6 of the Best Video Formats for 2025

As a video marketer, there isn’t any cookie-cutter methodology for creating participating movies, however no matter the kind of video you are creating, it’s best to be sure you’re utilizing one of the best video format on your content material.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all video format—not each laptop, video platform, or web site browser helps each video format.

Thankfully, we have rounded up one of the best video codecs and listed their execs and cons so you’ll be able to study which video format to make use of in numerous conditions.

As soon as one of the best format on your movies, take a look at HubSpot’s Clip Creator, our free AI-powered video maker, so you’ll be able to simply create high-quality movies.

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6 of the Finest Video Codecs for 2025

1. MP4

Most digital gadgets and platforms help MP4, making it probably the most common video format. MP4 also can retailer video, audio, textual content and nonetheless photographs. As well as, it will possibly keep excessive video high quality whereas sustaining a comparatively small file measurement.

Finest for: MP4 codecs are finest for long-form video codecs as a result of MP4 recordsdata are comparatively small however nonetheless top quality.

“For my YouTube channel, I normally use the MP4 video format as a result of lots of the YouTube movies I make are over 20 minutes lengthy,” says Erika Santiago, HubSpot Advertising and marketing Supervisor.

“MP4s are such small recordsdata that it makes rendering and importing long-form movies a lot simpler and extra environment friendly. Additionally, MP4s usually endure little high quality loss when uploaded to platforms like YouTube or TikTok.”

• Advantages: MP4 recordsdata are pretty small, making them simple to add rapidly and save with out taking on area in your system
• Disadvantages: As a result of MP4 recordsdata are so easy and easy to work with, they’re additionally simple to pirate, which is a priority for creators.

2. MOV

Developed by Apple, MOV is a video format designed particularly for QuickTime Participant. Nonetheless, since there’s a model of QuickTime Participant for Home windows, MOV can be suitable with Home windows.

The MOV video format can retailer audio, textual content and video results, however since its high quality is normally very excessive, it takes up considerably more room on individuals’s computer systems.

Finest for: The MOV format is finest for enhancing on Apple gadgets as they’re specifically formatted for QuickTime Participant

Advantages: MOVs are most popular by filmmakers as a result of they comprise audio, textual content and video results and will be separated into a number of tracks. Their top quality makes MOV simple to edit {and professional} high quality video enhancing.

Disadvantages: Not like MP4, MOV codecs should not extensively playable on numerous gadgets and their very top quality additionally results in giant file sizes.

“I hardly ever use MOV formatting for my movies as a result of, for my part, they do not produce top quality for the way a lot file area they use and the way lengthy they take to add,” says Santiago.

3. WMV

Microsoft developed WMV in order that your viewers can play any such video in Home windows Media Participant. If they’ve a Mac they will obtain a WMV participant to play WMV movies. Just like the MOV format, the WMV format boasts excessive video high quality, however on the expense of a smaller file measurement.

Finest for: WMV is finest for many who need to guarantee copyright safety for his or her work. The format has copyright and licensing capabilities to test in case you have the proper to make use of it.

Advantages: WMV recordsdata are so small that they will even be performed by way of Google Drive.

Disadvantages: “Though I favor smaller file sizes for enhancing, WMV recordsdata typically lose picture high quality when uploaded and compressed, so I keep away from utilizing this format as properly,” says Santiago.

4. FLV

Designed particularly for Adobe Flash Video Participant, FLV is likely one of the most versatile and standard video codecs Each internet browser and video platform helps it.

Finest for: In case your viewers streams a whole lot of movies on on-line platforms like YouTube and Google Video, then FLV is the video format for you

Advantages: Their file sizes are normally small, so individuals can obtain them rapidly.

Disadvantages: The one disadvantage of the video format is that it’s not suitable with iOS gadgets and plenty of different cellular gadgets.

5. AVI

One of many oldest video codecs, AVI, was developed by Microsoft in 1992 Since then, it has turn into probably the most versatile, suitable with Home windows, Mac and Linux and supported by most internet browsers

• Finest for: AVI is finest for small movies and tv.
• Advantages: AVIs are suitable with most working methods and boast glorious audio and video high quality.
• Disadvantages: The file measurement of the AVI video format is giant, which is extra helpful for individuals to retailer on their laptop than to stream or obtain.

6. AVCHD

Panasonic and Sony developed AVCHD, the best high quality video format, particularly for digital camcorders, so it is good for many who frequently shoot high-end video.

Powered by H.264/MPEG-4 video compression know-how, the video format lets you retailer high-quality video utilizing solely a small quantity of knowledge.

Moreover, there are each customary and high-definition video codecs, and its newest model, AVCHD 2.0, even helps three-dimensional video.

• Finest for: AVCHD is finest for creators taking pictures high-end video.
• Advantages: AVCHD recordsdata are small in measurement and don’t endure a lot loss in information high quality.
• Disadvantages: This format has very restricted compatibility as it’s designed to be used with Panasonic and Sony merchandise

Now that one of the best video codecs on your content material, you are able to create excellent, participating movies that can attain your viewers.