MP4 vs WebM — universal or web?

MP4 for phones and platforms, WebM for HTML5 embedding.

MP4

H.264/AAC container — standard for phones, YouTube, TikTok.

Widest hardware and platform compatibility.

Larger files than WebM at the same quality.

WebM

Google's open format — VP9/AV1 + Opus.

Smaller files, native in Chrome, Firefox, Edge.

Weaker support in native mobile apps.

Verdict — which to choose?

YouTube, Instagram, phones, TVs → MP4. Embedded web video (HTML5) → WebM. For max compatibility always keep an MP4 copy.

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