MP4 vs WebM
MP4 with H.264 is the compatibility king. WebM with VP9/AV1 is the open-web alternative. Neither name is a codec; inspect the payload.
If you can only ship one file, H.264 MP4 still reaches the most players. If you control recent browsers, WebM or AV1 can save bytes. ConvertPass inspects; it does not transcode in phase one.
| Topic | MP4 | WebM |
|---|---|---|
| Typical codecs | H.264, H.265, AAC. | VP8, VP9, AV1, Opus. |
| Browsers | H.264 is the safest. | Strong in Chromium; test Safari for your actual encode. |
| Editors | Every NLE exports it. | Available, not always the default. |
| Licensing story | H.264/HEVC have patent histories. | The royalty pitch is part of WebM’s original appeal. |
Related tools
- Video file inspector
Read duration and resolution from a video without uploading it.
- Social video export settings
Use researched starting points for social exports, with the re-encode caveat attached.
Related formats
Last reviewed 16 August 2026.