Video Format Comparison: MP4 vs WebM vs GIF - Which Should You Use?
Compare popular video formats including MP4, WebM, and GIF. Learn the pros and cons of each format and when to use them.
MP4 vs WebM vs GIF: Quick Guide
Video Delivery Best Practices
Format Selection Criteria
Compression and Quality
Browser Compatibility
Performance Optimization
| Format | Size | Quality | Support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP4 | Medium | High | Excellent | Web/social general |
| WebM | Small | High | Good | Web apps/modern browsers |
| GIF | Large | Low | Excellent | Very short loops |
Checklist
- Set appropriate resolution for display size
- Choose bitrate based on motion content
- Provide fallback formats for missing codecs
- Use lazy loading for below-fold videos
- Test on different devices and browsers
- Optimize for target audience connection speed
- Consider mobile data usage
- Implement progressive loading
- Use appropriate poster images
- Monitor performance metrics
Troubleshooting
- Video quality is poor: Increase bitrate or use more efficient codec
- GIF file too large: Reduce FPS, decrease size, consider MP4/WebM instead
- Video won't play: Check codec support, provide MP4 fallback
- Slow loading: Reduce file size, use progressive loading, optimize compression
Use cases
Create lightweight preview animation
1) Convert MP4 to WebM for web delivery
2) If GIF needed, limit to 10-15 FPS and 600px width
3) Use appropriate compression settings
4) Test loading speed on slow connections
Social media video optimization
1) Use MP4 for maximum compatibility
2) Optimize for mobile viewing
3) Keep file size under platform limits
4) Test on different devices
Website hero video
1) Provide MP4 and WebM formats
2) Use poster image for fast loading
3) Implement lazy loading
4) Optimize for Core Web Vitals
Glossary
- Bitrate: Data rate per second affecting file size and quality
- Codec: Video encoding/decoding algorithm (H.264, VP9, AV1)
- Container: File format that holds video and audio data
- Progressive loading: Loading video data incrementally for faster playback
- Poster image: Static image shown before video plays
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FAQ
WebM often yields smaller files at similar quality but has narrower support than MP4.
Use for very short animations or where silent looping is desired; otherwise prefer MP4/WebM.
Pick appropriate resolution/bitrate, use modern codecs, and provide fallbacks.