As a video marketer, there’s no cookie-cutter method to crafting participating movies, however you need to all the time make sure you‘re utilizing the most effective video format to your content material, whatever the form of video you’re creating.
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all video format— not each laptop, video platform, or web site browser helps each video format.
Thankfully, we have rounded up the most effective video codecs and listed their execs and cons so you possibly can study which video format to make use of in several conditions.
As soon as the most effective format to your movies, try HubSpot’s Clip Creator, our free AI-powered video maker, so you possibly can simply make high-quality movies.
Desk of Contents
6 of the Greatest Video Codecs for 2025
1. MP4
Most digital gadgets and platforms assist MP4, making it probably the most common video format. MP4 can even retailer video, audio, textual content, and nonetheless pictures. Moreover, it could actually retain excessive video high quality whereas sustaining comparatively small file sizes.
Greatest for: MP4 codecs are greatest for long-form video codecs as a result of MP4 recordsdata are comparatively small however nonetheless of top of the range.
“For my YouTube channel, I often use the MP4 video format as a result of loads of the YouTube movies I made have been so long as 20 minutes,” HubSpot Advertising and marketing Supervisor Erica Santiago says.
“MP4s are such small recordsdata that it could make rendering and importing long-form movies quite a bit simpler and extra environment friendly. Plus, MP4s usually solely expertise a slight high quality loss when uploaded to platforms like YouTube or TikTok.”
- Execs: MP4 recordsdata are pretty small, making them fast to add and simple to save lots of with out clogging up area in your machine.
- Cons: As a result of MP4 recordsdata are so simple and customary to work with, they’re additionally simple to pirate, which poses a priority for creators.
2. MOV
Developed by Apple, MOV is a video format particularly designed for QuickTime Participant. Nevertheless, since there’s a model of QuickTime Participant for Home windows, MOV can also be suitable with Home windows.
The MOV video format can retailer audio, textual content, and video results, however since its high quality is often so excessive, it’ll take up considerably more room on individuals’s computer systems.
Greatest for: The MOV format is greatest for modifying on Apple gadgets since they’re particularly formatted for QuickTime Participant.
Execs: MOVs are liked by filmmakers as a result of they comprise audio, textual content, and video results and might be separated into a number of tracks. Their prime quality makes MOVs simple to edit and is the skilled customary in video modifying.
Cons: In contrast to MP4s, MOV codecs aren’t extensively playable throughout totally different gadgets, and their tremendous prime quality additionally results in giant file sizes.
“I hardly ever use MOV formatting for my movies as a result of, in my view, the prime quality does not make up for a way a lot file area they devour and the way lengthy they take to add,” Santiago says.
3. WMV
Microsoft developed WMV, so your viewers can play these kind of movies on Home windows Media Participant. They will obtain a WMV participant to play WMV movies if they’ve a Mac. Identical to the MOV format, the WMV format boasts excessive video high quality, but it surely’s on the expense of a small file measurement.
Greatest for: WMVs are greatest for creators who wish to guarantee copyright safety for his or her work. The format accommodates copyright and licensing capabilities that verify whether or not makes use of have the proper to make use of them.
Execs: WMV recordsdata are so small they’ll even be performed by way of Google Drive.
Cons: “Whereas I just like the small file measurement for modifying, WMV recordsdata typically lose picture high quality after they’re getting uploaded and compressed, so I keep away from utilizing this format as properly,” says Santiago.
4. FLV
Particularly designed for Adobe Flash Video Gamers, FLV is among the most versatile and in style video codecs. Each internet browser and video platform helps it.
Greatest for: In case your viewers streams many movies on on-line platforms, like YouTube and Google Video, FLV is the video format for you.
Execs: Their file sizes are often small, so individuals can shortly obtain them.
Cons: The one downside of the video format is that it’s not suitable with iOS gadgets and plenty of different cell gadgets.
5. AVI
One of many oldest video codecs, AVI, was developed by Microsoft in 1992. Since then, it has grow to be probably the most versatile, suitable with Home windows, Mac, and Linux, and supported by most internet browsers.
- Greatest for: AVI is greatest for brief movies and tv.
- Execs: AVIs are suitable with most working programs and boast glorious audio and video high quality.
- Cons: The AVI video format file measurement is giant, which is extra conducive for individuals to retailer on their computer systems than to stream or obtain.
6. AVCHD
Panasonic and Sony developed AVCHD, the highest-quality video format, particularly for digital camcorders, so it is good for individuals who often shoot high-end movies.
Powered by H.264/MPEG-4 video compression know-how, the video format allows you to retailer hours of high-quality video utilizing solely a tiny quantity of knowledge.
Moreover, the video format has each customary and high-definition variations, and its newest variation, AVCHD 2.0, even helps three-dimensional video.
- Greatest for: AVCHD is greatest for creators capturing high-end movies.
- Execs: AVCHD is small in file measurement and does not expertise a lot loss in information high quality.
- Cons: This format has very restricted compatibility as a result of it is developed to be used with Panasonic and Sony merchandise.
Now that the most effective video format to your content material, you are able to create excellent, participating movies that may attain your viewers.