If you’re just getting into producing videos, it’s important that you’re knowledgable about all the video formats available. When it comes to publishing your videos on websites or social media platforms, you’ll find that using the right video format is the difference between a high-quality video or a highly compressed one.
Delivering videos to clients that are easy for them to use also requires you to use the best video file format, but this can vary depending on their software or operating systems. You may just want to convert a GIF to a video file.
With this in mind, read on to learn all about the best options when it comes to video file formats in this simple guide!
1. MP4
We’re starting off with the MP4 because it’s the most common video file format out there. No matter if you have a Windows or Mac computer, almost every video software you can download is capable of playing an MP4 file. Developed by Apple, the MP4 is capable of delivering high-quality video in the smallest video file format available.
One of its other main benefits is that it offers lossless compression. This means that no matter how many times the video is saved or edited, the quality will remain the same. Almost all social media platforms support MP4 video files if the frame rate is 30 to 40 fps or below.
2. MOV
MOV is another popular video format that was also developed by Apple. They were created in order to be played on Apple’s QuickTime player which is now available to download on Windows computers. It was created in order to deliver high-quality videos, though this comes at the cost of larger file sizes.
It isn’t as widely used as the MP4 file format because not all video players are able to play MOV files. For this reason, MOV may be the best file to use if you have the QuickTime player and want to present a high-quality slideshow or video presentation. There are a variety of social media platforms that are able to support MOV video files as well.
3. AVI
Even if you’re not familiar with video file formats, you may be familiar with AVI. This is because it’s one of the oldest video file formats out there with its development by Microsoft in 1992. Because it wasn’t created to be uploaded to the Internet, this is the best video file format to choose if you want to store videos on your computer without compromising quality.
It’s also predominantly used in ads, TV shows, and movies because of its superior quality and its ability to be played by a variety of applications.
4. WMV
Short for Windows Media Video, this video file format is largely used by Windows users because of its ability to compress into a small file without losing too much quality. The reason it’s able to compress so small is that it’s not a lossless video format, meaning this is the video file format to choose from if you want to share videos without worrying about the quality.
If you want to share videos via email or through forums, this is one of the best file formats to use for that reason. It’s not recommended to use for the majority of social media platforms.
5. FLV
FLV is short for Flash Video Format, and it’s another once-popular video format that was also developed by Adobe. One of the main benefits of this video format is that it can be easily embedded into web pages and played with the Adobe Flash Player. It also provides a lot of flexibility, as it can be read by a variety of video players.
However, it’s important to note that Flash isn’t being used as much as before and is slowly becoming obsolete on websites. The reason for this is because mobile iOS devices aren’t providing support for Flash. With more and more people using their mobile devices to browse the Internet, web developers don’t want to give them a subpar experience with videos that aren’t able to be played.
H.264
Our list wouldn’t be complete without a mention of this video codec. This is also known as MPEG-4 Part 10, as it’s a more advanced version of MPEG-4 that’s rarely used today. Although it’s not a separate file format, it’s an advanced video compression codec you need to know about as it’s one of the most popular. It provides high-quality videos at a lower bitrate.
Other video compression codec includes DivX, though it’s used far less compared to H.264.
Choosing the Best Video File Formats
When it comes to choosing the best video file formats, it all depends on how you’re distributing your video and the quality you desire. For instance, if you have a Windows computer and want to share a video with colleagues, using the WMV video file format may be the easiest option to send a video through email.
On the other hand, if you want to post high-quality videos online that aren’t too large, you’ll want to use the MP4 video file format. It provides higher quality without slowing down Internet connections or taking up too much space in your hard drive. However, if you want the highest quality video for a short advertisement, you may want to consider utilizing a MOV or AVI file.
Ready to learn more about converting your files or videos into the best format available? Keep reading our blog for more important guides and tips!