Whether you're broadcasting a live concert, hosting a virtual event, or embedding recorded replays on your website, video format matters more than you might think. Behind every smooth playback, snappy load time, or frustrated viewer lies a set of encoding decisions that determine how your content is delivered and experienced.

In this post, we break down the most commonly used video formats for the web, with a focus on compatibility, performance, and compression efficiency. From reliable classics like MP4 to cutting-edge codecs like AV1, each format has its strengths—and its caveats.

You're not sure yet whether to stick with H.264, experiment with WebM, or try out AV1?? Let’s take a closer look at what format works best in which situation, especially when streaming or embedding videos for a modern web audience.

1. MP4 (H.264 in .mp4 container) ✅

• Standard for web.
• Widest compatibility, works in all web browsers (incl. iOS).
• Good balance between quality and file size.
• Hardware acceleration on nearly all devices.

Use as: fallback or default option.

2. WebM (VP8 or VP9) ✅

• Open-source en royalty-free, developed by Google.
• Smaller File size with VP9 compared to H.264, but with same quality.
• Works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Android browsers.
• ❌ Not fully supported in iOS Safari (VP9 support missing, VP8 some support).

Use as: primary video when iOS is not important, or alongside MP4 as alternative.

3. AV1 (in MP4 or WebM container) 🧪

• Newer, ultra-efficient codec (30-50% smaller than H.264/VP9).
• Supported in newer versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Android.
• ❌ No support yet in Safari (iOS/macOS).
• ❗️ Slow encoding (lots of CPU required).
• Commonly used on YouTube (especially higher resolution videos).

Use as: when you want maximum compression, and you are certain your public is using a modern web browser.

4. HEVC (H.265, usually in MP4 container) 🧪

• Better compression than H.264, similar to AV1.
• Supported in iOS (iOS/macOS).
• ❌ Lacks support in Chrome/Firefox.
• ❗️ Royalty-bound → not ideal for an open web.

Use as: niche-solution for specific target audiences (For example, iOS + Quality).

✅ Recommended set up for websites

For maximum compatibility and compression:

<video controls width="100%" preload="metadata">
  <source src="video.webm" type="video/webm">
  <source src="video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  Your browser does not support this video.
</video>

• video.webm: for modern browsers
• video.mp4: fallback for Safari/iOS or older browsers

TL;DR