Convert Video File to Any Extension
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Which Video Format Should You Use?
A quick side-by-side of the most common video formats so you can pick the right one before converting.
| Format | Typical Size | Quality | Best For | Device Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP4 | Baseline | High | Everyday use, sharing | Universal[1] |
| WEBM | ~50% smaller[9] | High | Web pages, streaming | Modern browsers |
| MKV | Similar to MP4 | Highest | Archiving, multi-track | Players, not native mobile[7] |
| MOV | Similar to MP4 | Highest | Editing, Apple devices | Apple, editors[6] |
| AVI | 2-3x larger | High | Legacy, Windows | Windows, older players[10] |
| HEVC | ~50% smaller[8] | Highest | 4K, small files | Newer devices only[8] |
Sizes are relative to MP4 (H.264) at the same resolution and quality. MKV and MOV are shown assuming the common H.264 codec, so their size lands close to MP4. Actual results vary with your source, codec, and settings.
We converted one video to all 31 formats and measured the results
Real file sizes and VMAF quality scores from an actual conversion. See why converting to a "better" format often makes your file bigger, and which formats quietly wreck quality.
Best Video Format by Platform
Where your video is going matters as much as the format. Here is what works best for each destination.
YouTube & Vimeo
Upload in MP4 with H.264 video. It is the recommended format for the fastest processing and widest playback.[2]
TikTok
Export MP4 or MOV in a vertical 9:16 frame at 1080x1920. TikTok re-encodes uploads, so start from a clean high-bitrate file.[4]
Use MP4 with H.264 for Reels and feed video. Vertical 9:16 for Reels, square or 4:5 for the feed.[3]
Upload MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio. It plays reliably across the app, desktop, and Facebook Watch.[5]
Websites & Web Apps
Use WEBM for the smallest files, with an MP4 fallback so every browser can play the video.[9]
Apple Devices & iMovie
MOV is the native QuickTime format. Convert to it for editing on Mac, or to MP4 for sharing beyond Apple.[6]
Supported Video Extensions
Convert between 20 different file types - from modern web formats to legacy professional encodings
Common Encodings
MPEG-4 container using H.264, H.265, or AV1.
Best for web, mobile, social, and everyday sharing.
The safest pick when you need it to play anywhere.
Microsoft container dating back to 1992.
Best for legacy Windows software and old hardware.
Plays almost anywhere, but files run large.
Open Matroska container with flexible tracks.
Best for archiving and multi-language movies.
Holds unlimited audio and subtitle tracks.
Apple QuickTime container.
Best for editing in Final Cut and iMovie on Mac.
Native on Apple; may need extra codecs on Windows.
Windows Media container.
Best for playback on Windows systems.
Compact, but limited compatibility elsewhere.
Adobe Flash Video container.
Best for opening legacy web-video archives.
Obsolete since Flash was retired in 2020.
Web Encodings
Open container using VP8, VP9, or AV1.
Best for HTML5 web video and streaming.
Royalty-free and plays in all modern browsers.
Ogg container using the Theora codec.
Best for open-source projects and Linux.
Patent-free, but less efficient than newer codecs.
Apple variant of MP4.
Best for iTunes, Apple TV, and iOS.
Like MP4, with optional Apple DRM.
Professional Encodings
MPEG-1/2 program stream.
Best for DVD, VCD, and broadcast video.
A foundation of early digital video.
MPEG-1/2/4 standard container.
Best for DVD, broadcast, and streaming.
The industry base for TV and cinema.
DVD-Video container built on MPEG-2.
Best for DVD authoring and backups.
Stores menus, subtitles, and multiple audio tracks.
AVCHD camcorder format using H.264.
Best for consumer HD camcorder footage.
High-bitrate 1080p from Sony and Panasonic.
Blu-ray transport stream.
Best for Blu-ray and AVCHD footage.
H.264 up to 40 Mbps, from 1080p to 4K.
Mobile Encodings
3GPP mobile container.
Best for old phones and MMS messages.
Heavily compressed for slow networks.
Legacy Encodings
RealMedia streaming format.
Best for opening 1990s web-video archives.
Pioneered dial-up streaming, now obsolete.
Variable-bitrate RealMedia.
Best for early-2000s downloads and anime.
Better quality per size than plain RM.
Windows Media container.
Best for Windows Media streaming.
The base format behind WMV and WMA.
Adobe Shockwave Flash.
Best for old Flash animations and games.
Discontinued after Flash reached end of life.
References
- Media container formats - MDN Web Docs, Mozilla
- Recommended upload encoding settings - YouTube Help
- Supported video formats and aspect ratios - Instagram Help Center
- Uploading videos - TikTok Support
- Video uploads - Meta Graph API documentation
- QuickTime File Format - Apple Developer Documentation
- Matroska technical basics - Matroska.org
- H.265: High efficiency video coding (HEVC) - ITU-T Recommendation
- The WebM Project
- AVI File Format - Microsoft Learn