FLV vs WebM
Which video format should you choose?
FLV wins on small file sizes. WebM wins on open source and royalty-free. 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 WebM
Choose WebM when you need html5 web video embedding or modern browser-based streaming. Its strengths: open source and royalty-free, and excellent web compression.
Pros
- + Open source and royalty-free
- + Excellent web compression
- + Native support in Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Cons
- − Limited support on iOS and Safari
- − Slower encoding than H.264
- − Less editing software support
Side-by-side
| Aspect | FLV | WebM |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Flash Video | WebM (VP8/VP9) |
| Extension | .flv | .webm |
| MIME type | video/x-flv | video/webm |
| Compression | Compressed | Lossy |
| File size | Small▲ | Medium |
| Compatibility | Limited / legacy | Modern only▲ |
| Open source | No / partial | Yes |
| Best for | Converting legacy Flash content | HTML5 web video embedding |
▲ = generally favored on that aspect. Real-world results depend on encoder settings.
Convert between FLV and WebM
FLV vs WebM — Frequently Asked Questions
Is FLV better than WebM?
Is FLV better than WebM?
Neither is universally better — they serve different needs. FLV is stronger for converting legacy flash content, while WebM is stronger for html5 web video embedding. Pick based on what you're trying to do.
Can I convert FLV to WebM?
Can I convert FLV to WebM?
Yes — Zen Convert handles FLV to WebM conversion for free, directly in your browser. It also handles the reverse (WebM to FLV). No signup, no watermark.
Will I lose quality converting between FLV and WebM?
Will I lose quality converting between FLV and WebM?
Both FLV and WebM 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 WebM?
Which file is bigger : FLV or WebM?
FLV files are usually smaller than WebM files at the same quality. The difference depends on encoder settings, but the trend is consistent across most content.
Which one is better supported on phones?
Which one is better supported on phones?
WebM has broader mobile support. Most phones (iPhone and Android) play it natively without extra apps.