Video Format Guide

Compare video formats, understand codecs, and choose the right format for your needs. Complete guide to MP4, MKV, WebM, AVI, and more.

Format Comparison

Format	Compatibility	Quality	File Size	Best For
MP4Popular	Excellent	High	Medium	Universal playback, YouTube, social media
MKV	Good	Excellent	Large	High-quality archival, multiple audio/subtitle tracks
WebM	Good	High	Small	Web streaming, HTML5 video, open-source projects
AVILegacy	Excellent	Medium	Very Large	Older systems, editing software
MOV	Good	High	Large	macOS/iOS, professional editing, QuickTime
GIF	Excellent	Low	Small-Med	Memes, social media, short loops

Format Details

MP4

MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14)

The universal standard for video

Overview: MP4 is the most widely supported video format, compatible with virtually all devices, browsers, and platforms. It uses H.264 (or H.265) video codec and AAC audio codec.

When to use MP4:

Uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, or social media platforms
Playing on any device (phones, tablets, computers, TVs)
Sharing videos with others (maximum compatibility)
Streaming online content
General-purpose video storage

H.264 codecAAC audioUniversal compatibility

MKV

MKV (Matroska)

The flexible, high-quality container

Overview: MKV is an open-source container format that can hold unlimited video, audio, and subtitle tracks. Popular for high-definition content and archival purposes.

When to use MKV:

Storing high-quality video with multiple audio tracks
Archiving Blu-ray or DVD content
Videos with multiple subtitle languages
Content requiring chapter markers
When file size is less important than quality

Multiple tracksChapter supportOpen-source

WebM

Optimized for the web

Overview: WebM is designed specifically for web use with HTML5 video. It uses VP8/VP9 video codec and Vorbis/Opus audio, offering excellent compression and quality.

When to use WebM:

Embedding video on websites (HTML5)
Streaming web content with small file sizes
Open-source projects requiring royalty-free codecs
Modern browser-based applications
When bandwidth is limited

VP9 codecRoyalty-freeWeb-optimized

AVI

AVI (Audio Video Interleave)

The classic Windows format

Overview: AVI is a Microsoft format that's been around since 1992. While widely compatible, it produces large files and lacks modern compression techniques.

When to use AVI:

Working with older Windows software
Editing in legacy video software
Maximum compatibility with old systems
When using specific older codecs

Note: Consider converting to MP4 for better compression and modern compatibility.

Legacy supportUncompressed optionLarge files

MOV

MOV (QuickTime)

Apple's multimedia format

Overview: MOV is Apple's native QuickTime format. It offers high quality and is widely used in professional video editing, especially on macOS.

When to use MOV:

Editing in Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or other Mac software
Recording with iPhones or iPads
Professional video production workflows
Preserving maximum quality during editing

Tip: Convert to MP4 for sharing outside the Apple ecosystem.

Apple nativeProfessional qualityLarge files

Understanding Video Codecs

A codec (coder-decoder) is the method used to compress and decompress video data. The container format (MP4, MKV, etc.) is just the wrapper that holds the compressed video.

H.264 (AVC)

The industry standard codec with excellent compression and universal compatibility. Used in MP4 files, Blu-ray, streaming services.

UniversalHigh qualityFast encoding

H.265 (HEVC)

Successor to H.264, offering 50% better compression. Ideal for 4K video but requires more processing power and has licensing costs.

4K/8K ready50% smaller filesLimited support

VP9

Open-source codec by Google, used in WebM files. Excellent compression, royalty-free, and optimized for web streaming. Used by YouTube.

Royalty-freeWeb-optimizedGood compression

VP8

Predecessor to VP9, also open-source and royalty-free. Used in older WebM files, now mostly replaced by VP9.

LegacyRoyalty-free

Quality vs File Size

Choosing the right format and settings depends on your priorities:

Maximum Quality

For archival, professional editing, or when file size doesn't matter

Recommended: MKV with H.265 codec, high bitrate (10-20 Mbps for 1080p)

Balanced Quality & Size

For general use, sharing, YouTube uploads, social media

Recommended: MP4 with H.264 codec, medium bitrate (4-8 Mbps for 1080p)

Minimum File Size

For email, slow connections, limited storage, or web embedding

Recommended: WebM with VP9 codec or MP4 with H.264, low bitrate (1-3 Mbps for 720p)

Device & Platform Compatibility

YouTube & Social Media

MP4 (H.264) - Best choice for all platforms
WebM - Supported by most platforms
MKV, AVI, MOV - Not supported (convert first)

Mobile Devices (iOS/Android)

MP4 (H.264) - Universal support
MOV - Native to iOS (iPhone/iPad)
MKV - Limited support (use app)

Desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux)

All formats - With VLC or media player
MP4, MKV, WebM - Native browser support
MOV - QuickTime (Mac native)

Web Browsers (HTML5)

MP4 (H.264) - All modern browsers
WebM - Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
MKV, AVI, MOV - Not supported natively

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