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MP4 vs WebM
MP4 for reach, WebM for the open web — one plays anywhere, the other is smaller in a page.
Choose MP4 when
Anything that has to play on a phone, in an editor, or on a television. MP4 with H.264 plays essentially everywhere.
Choose WebM when
Video embedded in a page, where VP9 or AV1 in WebM is smaller at the same quality and carries no patent licensing.
The thing that catches people out
WebM support outside browsers is thin. As a file somebody downloads, it is the awkward one.
Side by side
| MP4 | WebM | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Video | WebM Video |
| Extension | .mp4 | .webm |
| Media type | video/mp4 | video/webm |
| Compression | Lossy — file size is bought with quality | Lossy — file size is bought with quality |
| This site can write it | Yes | Yes |