Supported Video Formats
| Format | Description | Compatibility | Pros | Cons | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3GP 3GPP |
Mobile video container | Mobile devices | Small size, wide mobile support | Low quality, outdated | View 3GP Options |
| AVI Audio Video Interleave |
Microsoft video format | Windows | High quality, simple | Large files, limited streaming | View AVI Options |
| FLV Flash Video |
Web video (legacy) | Web browsers (Flash) | Small size, streaming | Flash required, insecure | View FLV Options |
| M4V MP4 variant |
Apple video format | iOS, Apple TV | Efficient, supports chapters | DRM risk, Apple ecosystem | View M4V Options |
| MKV Matroska |
Advanced container | PC, modern players | Multiple tracks, subtitles | Large files, limited hardware | View MKV Options |
| MOV QuickTime |
Apple video format | Mac, QuickTime | High quality, editing | Large size, Apple-centric | View MOV Options |
| MP4 MPEG-4 |
Universal video format | All devices | High compatibility, streaming | Patent/licensing issues | View MP4 Options |
| MPG MPEG-2 |
DVD/broadcast format | DVD players | Broadcast standard | Large files, outdated | View MPG Options |
| TS MPEG-TS |
Transport stream | Broadcast/streaming | Robust streaming | Large overhead | View TS Options |
| WebM VP8/VP9 |
Open web format | Modern browsers | Free codecs, efficient | Limited legacy support | View WebM Options |
| WMV Windows Media |
Microsoft video format | Windows | Good compression | Limited cross-platform | View WMV Options |
What Are Video Formats?
Video formats consist of a container (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) that holds one or more codec streams (H.264, VP9, HEVC, etc.), plus metadata, subtitles and chapters. Choosing the right combination affects compatibility, quality, file size, and streaming performance.
Containers vs Codecs
Container: wraps audio, video, subtitles, chapters and metadata.
Codec: encodes and decodes the raw audio/video data to compress it.
Common Codecs
- H.264/AVC – universal, efficient, supported everywhere.
- H.265/HEVC – better compression, less support on older devices.
- VP9/AV1 – royalty-free, high efficiency, modern browsers.
- MPEG-2 – legacy broadcast, DVD standard.
When to Use Each Format
Choose MP4 When:
- Max compatibility – nearly all devices and browsers.
- Streaming & web delivery – efficient with H.264.
- General purpose – good balance of size and quality.
Choose MKV When:
- Multiple tracks – audio, subtitles, chapters in one file.
- No patent worries – open Matroska container.
- Archival – store high-quality or lossless streams.
Choose WebM When:
- Open web – native in modern browsers without plugins.
- Low licensing cost – uses VP8/VP9 or AV1 codecs.
- Streaming – optimized for HTML5 video delivery.
Choose AVI or MOV When:
- Editing & post-production – minimal compression, high quality.
- Professional workflows – support for industry-standard codecs.
Choose TS or FLV When:
- Broadcast & legacy streaming – MPEG-TS for over-the-air TV, FLV for older Flash streams.
- Robust delivery – TS handles packet loss well in streaming.