Convert TIFF images to modern HEIC format online for free. Fast, simple, and secure.
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TIFF files are often 10-20x larger than the same image as HEIC, because TIFF stores every pixel losslessly. Converting TIFF to HEIC shrinks archival images by up to 90% while keeping quality visually identical on modern screens.
TIFF is the professional standard for print production, publishing, and archival storage — but its lossless format produces enormous files. A single TIFF scan can be 50-200 MB. If you're viewing images on modern screens (not printing), HEIC delivers the same visual quality at 10-90% smaller file size. Converting TIFF to HEIC makes sense when the goal is storage efficiency on Apple devices — not archival master preservation.
| Attribute | TIFF | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Aldus / Adobe | Apple / MPEG |
| Compression | Lossless (LZW or none) | Lossy (HEVC) |
| Typical file size | Large (10-20x HEIC) | Small |
| Alpha channel | Supported (8-bit or 16-bit) | Supported (8-bit) |
| Bit depth | 8-bit or 16-bit per channel | 8-bit |
| Native support | Professional software | iOS 11+, macOS 10.13+ |
| Best for | Print, publishing, archival | Mobile/desktop storage on Apple |
| Input format | TIFF, TIF (LZW or uncompressed) |
| Output format | HEIC (HEIF container) |
| Codec | HEVC (H.265) |
| Compression | Lossy (HEVC) |
| Transparency | Preserved |
| Typical reduction | 60-90% smaller than source TIFF |
| Native support | iOS 11+, macOS High Sierra+ |
| Max file size | 50 MB per file |
| File retention | Auto-deleted after conversion |
The converter decodes the TIFF (LZW or uncompressed) and re-encodes it as HEIC using HEVC (H.265) compression. The output is visually near-identical at normal viewing distances, but 10-90% smaller depending on the source content. TIFF's alpha channel (if present) is preserved as HEIC's alpha channel.
HEIC is lossy, so converting TIFF to HEIC discards some image data. However, HEVC compression is very efficient — the visual difference on modern screens is typically not noticeable. For print production, keep the TIFF as your master and convert to HEIC only for storage or sharing. For photos intended for screen viewing, HEIC is an excellent compact replacement.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-01