From fun, educational, and entertainment, videos quickly sort out people’s queries and is the result-driven form of the present era. Every video, however, is created in a unique file format that is tailored to the specific channel.
For example, a website video has a dissimilar file format than a social media video.
And if you find it difficult to determine the type of a video, read our guide to the 8 best video file formats and their usage to gain a sound understanding of each video format.
| File Type | Usage | Drawback |
| MP4 | compresses the file | Difficult to edit |
| WebM | used when storage space is low | requires HTML to play |
| MOV | playable on USB-Compatible TV set | do not work with most media players and browsers |
| AVI | compatible with various file formats | has large file sizes |
| MKV | used for archiving video files | do not work with most media players and browsers |
| WMV | used if you want compact video files | results in low-definition files |
| AVCHD | used by pro-videographers | not compatible with all devices |
| FLV | relatively small size | not compatible with devices like iPhones |
It is suitable for both storing and streaming videos. It is similar to MP3 technology, although more advanced and complex.
When people ask What is the best file format for 4k video, MP4, MKV, and AVCHD are the best ones for 4k videos.
Usage
- MP4 compresses the files which makes the overall file size much smaller.
- As it is widely supported by web browsers, It is one of the best video formats for the web to play digital videos if you want to watch videos on the web.
Key Feature
- MP4 provides high-quality video while keeping relatively small file sizes.
- The universally compatible video file format works on most media players which include Quick Media, iTunes, VLC Player, and Windows Media Player.
Drawback
- It ends up crashing a lot, so it can be quite difficult to edit.
WebM
It is an open-source file format, introduced by Google in 2010. It is intended to use with HTML5. It is supported by major browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer. The file size is relatively smaller, you can load them fast and efficiently.
Usage
- You can use it when storage space is limited.
- Similar to MP4, WebM is widely compatible with web browsers. If you are going to upload the video to the web or video-sharing platform Youtube is one of the best formats for videos.
- It is beneficial for distributing a video to a large group of people.
Key Feature
- Video data can easily be compressed and decompressed.
- It has a very small file size.
- It supports high video quality.
Drawback
- The only con of using this video file format is that it requires HTML to play, thus it and weak compatibility with mobile and other portable devices.
MOV
MOV is best compatible with iOS devices, as well as Windows, MAC, or VLC. It is another format developed by Apple to support Quicktime player and its different versions.
Also, it can support Real players or Elmedia players. It is a very high-quality video format, which takes up more storage space on a computer. It contains an array of video files, audio files, subtitles, timecodes, or other media types.
Usage
- MOV works with widely viewed platforms, as well as on TV.
- If you’re using Mac or iOS devices, you can edit, store, and export high-quality videos in MOV format.
- For non-Apple devices, you might want to use a video format other than MOV.
Key Feature
- It reduces file size without compromising video quality.
- It is playable on USB-Compatible TV sets.
- This format is popular in the media and film industry as it uses a multimedia container file that can be separated into a combination of tracks.
Drawback
- As MOV was specifically developed for QuickTime players, it might not work with most media players.
- It compresses files to a compact size, which might result in a loss of data and overall quality.
AVI
AVI is one of the oldest video formats and was developed by Microsoft in 1992. It compresses less data than other file formats i.e. MPEG OR MOV, which results in very large file sizes (2-3 GB per minute video) and is not suitable for users with limited storage space.
It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac, major internet web browsers as well as TV.
Usage
- If there is no issue of space, and you want to archive video files and preserve high-quality video files, AVI is the most preferred format.
- If you want to upload your videos to the web, have them downloaded, or send them over to the internet, AVI is not the best video format due to its large file size.
Key Feature
- It is suitable even today because it is versatile, universal, and compatible with various file formats and several web browsers.
- It offers good quality even after compression, AVI is one of the best video formats that can be used for concise videos, teasers, and promos.
- This file format is useful for maintaining video quality over time due to lossless video compression.
Drawback
- It is not widely used anymore
- It has large file sizes and does not support program subtitles.
MKV
MKV developed its name from Matroska- a Russian stacking doll. This is what it serves as well. It can keep a large number of video and audio tracks within it. If a video has several audio options in different languages, MKV will store each option as a separate track.
It is an open-source video file format that supports a large number of different codecs and containers that include descriptions, covers, menus, chapters, and even ratings. It is considered one of the best video formats.
Usage
- As it is an open-source format, it is good for archiving video files and keeping them updated.
- You can play them on MKV file player, VLC, MPV, MPC-HC, KM player, and DivX Player.
- if you are broadcasting your video files through VLC or a video player that supports MKV, it is an ideal choice.
Key Feature
- It provides high-quality video because it doesn’t allow the loss of data while compression.
Drawback
- Not all media players or web browsers can support it.
- It uses a more complicated compression process than other formats.
- Slightly larger video file size.
WMV
It was developed by Microsoft. WMV is supported by Windows Media Player and other window-based programs. It stores large audio and video files with high quality and takes up less storage space. It does better compression than MP4 thus popular in the online streaming of videos.
Usage
- If you are using a window device and do not plan on switching then it is a suitable format.
- It is also suitable if you want compact video files and better protection against privacy.
Key Feature
- It has a high compression rate meanwhile keeping the high video quality.
- It has a copyright feature to prevent the illegal distribution of the material.
Drawback
- Due to high video compression, WMV files are not as high definition as those in MP4 or AVI.
AVCHD
Advanced video coding high definition (AVCHD) was developed by Sony and Panasonic for High video quality and HD videography through digital cameras or camcorders. Its newest edition also supports 3D videos.
It utilizes MPEG/H.264 compression which stores videos in small data sizes and high video quality. AVCHD and MOV are considered the best video file formats for video quality.
Usage
- It is used by pro-videographers.
- If you want to record high-quality clips with any digital equipment or for editing or recording on Blu-ray, AVCHD is the best-recommended format.
Key Feature
- Specifically developed for video recording
- You can record on the original equipment
- You can store videos and, replay them using flash drives or SD cards
Drawback
- Its compatibility with other devices is limited.
FLV
A format specially designed for Adobe Flash Player. It is supported by all video platforms and browsers. It is suitable for online video streaming platforms i.e. Youtube. It will get less common due to the termination of support for Flash player by adobe.
Usage
- It is better not to store your video files in this format as FLV will no longer be supported by Adobe Flash Player. You will not be able to play them later
- If you have files saved in FLV, consider saving them in any other universal format.
Key Feature
- It has a relatively small size which makes videos easy to download.
- Videos can easily be viewed or downloaded in areas with no high-speed connection.
Drawback
- The only drawback is it is not compatible with devices like iPhones.
Conclusion
Choosing a file format when you are new to the video industry is a difficult task to do. Not every format can fulfill the consumer’s demand precisely. What format you choose, depends on your specific needs, the software you are using, and many other factors.
You can differentiate between all the formats discussed above and choose what format better fulfills your demand and saves you time while saving or sending your videos.
