Format comparison
MP4 vs MOV
By Suprabhat Updated How we write these
The short answer
MP4 and MOV usually contain exactly the same video, so quality isn’t the difference. MP4 plays on everything and is what websites and apps expect; MOV is Apple’s format, best kept for editing in Final Cut or iMovie.
MPEG-4 Part 14
Choose MP4 when
- Sharing, uploading or posting anywhere
- Playing on Windows, Android or smart TVs
- You want one format that always works
QuickTime Movie
Choose MOV when
- Editing in Final Cut Pro, iMovie or other Apple tools
- ProRes or other pro codecs
- The video stays in the Apple ecosystem
Side by side
| Property | MP4 | MOV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | QuickTime Movie |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.264 or HEVC video with AAC audio | H.264 or HEVC video with AAC audio, or ProRes from editors |
| Typical size | 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute | A minute of 4K iPhone video is roughly 170–400 MB |
| Support | Opens everywhere | Mainly Apple devices |
| Opens on | Every phone, browser, TV, editor, chat app and upload form | Apple devices and most editors; some Windows PCs, Android phones and upload forms struggle with it |
| Best for | Sharing video anywhere | Recording and editing video on Apple devices |
| Introduced | 2003 | 1991 |
Watch out with MP4
An MP4 that won’t play is rarely broken; it usually holds a newer codec such as HEVC or AV1 that the player doesn’t support.
Watch out with MOV
A MOV from an iPhone is usually an ordinary H.264 or HEVC video that can move into MP4 without re-encoding; a MOV exported from an editor may be ProRes and ten times larger.
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Questions
Is MP4 better than MOV?
MP4 and MOV usually contain exactly the same video, so quality isn’t the difference. MP4 plays on everything and is what websites and apps expect; MOV is Apple’s format, best kept for editing in Final Cut or iMovie.
Which is smaller, MP4 or MOV?
MP4 is usually smaller for the same content. MP4: 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute. MOV: A minute of 4K iPhone video is roughly 170–400 MB.
How do I convert MP4 to MOV?
Use the free MP4 to MOV converter. It runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
How do I convert MOV to MP4?
Use the free MOV to MP4 converter. It works the same way, entirely on your device.
More format comparisons
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MP4 vs MKV: which should you use?
MKV can hold almost anything, including several audio languages and subtitle tracks, which makes it ideal for a media library. MP4 holds less but plays on phones, browsers, editors and social apps, so it wins whenever a video is shared. - Format comparison
MP4 vs WEBM: which should you use?
WebM is the open format made for the web, and VP9 or AV1 inside it can be smaller than H.264 in MP4. MP4 is still the more compatible choice: it plays on iPhones, TVs and in every editor and social app. - Format comparison
AVI vs MP4: which should you use?
AVI is a 1990s container that usually holds older, less efficient codecs, so the same video is often much larger and won’t play on phones or in browsers. Convert AVI to MP4 unless an old device or program specifically needs AVI. - Format comparison
MKV vs AVI: which should you use?
MKV is the modern choice: it holds any codec, several audio tracks, subtitles and chapters, and handles HD video properly. AVI dates from 1992 and is tied to older codecs like DivX and Xvid, so the only reason to keep one is an old DVD player or TV that reads nothing else.