HEIC and WEBP are among the next-generation image formats, each with unique attributes. Choosing one file format and ignoring the other means missing out on the features the file format selected hardly provides.
The article compares HEIC and WEBP's unique features in structure, compression, transparency, browser support, file size, storage, animation, image quality, and performance.
When is WEBP better than HEIC?
WEBP images are smaller, widely supported, and load faster on webpages, while HEIC images are complex, expensive to license, and have limited browser support. This makes WEBP a better choice for web images, as it increases website responsiveness.
WEBP images are less detailed, comparatively cheaper to license than HEIC, and widely supported by different browsers, devices, and social media platforms, making it the best choice for displaying lively and impressive web imagery.
When is HEIC better than WEBP?
HEIC images are significantly smaller and retain all image data after efficient HEVC compression, while WEBP images are pixelated and blurry under intense lossy compression. This makes HEIC suitable for capturing and sharing images and videos over phone networks.
The advantages of HEIC images include comprehensive metadata, support for transparency, animation, multiple images or image sequences, smaller file sizes or efficient storage, high-quality images, faster loading times, and efficient compression.
HEIC versus WEBP Table Comparison
Aspect/Factor | HEIC | WEBP |
Transparency | Supports alpha channel transparency. | Support alpha channel transparency. |
File Size | Significantly smaller files. | Smaller file sizes. |
Image Quality | Supports 16-bit color, WCR, HDR, other metadata and expansive resolution. High-quality images. | Support 24-bit RGB color with an 8-bit alpha channel, richer color depth, and expansive resolution levels. High-quality images. |
Performance | Significantly smaller files reduce image loading time or increase web responsiveness. | Smaller file sizes increase web responsiveness or reduce image loading times. |
Structure | A raster graphics file format supports 16 bits per channel, three channels (alpha or depth as a separate image), WRC and HDR support, and image sequences. The maximum image dimension is 35 megapixels or 8,192x4320 pixels. | A raster graphics file format supports 24-bit RGBA (8-bit per channel, four channels) and 16 million colors. Its maximum image dimension per code stream is 268 megapixels (16383 × 16383). |
Animation | Support for still image animation or image sequences | Supports animation, including lively and impressive video content |
Storage | Less storage space, and files stored indefinitely in EXIF/TIFF files, cloud, CDN, and ISO Base Media File | Less storage space and files stored indefinitely in Base64 encoding, cloud, CDN, and file systems. |
Compression | Uses lossless and lossy compression | Supports lossless and lossy compression |
Browser Support | Only supported by Safari and Google Marketplace. Unsupported by non-Apple products | Supported by major browsers: Opera, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome. Unsupported by Internet Explorer |
Differences and similarities between WEBP and HEIC images
HEIC and WEBP file formats are similar in transparency, animation support, compression techniques, storage mediums, performance, image quality, and file size structures or features. The apparent differences are in structure and browser support.
Transparency
WEBP files support transparency, like the HEIC file format. However, HEIC supports alpha channel transparency in still images, while WEBP supports transparency in graphics or logos with non-rectangular shapes.
HEIC and WEBP support multi-sample pixels by encrypting files with an alpha channel, which allows information to be transparent. The alpha channel in both file formats is linked to every pixel, indicating the file’s transparency level.
HEIC images, for example, support optional alpha masks or plane transparency data. An alpha of 0 denotes transparent pixels, and an alpha of 255 represents opaque pixels. Translucent pixels are represented by an alpha of 1-254 pixels.
WEBP, on the other hand, supports alpha transparency, which enables varied and precise transparency levels. Both file formats support metadata and color profiles dictating transparent image backgrounds.
File Size
The compressed WEBP and HEIC files are significantly smaller. Both file formats support and store rich metadata, including bit depth and color range, but HEIC further supports GPS coordinates, creation dates, and image descriptions in a single file.
HEIC supports a maximum of 16 bits per channel, with three channels (alpha or depth) as separate images
, while WEBP supports 24 bits. WEBP’s bit stream is attuned to VP8 and has a 16383×16383 pixels size.
The maximum image dimension in a single HEIC code stream is 35 megapixels or 8,192x4,320 pixels. Conversely, WEBP’s maximum image dimension per code stream is 268 megapixels.
Image Quality
HEIC offers the highest bits per pixel and SSIM compared to WEBP. It has the most significant visual accuracy after compression compared to WEBP. HEIC supports advanced image features, a wide range of color depth, and High-Dynamic-Range (HDR) images.
HEIC comprises a 3x8-bit color range of components, implying that its images or files are loaded and saved in a 24-bit format. Besides, HEIC supports 10-bit and 16-bit color components or files packed as 48-bit color depth by default, giving it a high-quality attribute.
The WEBP image is also of high quality. It supports a bit depth of 24-bit RGB color with an 8-bit alpha channel. The file format uses 8 bits for each of three RGB color channels, totaling 24-bit RBG color support.
HEIC’s 16 bits per color channel produces more vibrant and high-quality images than WEBP images. However, both file formats capture and store detailed image information, giving them richer color depths and expansive resolution levels.
Both file formats' high resolution and larger pixel dimensions depict their high-quality nature.
Performance
HEIC and WEBP use advanced and efficient lossless and lossy compression algorithms that significantly minimize file sizes, depending on users' needs. Less storage space is needed for the compressed HEIC and WEBP files.
HEIC’s Highly efficient video coding (HEVC) and WEBP’s V8 predictive and entropy algorithms minimize image sizes while significantly preserving image quality.
The smaller bandwidths of both file formats' images or files improve web responsiveness and offer a more impressive user experience. Web developers and webmasters use WEBP and HEIC to produce smaller, richer, and higher-quality visual content that improves website loading times.
Structure
HEIC and WEBP files are both raster graphics formats. HEIC supports 16-bit per color channel while WEBP supports a bit depth of 24-bit RGB color with an 8-bit alpha channel.
WEBP supports RBG, RGBA, and YUV pixels. It uses 8 bits for each of three RGB color channels, totaling 24-bit RBG color support. WEBP's optimal pixel size is 16383×16383.
WEBP’s maximum image dimension per code stream is 268 megapixels, while HEIC's is 35 megapixels or 8,192x4320 pixels.
HEIC supports a maximum of 16 bits per channel, three channels (alpha or depth as a separate image), a wide color range (WRC), and a high dynamic range (HDR), and it stores multiple images and image sequences.
The bit numbering in a WEBP file chunk diagram commences from 0 for the most important bit, as described in RFC 1168. HEIC files’ bit numbering starts from 0, denoting transparent pixels, and 255, signifying opaque pixels.
Animation
HEIC and WEBP support animation. HEIC stores multiple images in a single file and allows short animations to be created. Users can create looped animated images or image sequences using HEIC.
In contrast, the WEBP file format combines efficient lossless and lossy compression, increasing its support for transparency and making it ideal for animated images and graphics.
While HEIC supports animation in still images, WEBP file format surpasses the precincts of static pictures and boasts vigorous support for animations.
WEBP offers lively and impressive animations necessary for attracting and engaging website users, which gives it a comparative advantage over HEIC.
Storage
HEIC has Exif metadata comprising all the tags and comments supported by EXIF and TIFF. WEBP similarly includes metadata stored in either compressed or uncompressed Format. The embedded HEIC’s TIF files have no image data.
HEIC stores individual image files, while WEBP stores joint images. The HEIC Format also allows image sequences called "tracks" to be saved and stored in EXIF/TIF files, which is not permissible in WEBP.
HEIC and WEBP images are comparatively smaller and necessitate less storage space. Files in both file formats can last indefinitely in storage mediums depending on the situation, handling process, and storage medium.
The HEIC metadata are stored in EXIF/TIFF files, the cloud, CDN, and ISO Base Media File, while WEBP files are stored in file systems, the Content Delivery Network (CDN), the cloud, and Base64 encoding.
Compression
Both HEIC and WEBP use lossless and lossy compression techniques. The advanced algorithms used in each case create smaller file sizes with varying quality levels depending on the compression method.
HEIC uses Highly Efficient Video Coding (HEVC) to minimize image sizes while striving to preserve image quality significantly. Conversely, WEBP uses entropy coding, common to VP8 and VP8L key frame encoding, to break the frame up into fragments, reconstruct the image, and transform it into desirable sizes and quality.
Lossless HEIC creates significantly smaller, high-quality images comparable to lossless WEBP images. In both cases, the lossless compressed images reduce loading time and increase user experience. However, multiple HEIC images saved in a single file are heavier than WEBP images.
HEIC and WEBP’s advanced and efficient lossy compression algorithms delete unnecessary image details, which can result in distorted image details. HEIC, however, can restore image details after lossy compression, which is impossible with WEBP files.
Browser Support
HEIC and WEBP are the current or next-generation file formats. Although both file formats are not fully compatible with most browsers, WEBP is more widely supported by most top browsers than HEIC.
WEBP is supported by Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera but is unsupported by older or less popular sites such as Internet Explorer. Conversely, HEIC is only supported by Safari and Google Marketplace. It is incompatible with Opera, Edge, Firefox, and other older or new browsers.
Limited browser support and compatibility issues for WEBP and HEIC files make sharing and viewing these files difficult. The two file formats must be converted to other file formats for easy access and viewing.
However, with continuous adoption across multiple platforms and devices, HEIC and WEBP browser support will incessantly rise, making them noble options for web use, especially when a stand-in to the next-gen supported file formats is rendered.
Conclusion
Transitioning from traditional file formats like PNG and JPG to WEBP and HEIC may increase storage efficiency, speed up load times, and enhance the digital user experience.
HEIC is the best file format for capturing and sharing still images over phones. It maintains excellent image quality and supports multiple images in a single file and depth maps.
On the other hand, WEBP is a versatile image format best suited for web imageries, necessitating faster loading times, high-quality images, and broad browser and device support.