TechDecember 08, 2025
MP4 vs WEBM Guide
Which format should you use? Comparing compatibility, size, and use-cases for web developers.
Two Giants of the Web
If you are building a website, you have two main choices for video background or player sources: MP4 and WebM.
MP4 (H.264)
The universal standard. Works on Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, iOS, Android, and your grandmother's iPad 2. File sizes are decent, quality is great.
WebM (VP9/AV1)
Google's open-source alternative. It is often 30-50% smaller than MP4 for the same quality.
The Catch: It doesn't work everywhere (historically poor support on older iOS Safari). However, in 2025, support is excellent.
Best Practice for Developers
Use both. Export a WebM version for Chrome/Firefox users to save bandwidth, and provide an MP4 fallback for Safari users. VideoLite can help you generate optimized MP4s quickly.