Format comparison
WMV vs MP4
By Suprabhat Updated How we write these
The short answer
WMV is Microsoft’s older format: it plays in Windows Media Player but struggles on Macs, iPhones, Android and the web. MP4 plays everywhere, from phones to smart TVs to every browser, usually in a smaller file, so convert WMV to MP4 whenever it leaves an old Windows PC.
Windows Media Video
Choose WMV when
- An old Windows-only system or presentation expects it
- Keeping an archive exactly as it was made
MPEG-4 Part 14
Choose MP4 when
- Anything you’ll watch on a phone, Mac or TV
- Uploading to YouTube, social media or a website
- Editing in any current video editor
Side by side
| Property | WMV | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Windows Media Video | MPEG-4 Part 14 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | WMV2 or WMV3 video with WMA audio | H.264 or HEVC video with AAC audio |
| Typical size | Larger than MP4 for the same quality | 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute |
| Support | Legacy | Opens everywhere |
| Opens on | Windows Media Player and VLC; not Macs, iPhones, browsers or most websites | Every phone, browser, TV, editor, chat app and upload form |
| Best for | Old Windows presentations and players | Sharing video anywhere |
| Introduced | 1999 | 2003 |
Watch out with WMV
WMV files from old DRM-protected downloads can’t be converted by any tool; only unprotected ones will work.
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.
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Questions
Is WMV better than MP4?
WMV is Microsoft’s older format: it plays in Windows Media Player but struggles on Macs, iPhones, Android and the web. MP4 plays everywhere, from phones to smart TVs to every browser, usually in a smaller file, so convert WMV to MP4 whenever it leaves an old Windows PC.
Which is smaller, WMV or MP4?
MP4 is usually smaller for the same content. WMV: Larger than MP4 for the same quality. MP4: 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute.
How do I convert WMV to MP4?
Use the free WMV to MP4 converter. It runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
How do I convert MP4 to WMV?
Use the free MP4 to WMV converter. It works the same way, entirely on your device.
More format comparisons
- Format comparison
MP4 vs MOV: which should you use?
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. - Format comparison
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.