Video Compression Tested
This video compression tested one video in every format at the smallest size that remained visually excellent.
How do video formats compare under compression?
The honest measure of compression is not just how small a file gets, but how small it gets while still looking good. So we compressed one video to every format down to the smallest size that still scores 95 VMAF, the point where quality loss becomes hard to see.
Size is shown relative to the original file at that quality bar. Green means it compresses small while staying sharp; amber is workable; red means the format is inefficient. Some old codecs cannot reach 95 VMAF at all, which is a real limitation, not a small number.
| Format | Codec | Smallest at 95 VMAF | Quality Held | Verdict | Notes | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV1 | AV1 | 36% of original | 95 VMAF | Best | Smallest at top quality, slow to encode | |
| HEVC | H.265 | 63% of original | 96 VMAF | Best | Excellent efficiency on modern devices | |
| WEBM | VP9 | 64% of original | 97 VMAF | Best | Excellent, royalty-free web format | |
| MP4 | H.264 | 68% of original | 96 VMAF | Best | The reliable, universal sweet spot | |
| MKV | H.264 | 68% of original | 96 VMAF | Best | Same as MP4 in a flexible container | |
| OGV | Theora | 82% of original | 97 VMAF | OK | Works, but weak compression | |
| FLV | Flash | 135% of original | 97 VMAF | Inefficient | Inefficient, legacy web only | |
| MPG | MPEG-2 | 156% of original | 98 VMAF | Inefficient | Inefficient, DVD-era codec | |
| MJPEG | Motion JPEG | 250% of original | 98 VMAF | Inefficient | Every frame a JPEG, very large | |
| AVI | MPEG-4 | Cannot reach | max 31 | Cant hold quality | Cannot hold high quality | |
| WMV | WMV2 | Cannot reach | max 31 | Cant hold quality | Cannot hold high quality | |
| DIVX | DivX | Cannot reach | max 31 | Cant hold quality | Cannot hold high quality | |
| XVID | Xvid | Cannot reach | max 31 | Cant hold quality | Cannot hold high quality |
Each format was compressed to the smallest size that still scores 95 VMAF (visually excellent), starting from a 720p H.264 source. Size is relative to that original. Formats marked "Cannot reach" never hit 95 VMAF at any setting. Your results vary with resolution, motion, and source quality.
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Pick a format above, or drop your file into our in-browser compressor and choose your own quality. Nothing uploads to a server.
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