HEIC to AVIF Converter
Convert HEIC images to AVIF online for free.
Convert HEIC and iPhone photos to a modern AVIF format for efficient web delivery and image workflows.
Convert HEIC to AVIF Online
HEIC is commonly used for efficient photos on Apple devices and other HEIF-compatible workflows. AVIF is a modern image format designed for efficient delivery on the web and in modern image pipelines. Converting HEIC to AVIF can be useful when you want to prepare photos for a website, use a format designed around web delivery, or integrate images into a pipeline that works with AVIF.
Some situations where converting HEIC to AVIF may be helpful:
- You have iPhone or other device photos in HEIC format and want to prepare them for a website
- Your content management system, CDN or image pipeline works with AVIF
- You want to use a web-focused image format for distribution while keeping the original HEIC
- You want to explore whether AVIF encoding produces a good result for a specific image
- Your destination system prefers or requires AVIF over HEIC
Note: whether converting to AVIF reduces file size depends on the source image, encoding settings, quality level and content. AVIF may be smaller, similar in size, or larger.
Why Convert HEIC to AVIF?
Optimize HEIC Photos for the Web
HEIC is a highly efficient format for photo storage, particularly within the Apple ecosystem. However, AVIF can be a more convenient choice when your website or image pipeline is designed around modern web image formats. AVIF is designed for modern web image delivery and has broad support across current major browsers, making it a practical choice for web projects.
Efficient Image Compression
Depending on the source image and encoding settings, AVIF can provide highly efficient compression while maintaining good visual quality. The final file size depends on image content, resolution and encoding parameters. AVIF does not always produce a smaller file than HEIC, and the actual result varies by image.
Modern Web Image Format
AVIF is designed for modern image delivery and is supported by all major modern browsers. It supports lossy and lossless compression, alpha transparency and HDR. If your web project uses AVIF as its delivery format, converting from HEIC to AVIF fits naturally into that workflow. Learn more about AVIF.
Keep Your Original HEIC Files
You can treat HEIC to AVIF conversion as a preparation step for web delivery rather than a replacement. Keep the original HEIC files from your device as your source archive and generate AVIF versions for web use. The AVIF becomes the delivery copy; the HEIC remains the original.
HEIC vs AVIF
Both HEIC and AVIF are efficient modern image formats, but they serve different primary purposes. HEIC is optimized for device photo storage; AVIF is optimized for modern web image delivery.
| Feature | HEIC | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Efficient photo storage | Modern image delivery |
| Compression | Highly efficient | Highly efficient |
| Lossy encoding | Yes | Yes |
| Lossless encoding | Possible | Possible |
| Alpha transparency | Supported | Supported |
| EXIF metadata | Supported | Supported |
| Primary use | Device and photo storage | Modern web delivery |
| Common ecosystem | Apple / HEIF workflows | Web / modern image workflows |
For a full technical overview of AVIF, see the AVIF format guide.
HEIC, HEIF and AVIF Explained
What is HEIC?
HEIC is a file extension associated with images stored using the HEIF container format with HEVC (H.265) encoding. It is widely used for photos on iPhones and other Apple devices. HEIC is a specific and very common instance of the broader HEIF format family.
What is HEIF?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is a container format that can hold images, image sequences, and related data. HEIF is not specific to any single compression codec - it can be used with HEVC (which produces HEIC files) or other codecs. HEIF is the broader format; HEIC is one common variant. They are related but not the same thing.
What is AVIF?
AVIF is a modern image format that uses AV1-based image compression inside a HEIF container. It is developed by the Alliance for Open Media and designed for efficient delivery of images on the web. AVIF is supported by all major modern web browsers and is an open, royalty-free format.
Why convert between them?
HEIC can be an excellent source format for photos captured on a device, while AVIF may be better suited when the goal is distribution of those images on a website or in a modern web application. Converting from HEIC to AVIF does not mean the HEIC source is inferior - it means using each format where it is most appropriate.
What Happens When You Convert HEIC to AVIF?
Image Decoding and Re-encoding
Converting HEIC to AVIF is not a simple file rename. The HEIC file is decoded - the pixel data is reconstructed - and then re-encoded using AV1 compression to produce the AVIF output. Both the decoding and the re-encoding steps can affect the final image depending on the settings used.
Lossy HEIC to AVIF
If the source HEIC was encoded with lossy compression, the conversion to AVIF cannot recover information that was already removed during the original encoding. If lossy AVIF encoding is then applied, a further compression step is introduced. The result depends on the encoding settings and the quality of the source.
Lossless HEIC to AVIF
If the source HEIC uses lossless encoding and the AVIF output is also encoded losslessly, the conversion can preserve the pixel data without introducing new lossy compression. In practice, it is worth verifying the result for your specific source image and encoding configuration.
File Size
The resulting AVIF file may be smaller, similar in size, or larger than the original HEIC. Both formats use efficient modern compression, so the outcome depends on the source image content, encoding settings, quality target and the characteristics of the specific HEIC input.
HEIC to AVIF for iPhone Photos
Many iPhone photos use HEIC format. When the iPhone camera is configured to use High Efficiency format, photos are saved as HEIC files, which allow efficient storage on the device. Not all iPhone photos are necessarily HEIC - this depends on the camera settings and workflow.
When these photos need to be used on a website or in a web-based application, converting to AVIF can be a natural step in the workflow:
iPhone photo HEIC (device storage) AVIF (web delivery) website
This workflow keeps the original HEIC file intact as the source while producing an AVIF version optimized for web delivery. The decision of whether to convert and which format to target depends on your specific website, CMS and image pipeline requirements.
AVIF Tools accepts HEIC files and converts them to AVIF. Upload one or more HEIC files, process them and download the AVIF results. Original HEIC files are deleted from our servers immediately after conversion.
When Should You Convert HEIC to AVIF?
When Preparing iPhone Photos for a Website
If you have photos captured on an iPhone or another device that saves in HEIC format and need to publish them on a website, converting to AVIF makes them ready for modern web delivery using a format with broad modern browser support.
When Your Image Pipeline Uses AVIF
If your CMS, image delivery system, CDN or workflow already processes and serves AVIF images, converting HEIC to AVIF at the point of ingestion can simplify the pipeline. The original HEIC files can be retained separately while AVIF is used as the delivery format.
When You Want Efficient Web Image Delivery
AVIF is a web-focused image format supported by all major modern browsers. If you want to use a modern delivery format for your images on the web, AVIF can be a practical choice. The actual impact on page loading depends on the specific images, encoding settings and network conditions.
When You Need a Modern Image Format
AVIF is an open format supported across all major modern browsers, developed by the Alliance for Open Media. If your project aims to use modern, broadly-supported web image formats, AVIF is a practical choice for images that originate as HEIC files.
When You Want to Keep HEIC as the Original
Rather than replacing your HEIC files, you can use conversion as a one-way preparation step. Keep the HEIC files as your original source and generate AVIF versions for web distribution. The HEIC remains the original; the AVIF is the web-ready copy.
How to Convert HEIC to AVIF
Upload your HEIC image
Drag and drop your HEIC file into the converter at the top of this page, or click to browse your files. Batch upload is supported.
Convert to AVIF
AVIF Tools processes the HEIC image on our servers and creates an AVIF version. Your original HEIC file is deleted immediately after conversion.
Download your AVIF file
Download the converted AVIF file when processing is complete. Converted files are available for 1 hour, then automatically deleted.
Private HEIC to AVIF Conversion
Your HEIC photos may contain personal information in EXIF metadata such as location, date and time, and device information. Original images are deleted immediately after conversion. Converted AVIF files are available for download for 1 hour, then permanently removed. No account required and your files are never shared.
🔒 Verified Security & Privacy
Your photos are protected. Files auto-deleted after 1 hour.
Checked by Google Safe Browsing
More AVIF Converters
HEIC to AVIF FAQ
What is HEIC?
HEIC is a file extension used for images stored using the HEIF container with HEVC (H.265) encoding. It is commonly used for photos on iPhones and other Apple devices. HEIC is a specific and widely used variant of the broader HEIF format family.
Is HEIC the same as HEIF?
Not exactly. HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) is the broader container format. HEIC is a commonly used HEIF variant associated with HEVC encoding, particularly on Apple devices. HEIF can use different codecs; HEIC specifically refers to HEIF images compressed with HEVC.
What is the difference between HEIC and AVIF?
HEIC is primarily associated with photo storage on Apple devices and uses HEVC compression inside the HEIF container. AVIF is a modern web image format based on AV1 compression, designed for efficient delivery in web browsers and modern image pipelines. Both are efficient, but they serve different primary purposes.
Why convert HEIC to AVIF?
The main reasons are web compatibility and workflow. AVIF is supported by all major modern browsers and is designed for web image delivery. Converting HEIC to AVIF makes photos ready for websites, web applications and image pipelines that work with AVIF. It also lets you keep the original HEIC while producing a web-ready version.
Can I convert iPhone photos from HEIC to AVIF?
Yes. Many iPhone photos are saved as HEIC and can be converted to AVIF using the converter above. Upload one or more HEIC files from your device, wait for processing and download the AVIF results.
Will AVIF always be smaller than HEIC?
No. AVIF can be highly efficient, but the final file size depends on the source image, encoding settings, quality level and content. AVIF may be smaller, similar in size, or larger in some cases.
Does converting HEIC to AVIF reduce image quality?
The result depends on the encoding settings used for the AVIF output. If lossy AVIF encoding is used, some image information may be discarded. Converting an already lossy HEIC cannot restore information that was lost in the original encoding.
Does HEIC to AVIF preserve EXIF metadata?
AVIF Tools preserves EXIF metadata when it is present in the source HEIC image. This includes data such as date and time, camera settings and device information. Note that EXIF is one type of metadata; other auxiliary data that may be present in HEIC files (such as Live Photo information or depth maps) is not guaranteed to be preserved.
Does HEIC to AVIF preserve transparency?
AVIF supports alpha transparency. If your source HEIC contains transparent areas, verify the converted AVIF file when preserving transparency is important.
Can I convert HEIC to AVIF online for free?
Yes. Use the converter at the top of this page. Upload your HEIC file, wait for the conversion to complete and download the AVIF result. No account required, no watermarks.
Can I also convert HEIC to JPG?
The main AVIF Tools converter at aviftools.net converts to AVIF. For HEIC to JPG conversion, our sister site heic.digital is dedicated to this workflow.
Are my HEIC files stored permanently?
No. Original HEIC files are deleted immediately after conversion. Converted AVIF files are kept temporarily and automatically deleted after 1 hour. See our Privacy Policy for full details.