MOV vs MP4: what is the difference?
MOV and MP4 are both containers: wrappers that hold the video, the sound and some information about them. The picture quality depends on what is inside, not on the wrapper.
Where they come from
- MOV is Apple's QuickTime format. iPhones and Macs save video as MOV.
- MP4 is an international standard that was based on the QuickTime format. It is the format websites, Windows, Android, TVs and most apps expect.
Because MP4 grew out of MOV, the two are very similar inside. That is why converting between them is often quick.
What matters more: the video format inside
The thing that decides whether a video plays, and how big it is, is the video format (codec) inside the container:
- H.264 is the most widely supported. Almost every phone, computer, browser and app can play it.
- HEVC (H.265) is newer and makes smaller files at the same quality. iPhones record in it by default. Some Windows PCs need an extra add-on to play it, and some websites do not accept it.
So "my MOV will not play" is usually an HEVC problem, not a MOV problem.
Which to use
- Sharing, uploading or sending to someone on Windows or Android: MP4 with H.264. It plays nearly everywhere.
- Keeping videos on Apple devices: MOV is fine.
Does converting lose quality?
It depends on what is inside:
- A MOV with H.264 video can be repackaged as MP4 without re-encoding. That is quick and loses nothing.
- A MOV with HEVC video has to be re-encoded to H.264 to play everywhere. That takes longer, and the file can get bigger, because H.264 needs more data for the same picture.
The converter tells you which of the two will happen before it starts.
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