Video codecs and containers
Short answer
What MP4, MOV, H.264 and similar terms mean and which to use.
25 articles
- Start hereGuide
MP4 vs MOV: when to actually convert
MOV is Apple’s container, MP4 is the universal one - and they often hold identical video. What actually differs, and when converting is worth it.
- Start hereGuide
MP4 vs WebM: which one should you actually use?
MP4 wins on compatibility, WebM wins on file size. A practical comparison for creators, with the cases where each one is the right answer.
- Fix
Codec not supported? Find the codec and convert it
A codec error means the player or platform cannot decode what is inside the file. How to identify the video and audio codec and convert to H.264 and AAC.
- Fix
MP4 won't play even though it's supported? What to check
An MP4 is only a container. When it will not play, the cause is usually the codec inside, a broken index, a 10-bit profile or missing audio. Checks and fixes.
- Fix
Unsupported video format error: what it means and the fix
An unsupported format error can mean the container, the codec or the upload surface. Read the file with ffprobe and re-export in a format platforms accept.
- Specs
3GP compatibility across creator platforms
3GP platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept the 3GP container and which codecs inside it are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
AV1 compatibility across creator platforms
AV1 is an open, royalty-free codec from the Alliance for Open Media and the most efficient of the three, but it needs recent decoders. See platform support.
- Specs
AVI compatibility across creator platforms
AVI platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept the AVI container and which codecs inside it are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
H.264 / AVC compatibility across creator platforms
H.264 / AVC platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept H.264 / AVC and which combinations are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Comparison
H.264 vs AV1: Equal-Quality Measurement
H.264 vs AV1 measured at SSIM 0.992 on a real animated clip. See approximate matched-quality bitrate, caveats and when to choose each codec.
- Comparison
H.264 vs H.265: Measured at Equal Quality
H.264 vs H.265 at measured SSIM 0.992 on a real animated clip, with bitrate, commands, caveats, upload guidance and four practical answers.
- Comparison
H.264 vs VP9 - creator platform perspective
H.264 is universal on creator platforms. VP9 has file-size advantage on web-native platforms but creator-platform acceptance is limited.
- Specs
H.265 / HEVC compatibility across creator platforms
H.265 (HEVC) compresses better than H.264 at similar quality, with broader support than AV1 but narrower than H.264. See what each creator platform documents.
- Comparison
HEVC vs AV1: Equal-Quality Bitrate Test
HEVC vs AV1 at approximate matched SSIM 0.992 on real animation, with measured bitrate, caveats, source commands and a practical choice guide.
- Specs
M4V compatibility across creator platforms
M4V platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept the M4V container and which codecs inside it are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
MKV (Matroska) compatibility across creator platforms
MKV (Matroska) is an open container that holds multiple audio and subtitle tracks. See which creator platforms accept MKV and which codecs inside it work.
- Specs
MOV (QuickTime) compatibility across creator platforms
MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, the default from iPhone, Final Cut Pro and many pro cameras. See which platforms accept MOV and which codecs inside work.
- Specs
MP4 compatibility across creator platforms
MP4 platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept the MP4 container and which codecs inside it are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
MPEG / MPG compatibility across creator platforms
MPEG and MPG are legacy MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 program streams, effectively obsolete for creator uploads. See which platforms accept them and what to export.
- Specs
MPEG-4 Part 2 compatibility across creator platforms
MPEG-4 Part 2 platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept MPEG-4 Part 2 and which combinations are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
OGV (Ogg) compatibility across creator platforms
OGV is the Ogg container once used for Theora video. See which creator platforms accept OGV, why web video moved to WebM, and which format to convert to.
- Specs
ProRes compatibility across creator platforms
ProRes platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept ProRes and which combinations are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
VP8 compatibility across creator platforms
VP8 platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept VP8 and which combinations are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
VP9 compatibility across creator platforms
VP9 platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept VP9 and which combinations are documented as supported or unsupported.
- Specs
WebM compatibility across creator platforms
WebM platform compatibility: which creator platforms accept the WebM container and which codecs inside it are documented as supported or unsupported.