pillow-heif
Python interface for libheif library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need HEIF/HEIC support in Python. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers precompiled wheels for all major platforms and Python versions. The copyleft license classification warrants verification for proprietary use, but the library itself is straightforward to integrate via Pillow's plugin system or direct API calls.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires pillow as a runtime dependency; libheif C library bindings are compiled into the wheel.
- Medium install friction due to compiled wheels; prebuilt binaries are available for CPython 3.10–3.14 and PyPy 3.11 across macOS (Intel and ARM), Windows, manylinux, and musllinux.
- Active maintenance with a release 23 days ago.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (copyleft) — Licensed under BSD-3-Clause (raw) but marked as copyleft in treatment; verify the implications for your use case, particularly if distributing proprietary software.
last release 2026-07-22 (23 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-11 · 302 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 13,249,037 downloads/mo, #1,291 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from pillow_heif import register_heif_opener
register_heif_opener()
# Then use pillow's Image.open() and save() on .heic files- Whether BSD-3-Clause license classification as 'copyleft' in the fact sheet aligns with standard copyleft definitions.
- Performance characteristics for large-scale batch HEIC encoding/decoding operations.
- Compatibility with non-standard HEIC variants or proprietary extensions.
What it is and what it does
pillow-heif is a Python binding to libheif that brings HEIF/HEIC image format support to the Pillow image library. It handles decoding and encoding of 8, 10, and 12-bit HEIC files, preserves EXIF, XMP, and IPTC metadata, and supports advanced features like depth images, thumbnail manipulation, and grid-tiled encoding. The package works as a Pillow plugin—register it once and Pillow's standard Image.open() and save() calls transparently handle HEIC files—or use its standalone API to work directly with HEIF data.
The package is actively maintained and distributed as precompiled wheels for modern Python versions (3.10–3.14) across macOS, Windows, and Linux. Its single runtime dependency is pillow, making it straightforward to integrate into image processing pipelines. The medium install friction reflects the compiled nature of the bindings, but prebuilt wheels eliminate the need to compile libheif locally on most platforms.
Use it for
- Add HEIC file support to a Pillow-based image processing pipeline with one-line plugin registration.
- Convert HEIC images to other formats while preserving or manipulating embedded metadata.
- Process high bit-depth (10 or 12-bit) HEIC files from modern cameras or Apple devices.
- Extract and work with depth maps embedded in HEIC files from iPhone depth-capture photos.
- Encode images as HEIC with grid tiling to match Apple device output formats.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need HEIF/HEIC support in Python.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers precompiled wheels for all major platforms and Python versions. The copyleft license classification warrants verification for proprietary use, but the library itself is straightforward to integrate via Pillow's plugin system or direct API calls.
Install
pillow-heif on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled wheels; prebuilt binaries are available for CPython 3.10–3.14 and PyPy 3.11 across macOS (Intel and ARM), Windows, manylinux, and musllinux. Active maintenance with a release 23 days ago.
Requires pillow as a runtime dependency; libheif C library bindings are compiled into the wheel.
License in practice
Licensed under BSD-3-Clause (raw) but marked as copyleft in treatment; verify the implications for your use case, particularly if distributing proprietary software.
Quickstart
from pillow_heif import register_heif_opener
register_heif_opener()
# Then use pillow's Image.open() and save() on .heic filesVerify before relying
- Whether BSD-3-Clause license classification as 'copyleft' in the fact sheet aligns with standard copyleft definitions.
- Performance characteristics for large-scale batch HEIC encoding/decoding operations.
- Compatibility with non-standard HEIC variants or proprietary extensions.
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagepillow |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 23 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 13,249,037 / month, #1,291 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v2 (GPLv2)Operating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Multimedia :: GraphicsTopic :: Multimedia :: Graphics :: Graphics ConversionTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries |
Evidence: pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-macosx_10_15_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_26_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp310-cp310-win_arm64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-macosx_10_15_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_26_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp311-cp311-win_arm64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp312-cp312-macosx_10_15_x86_64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp312-cp312-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_26_aarch64.manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pillow_heif-1.5.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_27_x86_64.manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl
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See also pi-heif · pyheif · imagesize · Willow · pillow · pillow-avif-plugin · pilgram · ExifRead · qoi · python-xmp-toolkit