Video formats 101: MP4, MOV, AVI, WebM explained

Video files come in confusing containers. Here's everything you need to know about the formats you'll actually see.

MP4

The universal standard. H.264 video + AAC audio plays on every phone, browser, and platform. When in doubt, use MP4.

MOV

Apple's format — essentially MP4's sibling with different metadata. iPhones export MOV by default. Plays fine almost everywhere, but convert to MP4 for maximum compatibility.

AVI

An old Windows-era format. Huge files, poor compression, modern problems. Convert AVI to MP4 if you want smaller files and smoother playback.

WebM

The modern open format — VP9/AV1 video, smaller files. But compatibility is patchy on older devices. Convert WebM to MP4 when you need universal support.

Converting

Our Video Compressor converts between MP4 and WebM with quality control. Need the audio from a video? Use Video to MP3.