Compare Icon File and High Efficiency Image formats — understand the key differences and when to use each
Icon File
ICO (Icon) is a file format used for icons in Microsoft Windows. ICO files can contain multiple sizes and color depths in a single file, typically including 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 pixel variants. The 256×256 size uses PNG compression. ICO is also used for website favicons (favicon.ico) displayed in browser tabs. Converting PNG to ICO is a common task for web developers and software creators.
High Efficiency Image
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) uses the HEVC (H.265) video codec for image compression, providing approximately 50% better compression than JPEG at equivalent quality. Apple adopted HEIC as the default photo format for iOS 11+ and macOS High Sierra+ devices. A single HEIC file can contain multiple images (like burst photos or Live Photos), depth maps, alpha channels, and HDR content. HEIC supports 16-bit color depth and wide color gamut (P3), resulting in more vibrant and detailed photos than JPEG. However, HEIC has limited compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem — many Windows applications, web browsers, and social media platforms require JPEG or PNG. Converting HEIC to JPG or PNG ensures universal compatibility while preserving image quality.
| Feature | ICO | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Icon File | High Efficiency Image |
| File Extension | .ico | .heic |
| Category | image | image |
| Free to Convert | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Browser Support | ✓ All Browsers | ✓ All Browsers |
| Convert to Each Other | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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Max file size: 2GB