Is this HEIC to AVIF converter really free?

Yes. Up to 5 files at a time, no signup, no catch. The free tier adds a small watermark to image output — Pro ($9.99/mo or $49/yr) removes it, raises the file size limit to 500 MB, and unlocks unlimited batch conversion.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No — and you can verify it yourself. Open DevTools → Network tab, then convert a file. You'll see zero upload requests. Everything runs right in your browser. We never see your files.

How long does conversion take?

Usually 1–3 seconds for a typical file. The very first conversion on a fresh page load may take 5–20 seconds while the converter engine loads — after that it's instant. Your CPU does all the work locally.

What is the file size limit?

Free: up to 10 MB per file, 5 files per batch. Pro: up to 500 MB per file, unlimited batch. If you're working with large videos or RAW photos, Pro is built for that.

Can I batch convert multiple HEIC files at once?

Yes — drop multiple files at once (or Ctrl/Cmd+click to select them) and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 files per batch; Pro has no limit.

Will the image quality change after conversion?

It depends on the formats involved. Converting to a lossless format like PNG preserves every pixel exactly. Converting to a lossy format like JPEG or WebP applies compression — we default to 85% quality, which looks identical to the original for almost all images. You won't notice a difference unless you zoom in pixel-by-pixel.

Do you support batch image conversion?

Yes — drop multiple images at once and they all convert in parallel. Free accounts handle up to 5 at a time; Pro is unlimited. Download everything as a single ZIP when you're done.

Why convert HEIC to AVIF instead of JPEG?

AVIF gives you smaller files than JPEG at the same visual quality and is now supported in all major browsers. It's a better fit for web publishing than JPEG while still being universally accessible, unlike HEIC.

Does HEIC to AVIF preserve HDR or wide color?

Our converter outputs standard dynamic range AVIF. HDR metadata from HEIC is not carried across, so colours are tone-mapped to sRGB in the output.

How private is this converter?

Completely private — by design, not policy. There is no upload endpoint. Files are processed right inside your browser tab and disappear the moment you close it. We collect only anonymous page-view counts; your file content is never seen or stored.

HEIC to AVIF Converter — Free, Online, No Upload

How to convert HEIC to AVIF online

1
Drop your HEIC file
Drag and drop your High Efficiency Image Container file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. You can select up to 5 at once. Nothing leaves your device — conversion happens right here in the browser.
2
Hit Convert — it happens locally
Click Convert and watch it go. There's no upload, no server queue, no waiting. The converter runs High Efficiency Image Container → AV1 Image File Format entirely in your browser tab. Most files finish in 1–3 seconds.
3
Download your AVIF
Your AV1 Image File Format file is ready. Click Download, or grab a ZIP if you converted a batch. Close the tab and everything disappears — no copies kept anywhere.

HEIC vs AVIF: format overview

HEIC

High Efficiency Image Container

Apple (based on MPEG HEIF/ISO spec) · 2017

Compression: lossy
Color depth: 12-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
✓ Supports 16-bit depth and HDR
✗ Poor browser support

AVIF

AV1 Image File Format

Alliance for Open Media · 2019

Compression: lossy
Color depth: 12-bit
Transparency: Yes

✓ Smallest file size of any image format (50% smaller than WebP)
✓ Excellent HDR and wide-gamut color support

HEIC magic bytes: 00 00 00 18 66 74 79 70 68 65 69 63

AVIF magic bytes: 00 00 00 .. 66 74 79 70 61 76 69 66

Why convert HEIC to AVIF?

HEIC is efficient within Apple's ecosystem, but its compatibility outside of it is poor. When you move a photo from an iPhone to a non-Apple platform — a web app, a Linux server, an Android device — support is inconsistent and often requires extra software to be installed first.

AVIF is the modern replacement that works everywhere HEIC should but doesn't. It's supported natively in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, and is accepted by major platforms including Squarespace, Shopify storefronts, and most CDN pipelines. It matches HEIC's compression efficiency while being an open standard without licensing complications. For developers, AVIF is also the format that image optimization services like Cloudflare Images and imgix prefer when serving next-gen images.

The resulting AVIF will be similar in file size to the original HEIC — sometimes slightly smaller, sometimes slightly larger depending on the content. Colors and fine detail are preserved well. One thing to note: AVIF doesn't support the Live Photo motion layer from HEIC, so you'll get the still frame only. If you need to share photos in a modern format that doesn't carry Apple's compatibility baggage, AVIF is the right target.

Quality & file size: HEIC to AVIF

Typical file sizes: HEIC 1.5–3 MB → AVIF 0.8–2 MB.

Both HEIC and AVIF use lossy compression. We transcode at high quality settings (equivalent to AVIF's recommended web quality) to minimize generational loss.

Color depth: HEIC supports 12-bit, AVIF supports 12-bit.

Transparency: HEIC supports transparency. AVIF preserves transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy: how FormatDrop handles your files

Your HEICfiles are converted 100% inside your browser. They are never uploaded to our servers, never stored, and never seen by anyone other than you. This isn't a privacy policy claim — it's an architectural guarantee: our server has no endpoint that receives file bytes.