---
id: mac-storage-basics.do-heic-and-hevc-save-space
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/do-heic-and-hevc-save-space
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Photos, music and video"
question: "Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264?"
alt_questions:
  - "heic vs jpeg file size"
  - "hevc saves storage"
  - "high efficiency format mac"
  - "should I convert heic to jpeg"
  - "is heic smaller"
short_answer: "Generally yes — HEIC and HEVC usually give similar quality in smaller files than JPEG and H.264. Converting HEIC to JPEG typically makes files bigger."
tags: ["heic", "hevc", "photos", "video"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/where-is-the-photos-library-stored-on-a-mac"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Do HEIC photos and HEVC videos save space compared with JPEG and H.264?

Generally yes. HEIC and HEVC are the high-efficiency formats Apple devices use by default; they typically store a photo or video at similar quality in a noticeably smaller file than JPEG or H.264.

Converting your existing HEIC photos to JPEG will usually make them *bigger*, so only do it when an app or person needs JPEG. Most current software on Mac and Windows opens HEIC and HEVC.