As a video marketer, you know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating engaging videos, but you should always make sure that you are using the best video format for your content, regardless of the type of video. video you create.
There is no single video format: not all computers, video platforms, or web browsers support all video formats.
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Luckily, we’ve rounded up the best video formats and listed their pros and cons so you can know which video format to use in different situations.
Once you know the best format for your videos, check out HubSpot Clip Creatorour free AI-powered video maker, so you can easily create high-quality videos.
Table of contents
6 of the Best Video Formats for 2025
1.MP4
Most digital devices and platforms support MP4, making it the most universal video format. MP4 can also store video, audio, text and still images. Additionally, it can maintain high video quality while keeping file sizes relatively small.
Ideal for: MP4 formats are best suited for long video formats because MP4 files are relatively small but still high quality.
“For my YouTube channel, I typically use the MP4 video format because most of the YouTube videos I’ve made have been up to 20 minutes long,” HubSpot marketing manager. Erica Santiago said.
“MP4s are such small files that they would make rendering and uploading long videos much easier and more efficient. Additionally, MP4s usually only suffer a slight loss in quality when uploaded to platforms like YouTube or TikTok.
Benefits : MP4 files are quite small, making them quick to download and easy to save without taking up space on your device.
Disadvantages: Because MP4 files are so simple and common to use, they are also easy to pirate, which worries creators.
2. MOVEMENT
Developed by Apple, MOV is a video format specially designed for QuickTime Player. However, since there is a version of QuickTime Player for Windows, MOV is also compatible with Windows.
The MOV video format can store audio, text, and video effects, but because its quality is usually very high, it will take up much more space on users’ computers.
Ideal for: The MOV format is ideal for editing on Apple devices because they are specifically formatted for QuickTime Player.
Benefits : Filmmakers like MOVs because they contain audio, text, and video effects and can be separated into multiple tracks. Their high quality makes MOV editing easy and sets the professional standard in video editing.
Disadvantages: Unlike MP4, MOV formats are not widely playable on different devices, and their very high quality also leads to large file sizes.
“I rarely use the MOV format for my videos because, in my opinion, the high quality doesn’t compensate for the amount of space they consume and the time they take to download,” Santiago explains.
3.WMV
Microsoft developed WMV so your audience can play these types of videos on Windows Media Player. They can download a WMV player to play WMV videos if they own a Mac. Just like the MOV format, the WMV format offers high video quality, but at the expense of a small file size.
Ideal for: WMVs are ideal for creators who want to ensure copyright protection for their work. The format contains copyright and licensing features that check whether users have the right to use them.
Benefits : WMV files are so small that they can even be played via Google Drive.
Disadvantages: “While I like small file sizes for editing, WMV files often lose image quality when downloaded and compressed. So I also avoid using this format,” Santiago explains.
4. FLV
Specially designed for Adobe Flash video players, FLV is one of the most versatile and popular video formats. All web browsers and video platforms support it.
Ideal for: If your audience streams a lot of videos on online platforms, like YouTube and Google Video, FLV is the video format for you.
Benefits : Their file sizes are usually small, which allows users to download them quickly.
Disadvantages: The only drawback of the video format is that it is not compatible with iOS devices and many other mobile devices.
5.AVI
One of the oldest video formats, AVI, was developed by Microsoft in 1992. Since then, it has become one of the most versatile, compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux and supported by most web browsers.
Ideal for: AVI is ideal for short videos and television.
Benefits : AVIs are compatible with most operating systems and provide excellent audio and video quality.
Disadvantages: The file size of AVI video format is large, which is more suitable for storing on your computer than for streaming or downloading.
6. AVCHD
Panasonic and Sony developed AVCHD, the highest quality video format, specifically for digital camcorders, so it’s perfect for those who regularly shoot high-end video.
Powered by H.264/MPEG-4 video compression technology, the video format allows you to store hours of high-quality video using only a tiny amount of data.
Additionally, the video format has standard and high definition variants, and its latest variant, AVCHD 2.0, even supports three-dimensional video.
Ideal for: AVCHD is ideal for creators shooting high-end video.
Benefits : AVCHD is small in terms of file size and does not suffer much data quality loss.
Disadvantages: This format has very limited compatibility as it is developed for use with Panasonic and Sony products.
Now that you know the best video format for your content, you’re ready to create exceptional, engaging videos that will resonate with your audience.
