FLV vs MP4
Which video format should you choose?
FLV wins on small file sizes. MP4 wins on universal device and browser support. For most general use, pick whichever is more compatible with your existing tools — file size and quality differences are usually small at the same encoding settings.
When to use FLV
Choose FLV when you need converting legacy flash content or recovering old web archives. Its strengths: small file sizes, and once-universal web compatibility.
Pros
- + Small file sizes
- + Once-universal web compatibility
Cons
- − Adobe Flash is deprecated
- − No modern browser support
- − Should be converted to MP4 or WebM
When to use MP4
Choose MP4 when you need streaming to youtube, vimeo and social media or playback on smartphones and smart tvs. Its strengths: universal device and browser support, and excellent compression-to-quality ratio.
Pros
- + Universal device and browser support
- + Excellent compression-to-quality ratio
- + Small file sizes
- + Supports subtitles and metadata
Cons
- − Lossy compression by default
- − Can require licensing for some codecs
Side-by-side
| Aspect | FLV | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Flash Video | MPEG-4 Part 14 |
| Extension | .flv | .mp4 |
| MIME type | video/x-flv | video/mp4 |
| Compression | Compressed | Lossy |
| File size | Small | Small |
| Compatibility | Limited / legacy | Universal▲ |
| Open source | No / partial | No / partial |
| Best for | Converting legacy Flash content | Streaming to YouTube, Vimeo and social media |
▲ = generally favored on that aspect. Real-world results depend on encoder settings.
Convert between FLV and MP4
FLV vs MP4 — Frequently Asked Questions
Is FLV better than MP4?
Is FLV better than MP4?
Neither is universally better — they serve different needs. FLV is stronger for converting legacy flash content, while MP4 is stronger for streaming to youtube, vimeo and social media. Pick based on what you're trying to do.
Can I convert FLV to MP4?
Can I convert FLV to MP4?
Yes — Zen Convert handles FLV to MP4 conversion for free, directly in your browser. It also handles the reverse (MP4 to FLV). No signup, no watermark.
Will I lose quality converting between FLV and MP4?
Will I lose quality converting between FLV and MP4?
Both FLV and MP4 use lossy compression. Each conversion adds a small additional loss because the codec re-encodes the audio/video. For best quality, convert once and keep the result.
Which file is bigger : FLV or MP4?
Which file is bigger : FLV or MP4?
At the same quality settings, FLV and MP4 produce roughly comparable file sizes.
Which one is better supported on phones?
Which one is better supported on phones?
MP4 has broader mobile support. Most phones (iPhone and Android) play it natively without extra apps.