How do PNG and HEICcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
Portable Network Graphics
PNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for GIF. PNG is ideal for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image where quality preservation is critical.
High Efficiency Image Container
HEIC is Apple's preferred image format, used by iPhones and iPads since iOS 11. It delivers significantly better compression than JPG while maintaining higher quality, but compatibility remains limited outside the Apple ecosystem.
| Specification | PNG | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics | High Efficiency Image Container |
| Extension | .png | .heic |
| MIME type | image/png | image/heic |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) |
| Year introduced | 1996 | 2015 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
Both PNG and HEIC have their strengths. PNG excels at website graphics and logos, while HEIC is better for iphone and ipad photography.
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.