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How to Convert HEIC to WebP Free: 3 Methods

By Picovert Team2026-02-264 min read

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the default photo format on iPhones since iOS 11. WebP is Google's modern image format designed for the web. If you're building a website or web app and need to use iPhone photos, converting HEIC to WebP gives you the best compression-to-quality ratio — WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPEG files at the same visual quality. Here are three free methods.

Why Convert HEIC to WebP Instead of JPEG

  • Smaller file sizes: WebP uses more advanced compression than JPEG. A photo that is 1 MB as JPEG is typically 650–750 KB as WebP at the same quality
  • Transparency support: WebP supports transparent backgrounds (like PNG), while JPEG does not. Useful for product photos with removed backgrounds
  • Better browser support: WebP is supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari (since macOS Big Sur), Edge, and all modern mobile browsers
  • Lossless option: WebP can be lossless (like PNG) or lossy (like JPEG), giving you flexibility JPEG doesn't have

Use JPEG instead of WebP if you need compatibility with older iOS browsers, older desktop software, or platforms that don't support WebP (some email clients).

Method 1: Online Converter (Fastest, No Install)

The easiest way to convert HEIC to WebP is using an online conversion tool:

  1. Upload your HEIC file to an online converter like Picovert's image converter
  2. Select WebP as the output format
  3. Download the converted WebP file

Online converters handle the HEIC decoding and WebP encoding in one step — no software installation needed. For multiple files, check if the tool supports batch conversion.

Method 2: ImageMagick (Command Line, Batch)

ImageMagick is the best tool for batch converting many HEIC files to WebP on a Mac or Linux system:

  1. Install ImageMagick: on Mac, use brew install imagemagick
  2. Convert a single HEIC file:
    convert input.heic -quality 85 output.webp
  3. Batch convert all HEIC files in a folder:
    for f in *.heic; do convert "$f" -quality 85 "${f%.heic}.webp"; done

The -quality 85 flag sets WebP quality (1–100). For web use, 80–85 gives excellent results with small file sizes. For archival quality, use 90–95.

Windows note: ImageMagick on Windows may not natively decode HEIC. Install the libheif codec or use the Windows method below.

Method 3: Mac Preview + Export (Simple)

On Mac, Preview can open HEIC files (macOS High Sierra or later) and export to WebP:

  1. Open the HEIC file in Preview (double-click, or right-click → Open With → Preview)
  2. Go to File → Export
  3. In the Format dropdown, select WebP(available from macOS Ventura / Preview 11 or later)
  4. Adjust quality with the slider, then click Save

If WebP is not available in your Preview's format list, your macOS version may not support it yet — use an online converter or ImageMagick instead.

HEIC to WebP: File Size Comparison

To give you a sense of the size savings, here's a typical comparison for a 12 MP iPhone photo:

  • HEIC original: ~3 MB (HEIC is already compressed efficiently)
  • JPEG at quality 85: ~2.5–3.5 MB
  • WebP at quality 85: ~1.5–2 MB
  • WebP at quality 75: ~0.8–1.2 MB (still visually good for web use)

For web use, WebP at quality 75–80 is the sweet spot: files under 1 MB with quality indistinguishable from the original on screen.

When to Keep HEIC vs. Converting to WebP

  • Keep HEIC: for archiving original iPhone photos, sharing with other Apple devices, editing in Apple Photos or Lightroom
  • Convert to WebP: for web publishing, uploading to websites or web apps, sharing with Android users or cross-platform tools
  • Convert to JPEG: for email attachments, compatibility with older systems, or platforms that don't support WebP

After converting, use image compression to further reduce WebP file sizes if needed — especially for large photos destined for mobile web.