How to Convert PNG to HEIC: Reduce File Size

PNG files are large. A 12-megapixel photograph saved as PNG weighs 15-25 MB. The same image in HEIC format is 1-3 MB. That is an 80-90% reduction with no visible quality loss for photographs.

PNG preserves every pixel exactly. This is ideal for screenshots, logos, and transparent graphics. But for photographs, lossless compression produces enormous files. HEIC uses modern lossy compression that discards only what the human eye cannot detect.

This guide covers four methods for converting PNG to HEIC, starting with the easiest.

Why Convert PNG to HEIC

HEIC reduces file sizes by 50-95% depending on image content. The HEVC codec uses perceptual compression to discard invisible data. For photographs, the savings are dramatic. For flat-color graphics, the savings are more modest but still significant.

Key reasons to convert PNG to HEIC:

• Storage savings -- 100 PNG photos at 20 MB each takes 2 GB. The same photos in HEIC take 200-400 MB
• Transparency preserved -- HEIC supports full alpha channel transparency, just like PNG
• Faster transfers -- smaller files upload, download, and sync faster across devices
• Apple ecosystem compatibility -- HEIC is the native photo format on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

File Size Comparison: PNG vs HEIC

Photographs see the largest savings because their complex color data compresses poorly with PNG's lossless algorithm.

| Image Type | PNG Size | HEIC Size | Reduction | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 12 MP photograph | 18 MB | 1.8 MB | 90% | | 24 MP photograph | 35 MB | 3.2 MB | 91% | | Desktop screenshot (1440p) | 3 MB | 0.8 MB | 73% | | Logo with transparency (1000px) | 200 KB | 60 KB | 70% | | Flat-color illustration | 500 KB | 120 KB | 76% | | Detailed infographic | 4 MB | 0.6 MB | 85% |

Photographs consistently achieve 80-95% reduction. Graphics with solid colors achieve 50-76% reduction.

Method 1: Use HEICify (Browser-Based, Recommended)

The fastest way to convert PNG to HEIC is with HEICify's PNG to HEIC converter. It runs entirely in your browser, requires no installation, and processes files locally on your device.

Steps:

1. Open HEICify PNG to HEIC converter in any modern browser
2. Drag and drop your PNG files onto the page, or click to browse and select them
3. Adjust the quality slider to your preferred level (default is 92%)
4. Click Convert
5. Download your converted HEIC files

Why this method is recommended:

• No installation required -- works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge on any operating system
• Private by design -- all conversion happens locally using Web Workers. No files leave your device
• Batch support -- drop multiple files at once and convert them simultaneously
• Quality control -- adjust the quality slider to balance file size against visual fidelity
• Transparency preserved -- PNG alpha channels carry over to the HEIC output
• Free -- no account, no file limits, no watermarks

This is the method to use when you need HEIC files immediately on any platform.

Method 2: Use macOS sips Command

The sips (Scriptable Image Processing System) command ships with every macOS installation. It handles format conversion directly from the Terminal.

Convert a single file:

sips --setProperty format heic input.png --out output.heic

Batch convert all PNG files in a folder:

for file in *.png; do
  sips --setProperty format heic "$file" --out "${file%.png}.heic"
done

Convert and output to a different folder:

mkdir -p ~/Desktop/HEIC
for file in *.png; do
  sips --setProperty format heic "$file" --out ~/Desktop/HEIC/"${file%.png}.heic"
done

When to use this method:

• You are on macOS and comfortable with the Terminal
• You need to convert hundreds of files in a scripted workflow
• You want a native tool with no third-party dependencies

Limitations:

• macOS only -- sips is not available on Windows or Linux
• No quality slider -- sips uses a default quality setting with no granular control
• No progress indicator -- large batches run silently until completion

sips processes roughly 10-20 images per second on Apple Silicon Macs. A batch of 500 PNG files converts in under a minute.

Method 3: Use ImageMagick

ImageMagick is an open-source image processing toolkit. It supports HEIC output when compiled with libheif, which most modern package manager installations include.

Single file conversion:

magick input.png output.heic

Convert with a specific quality setting:

magick input.png -quality 85 output.heic

Batch convert all PNG files in a directory:

for file in *.png; do magick "$file" -quality 85 "${file%.png}.heic"; done

Installation:

| OS | Command | | --- | --- | | macOS | brew install imagemagick | | Ubuntu/Debian | sudo apt install imagemagick | | Windows | Download from imagemagick.org |

When to use this method:

• You need cross-platform command-line conversion on macOS, Linux, or Windows
• You want explicit control over output quality with the -quality flag
• You are integrating conversion into automated pipelines or scripts

Limitations:

• Requires installation -- not available by default on any operating system
• HEIC support depends on libheif -- some older packages may not include it
• Slower than sips on macOS -- ImageMagick has higher overhead for simple format conversion

Method 4: Use libheif CLI

libheif provides the heif-enc utility, which is purpose-built for encoding images into HEIC format. It offers the most granular control over HEIC-specific encoding parameters.

Single file conversion:

heif-enc input.png -o output.heic

Convert with a specific quality:

heif-enc input.png -o output.heic -q 85

Batch convert:

for file in *.png; do heif-enc "$file" -o "${file%.png}.heic" -q 85; done

Installation:

| OS | Command | | --- | --- | | macOS | brew install libheif | | Ubuntu/Debian | sudo apt install libheif-examples | | Windows | Build from source or use MSYS2 |

When to use this method:

• You need fine-grained control over HEVC encoding parameters
• You are building a conversion pipeline that requires the most efficient HEIC encoder
• You want lossless HEIC output (use the --lossless flag)

Method Comparison

| Method | Platform | Batch Support | Quality Control | Privacy | Best For | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HEICify | Any (browser) | Yes | Yes (slider) | Files stay on device | Quick conversion, any device | | macOS sips | macOS | Yes (scripted) | No | Local | Mac power users | | ImageMagick | macOS, Linux, Windows | Yes (scripted) | Yes (-quality flag) | Local | Cross-platform scripting | | libheif | macOS, Linux | Yes (scripted) | Yes (-q flag) | Local | Maximum encoding control |

How Transparency Is Preserved

When you convert a PNG with transparency to HEIC, the alpha channel is encoded alongside the color data. Both formats store four values per pixel: red, green, blue, and alpha. Transparent backgrounds, semi-transparent overlays, and gradient opacity all transfer correctly.

One caveat: HEIC's lossy compression can introduce subtle artifacts at transparent edges. At quality settings of 85% or higher, these artifacts are invisible in normal use. For pixel-perfect transparency in UI assets or icons, keep the PNG original as your source of truth.

Quality vs File Size Trade-Offs

Higher quality settings preserve more detail but produce larger files. The sweet spot depends on your use case.

| Quality Setting | Relative File Size | Visual Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 95% | Largest | Indistinguishable from PNG for photographs | | 85-90% | Medium | Excellent quality. Artifacts invisible at normal viewing distance | | 70-80% | Small | Good for web thumbnails and previews. Slight softening visible on zoom | | Below 60% | Smallest | Noticeable artifacts. Only suitable for low-priority previews |

For photographs, 85-92% quality delivers the best balance. File sizes drop 85-90% compared to PNG with no perceptible quality loss at normal viewing sizes.

For graphics with text and sharp edges, use 90-95%. Lower quality settings can soften text and introduce ringing artifacts around hard color boundaries.

When PNG to HEIC Makes Sense

Convert PNG to HEIC in these situations:

• You have PNG photographs from an editing workflow and need to reduce storage. A photo shoot producing 200 PNG exports at 20 MB each is 4 GB. Converting to HEIC at 90% quality reduces that to 400-600 MB
• You are transferring images to Apple devices and want maximum compatibility with minimal file size
• You are archiving images where storage cost matters and lossless precision is not required
• You have transparent PNGs that need smaller file sizes. HEIC preserves the alpha channel while compressing the image data

When to Keep PNG

Do not convert PNG to HEIC in these situations:

• The image contains text, diagrams, or pixel art where every pixel must be exact. HEIC's lossy compression can soften sharp edges
• You need universal compatibility. HEIC does not open natively on older Windows, Android, or Linux systems. PNG works everywhere
• The PNG file is already small. A 50 KB logo or icon gains little from conversion and loses universal compatibility
• You plan to edit the file repeatedly. Each lossy save introduces generational quality loss. Keep lossless PNG as your editing source
• The destination requires PNG. Many websites, print services, and applications only accept PNG or JPG

For a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown, read the HEIC vs PNG comparison guide. To understand the HEIC format in depth, see What is HEIC Format?.

Summary

Converting PNG to HEIC reduces file sizes by 50-95% depending on image content. Photographs see the most dramatic savings, typically 80-90% smaller. Transparency is preserved through the alpha channel, and quality at 85-92% settings is visually identical to the PNG original for photographic content.

For the fastest conversion on any device, use HEICify's PNG to HEIC converter. It runs in your browser, handles batch conversion, and never uploads your files. Mac users can use the sips command for scripted workflows. Developers can use ImageMagick or libheif for cross-platform automation with explicit quality control.

Keep your PNG originals when pixel-perfect accuracy or universal compatibility is required. Convert to HEIC when storage savings matter and the destination supports the format.