
4. Convertio — easiest one-off online converter
Convertio is the no-thinking option: drop a HEIC in, choose JPG or PNG, download. There's no account needed for the occasional file, and it works the same on a phone browser as on a desktop, which is handy when the HEIC is already on your iPhone.
The free tier caps file size and the number of daily conversions, and your photo is uploaded to be processed, so it's not the pick for a whole camera roll or for anything you'd rather keep private. For a single quick conversion, though, it's about as frictionless as it gets.
5. macOS Preview & Windows Photos — free, already installed
Before downloading anything, remember the converter you already own. On a Mac, open a HEIC in Preview, choose File → Export, and pick JPEG or PNG — no extra software, no uploads, and it handles small batches fine.
On Windows it's nearly as easy: the built-in Photos app can open and re-save HEIC as JPG, but only once you've installed Microsoft's HEVC Video Extensions codec — which sometimes costs a small fee. That codec quirk is exactly why so many people reach for a converter instead. For one or two files on hardware you already own, though, the built-in route is free and private.
How to choose a HEIC converter
Start with privacy, because these are your photos: if they're personal, lean toward a tool that converts on your device — an in-browser converter for a few files, or a free desktop app like iMazing for a folder full. Next, match the output to the job: JPG for photos you'll share, PNG only when you genuinely need lossless. Then weigh volume — a one-click web tool is perfect for the odd image, while hundreds of shots call for a batch app. And if HEIC is just one step in a developer workflow, a service with an API earns its place. For most people, the simplest free tool that keeps the photo on their own machine is the right answer.
Why a browser-based tool wins for photos
Modern browsers can decode HEIC and write out a JPG or PNG without a server in the loop. That means your photo never travels across the internet, there's nothing to upload or wait for, and no account, queue, or watermark gets in the way. For personal images that's not a small detail — it's the whole point, which is why we built PNGifier to work this way.
Frequently asked questions
- Why won't my iPhone HEIC photos open on Windows or the web?
- HEIC is Apple's default photo format, but it relies on the HEVC codec that isn't installed on most Windows PCs, Android phones, or websites by default. JPG and PNG are understood almost everywhere, so converting your HEIC file is usually faster than chasing down a codec or plugin.
- Should I convert HEIC to JPG or to PNG?
- For photos, choose JPG — it's smaller and the quality difference is invisible for camera images. Choose PNG only when you need a lossless copy or you'll be editing the file repeatedly. PNG files of photos are much larger than JPGs, so don't reach for it by default.
- Is it safe to upload HEIC photos to an online converter?
- HEIC files are usually personal photos, so privacy matters more than with most conversions. A converter that uploads your images to a server can be fine for non-sensitive shots, but for anything personal an in-browser tool that never sends the photo anywhere is the safer choice.
- Can my Mac or PC convert HEIC without any extra software?
- Often, yes. On a Mac you can open a HEIC in Preview and export it as JPG or PNG. On Windows you can open it in the Photos app and save a copy — but only after installing Microsoft's HEVC codec, which sometimes carries a small charge.