MP4 vs WebM: video for web and sharing
MP4 (H.264) plays everywhere including phones and editors. WebM (VP9/AV1) is tuned for the web and can be smaller at similar quality in supported browsers.
| MP4 | WebM | |
|---|---|---|
| Codec | H.264 / H.265 common | VP9, AV1 in WebM |
| Compatibility | Universal | Strong in browsers |
| File size | Baseline | Often smaller on web |
| Best for | Sharing, mobile, social | HTML5 video on sites |
Verdict
Use MP4 when you need one file that opens everywhere. Consider WebM as an additional web-optimized source with MP4 fallback.