How to choose the best video codecs: a practical and comparative guide

Choosing a codec can seem like a hassle, but with a few keys you can get it right without wasting time or quality and we compare video codecs with higher compressionIn this guide we break down which codec to use depending on the case, how it relates to the container format, and which options are best for web, social media, TV/IPTV, or home entertainment.

In addition to a complete comparison (H.264/AVC, HEVC/H.265, VVC/H.266 and AV1), you will see the most common formats, such as MP4 or MKV (MKV vs MP4), recommendations by platform and a practical block for when a video does not play due to codec problems with a step-by-step repair solution.

What is a video codec and how does it differ from a container?

A video codec is the software or standard that compresses (encodes) and decompresses (decodes) Audiovisual data. Compressing reduces the file size to make it easier storage, shipping and streaming; unzipping allows it to be played with sufficient fidelity on the target device.

Compression can be lossy or losslessThe first removes or merges information that is less perceptible to the human eye to create much smaller files (typical in distribution/streaming). The second preserves all the original data, ideal for post-production, although with larger sizes.

The container (MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, etc.) is the file that “wraps” video, audio, subtitles and metadata. It does not compress itself; it simply groups encoded streams by codecs (e.g. H.264 for video + AAC for audio within a .mp4).

How a codec works in general

Videos are sequences of frames made up of pixels. A codec identifies patterns, segment into blocks and predicts changes between frames to save only the essentials. Techniques such as motion compensation, intra/inter-frame prediction, quantization, and entropy coding combine to squeeze every bit without the viewer perceiving any significant losses.

Modern codecs, such as H.264, HEVC or AV1, take advantage of psychovisual principles (what the eye perceives better or worse) and strategies such as variable block sizes, multiple reference frames or parallel processing to balance quality, bit rate and computational complexity.

The most used codecs and formats today

H.264 (AVC)

H.264, also called AVC, is the most widespread standard due to its great balance between quality and bitrateIt works on virtually all browsers and devices, and is key for Blu-ray, cable TV, and general streaming.

Its techniques include block-based motion compensation, variable size blocks (4x4, 8x8, 16x16), intra-frame prediction and entropy coding (CAVLC/CABAC). It is usually encapsulated in MP4, MOV, F4V, 3GP or TS, maintaining outstanding software and video compatibility. hardware.

H.265 (HEVC)

HEVC (H.265) arrived to double the efficiency of H.264: it achieves Equal or better quality with approximately half the bitrate. It is very valuable in 4K and detailed or cinematic content, and platforms like Netflix They use it to reduce bandwidth without sacrificing sharpness.

Introduces CTU up to 64×64, more accurate motion prediction, more prediction modes, an improved CABAC and parallelization support. It is usually packaged in MP4 and TS (some lists confuse its package with acronyms like "MP" or "SPP," which are not valid container formats).

H.266 (VVC)

VVC (H.266), developed by Fraunhofer and successor to HEVC, aims to reduce the bitrate by about 50% additional advantage over H.265 in many scenarios. It holds promise for mobile streaming of high-definition, 4K/8K, and volumetric video, although its adoption depends on hardware support and the licensing model.

AV1

AV1, powered by AOMedia (Google, Amazon, Netflix, etc.), is a royalty-free codec aimed at maximizing efficiency and minimize license costs. YouTube already uses it in part of its catalog (4K content and HDR), obtaining superior quality at lower bitrates.

It stands out for its block and tile-based coding (sizes from 4×4 to 128×128), adaptive quantization, advanced prediction, multi-layer entropy coding, and native HDR support. However, it requires more computing power to encode/decode, and its hardware support is still expanding.

WMV

WMV (Windows Media Video) is Microsoft's family of video compression and storage solutions, clearly oriented towards the Windows ecosystem. It offers relatively small files and acceptable quality for presentations, email or simple PC distribution.

WMV 7/8/9, VC-1, and MPEG-4-based profiles coexist under this umbrella. Although its compatibility is currently lower than MP4, it can be useful when needed. direct integration with Windows or management of licenses/rights within that environment and consult codec packs for Windows.

FLV and F4V

FLV/F4V were created for web video with Adobe Flash Player. They support codecs such as Sorenson Spark, H.264 and VP6. FLV managed to compress more than MP4 with good quality, saving bandwidth in the Flash era.

Flash is obsolete today, but older files and legacy streams still exist. F4V is the (more modern) ISO-based container compared to FLV, which encoded video/audio as SWF. However, its current use is very residual in new projects.

MOV (QuickTime)

MOV (QTFF) is Apple's container for video, audio, text, and metadata, very popular in professional editing workflows for its high quality and easy editing. It is similar to MP4, but maintains the particularities of the Apple ecosystem.

It can include Apple ProRes, Cinepak, Component Video, DV, DVCPro 50, H.263, H.264, H.265, Motion JPEG, MPEG‑2, MPEG‑4 Part 2, QuickTime Animation and Sorenson 2/3, making it versatile in post-production and intermediate mastering.

MKV (Matroska)

Matroska is a free and open source container capable of storing almost any video codec, multiple audio tracks, subtitles and metadataThe .mk3d profile is used for specific 3D content.

It is common in movies and series due to its ability to group versions, languages, and subtitles into a single file. It offers great flexibility, although not all devices play it out of the box without installing additional software.

MP4

MP4 is the universal container for web and devices. It supports video, audio, subtitles, text, and static images. It's the best choice for most social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X/Twitter) for its compatibility and efficiency.

It provides relatively small files with little loss of quality, although it can be slower for some complex edits. A/V synchronization rarely causes problems, but if it does, it is usually due to codecs or muxing specific. If you need to convert, see how convert a video to MP4.

REVIEWS

Microsoft's AVI is old-school and simple. It works well on older TVs and players, and can be useful for short clips or legacy environments. It's not ideal for sharing or modern streaming due to its large size and limitations.

It does not store subtitles natively and its compression is less efficient than current options. However, its broad basic compatibility keeps it alive in certain uses.

AVCHD

AVCHD was created by Sony and Panasonic for video cameras, designed for high-quality capture with compression. H.264/MPEG‑4It handles menus, subtitles, and even slideshows, and the latest versions support 3D.

Its general compatibility is lower because it is oriented to camera hardware and specific flows, but it offers high efficiency without appreciable loss in semi-professional acquisition.

WEBM

WEBM is an open source wrapper from Google for HTML5 that plays directly in the browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera) without plugins. It connects very well with codecs like VP9 or AV1 to reduce bitrates while maintaining quality.

It's ideal for embedding lightweight video on websites, banners, or animated backgrounds. Its Achilles heel is that support for mobile devices and some editing workflows may be limited compared to MP4.

How to choose codec and format according to use

For the web, the winning route is usually MP4 with H.264 For universal compatibility and fast processing, WEBM (with AV1/VP9) shines in modern browsers when you're looking for maximum efficiency and complete site control.

If you want your home videos to "survive" the test of time, choose popular and open formats. MP4 is safe; AVI still works in older environments. Prioritize future compatibility and keep higher quality master copies when feasible.

To apps Windows, WMV can make your life easier thanks to its system integration and internal licensing options. Still, if you need multiplatform reach, MP4/H.264 or HEVC is usually a better base.

In acquisition and editing, intra-frame codecs such as Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD/DNxHR They allow for smoother work with fewer artifacts; for distribution/streaming, H.264/HEVC/AV1 is recommended, as they prioritize small files and easy playback.

Be aware of asymmetry: H.264/HEVC are typically more “expensive” to code than decoding, which is perfect for distributing to low-power devices. ProRes, on the other hand, encodes/decodes quickly and with quality, ideal for editing but not for final streaming.

Recommendations by platform

YouTube recommends MP4 with H.264 for video and AAC‑LC for audio for upload/processing speed and compatibility. Although it supports AV1 and VP9, ​​H.264 remains the most universal choice for most.

Instagram accepts MP4 and MOV, preferring MP4 with codec H.264 for smaller size and good stability. For Facebook, MP4 or MOV work well, with MP4 having an advantage due to its quality/weight ratio.

The “Codec Wars” and the state of the market

In the 2000s/2010s there was intense competition to impose standards and licensing models. H.264 was the big turning point due to its efficiency and mass adoption. With the rise of HD/4K, HEVC took another leap forward, but its licensing costs slowed some of its expansion.

AV1 was born as a royalty-free alternative to guarantee lower costs to creators and distributors, with superior compression (≈30% compared to HEVC in many scenarios). Its adoption is growing, and it's already used on platforms like YouTube, especially for 4K and HDR.

In practical terms, when streaming a 4-hour 2K movie, H.264 would need the highest bitrate, HEVC would significantly reduce bandwidth and AV1 could offer the same quality at even lower rates, alleviating buffering and data consumption.

For IPTV/OTT, the choice depends on desired quality, bandwidth limits, operating cost and compatibility of the device park; also assesses What codecs do Smart TVs support?H.264 is the workhorse; HEVC shines in high resolution; AV1 brings future and efficiency if the infrastructure supports it.

Migration to new codecs should be done gradually: evaluate your infrastructure, test with real content, validate on target devices, plan hardware upgrades and maintain fallback routes (e.g., serve H.264 to older devices and AV1 to compatible browsers/hardware).

There are commercial solutions that facilitate ingest, real-time transcoding, and multi-format delivery. Manufacturers such as Flussonic Media Server They integrate capture and transcoding pipelines to deliver content to any device with consistent quality.

A side note: On platforms like Reddit you'll see cookie consent banners explaining how similar technologies are used to maintain services, measure and personalize The experience. It doesn't affect your choice of codec, but it's useful to know when evaluating players and web environments.

What if your video won't play? Codecs, compatibility, and corrupted files

If a video doesn't start, cuts out, or sounds out of sync, it could be because missing or incompatible codecs, package conflicts, poorly encoded files or corruption of the file itself (broken headers, damaged frames, etc.).

First of all, check the exact container and codecs with a tool like MediaInfo or learn how to Identify and manage the necessary codecs, update your codecs and player (VLC, MPC‑HC) and try converting to a standard format (e.g., MP4/H.264 + AAC). If the file is corrupted, you need a repair utility.

A popular option is Wondershare Repairit, which repairs damaged videos in multiple scenarios: not playing, no sound, A/V out of sync, playback errors, header corruption, flickering, or missing codec. Supports Full HD, 4K, and 8K in 18 common formats (MOV, MP4, M2TS, INSV, M4V, WMV, MPEG, ASF, etc.).

It also fixes compression corruption, system crashes or format changes and works with files from SD cards, mobile phones, cameras and units USB. It doesn't limit the number or size of videos to be repaired and offers two scanning modes (quick and advanced) depending on the level of corruption. For more complete guides on how to repair videos, see Repair corrupted videos on Windows you can consult specialized resources.

It is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022 and macOS 10.10 to 13The basic flow is simple: install the app, add videos to your queue, start the repair, and when it's finished, preview and save it to your preferred location.

When combining repair and re-encoding, try to export to a container and codec of maximum compatibility (MP4/H.264 + AAC) to minimize playback problems on TVs, mobile phones and browsers, and also considers methods to recover corrupted videos with VLC if applicable.

Choosing the right codec and container saves bandwidth, speeds up loading, improves sharpness, and avoids device headaches. With H.264 as a safe bet, HEVC for high resolutions, and AV1 as an efficient and royalty-free bet, plus versatile formats like MP4, MOV, or MKV, it's easy to adapt the output to each destination; and if something fails, you can count on repair tools and a transcoding strategy will allow you to recover and deliver your videos without missing a beat.