As a video marketer, you recognize there’s no cookie-cutter strategy to crafting participating movies, however it is best to all the time make sure you‘re utilizing the most effective video format in your content material, whatever the sort 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.
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Happily, we have rounded up the most effective video codecs and listed their professionals and cons so you possibly can be taught which video format to make use of in numerous conditions.
As soon as you recognize the most effective format in your movies, take a look at 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 Finest Video Codecs for 2025
1. MP4
Most digital units and platforms assist MP4, making it probably the most common video format. MP4 also can retailer video, audio, textual content, and nonetheless photographs. Moreover, it may possibly retain excessive video high quality whereas sustaining comparatively small file sizes.
Finest for: MP4 codecs are greatest for long-form video codecs as a result of MP4 recordsdata are comparatively small however nonetheless of top quality.
“For my YouTube channel, I normally use the MP4 video format as a result of numerous 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 will make rendering and importing long-form movies quite a bit simpler and extra environment friendly. Plus, MP4s sometimes 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 straightforward to avoid wasting 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. Nonetheless, 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 normally so excessive, it’ll take up considerably extra space on individuals’s computer systems.
Finest for: The MOV format is greatest for modifying on Apple units since they’re particularly formatted for QuickTime Participant.
Execs: MOVs are cherished by filmmakers as a result of they include audio, textual content, and video results and may be separated into a number of tracks. Their top quality makes MOVs simple to edit and is the skilled customary in video modifying.
Cons: Not like MP4s, MOV codecs should not extensively playable throughout totally different units, and their tremendous top quality additionally results in giant file sizes.
“I not often use MOV formatting for my movies as a result of, for my part, the top quality would not make up for the way a lot file area they eat 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. Similar to the MOV format, the WMV format boasts excessive video high quality, nevertheless it’s on the expense of a small file measurement.
Finest for: WMVs are greatest for creators who need to guarantee copyright safety for his or her work. The format incorporates copyright and licensing capabilities that examine whether or not makes use of have the best to make use of them.
Execs: WMV recordsdata are so small they’ll even be performed through Google Drive.
Cons: “Whereas I just like the small file measurement for modifying, WMV recordsdata usually 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 likely one of the most versatile and well-liked video codecs. Each internet browser and video platform helps it.
Finest 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 normally small, so individuals can rapidly obtain them.
Cons: The one disadvantage of the video format is that it’s not suitable with iOS units and lots of different cell units.
5. AVI
One of many oldest video codecs, AVI, was developed by Microsoft in 1992. Since then, it has turn into some of the versatile, suitable with Home windows, Mac, and Linux, and supported by most internet browsers.
- Finest for: AVI is greatest for brief movies and tv.
- Execs: AVIs are suitable with most working techniques and boast wonderful 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 excellent for many 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.
- Finest for: AVCHD is greatest for creators taking pictures high-end movies.
- Execs: AVCHD is small in file measurement and would 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 you recognize the most effective video format in your content material, you are able to create excellent, participating movies that may attain your viewers.
