MKV vs MOV
Which video format should you choose?
MKV wins on supports unlimited tracks and subtitles. MOV wins on excellent quality for editing. 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 MKV
Choose MKV when you need high-quality movie storage or multi-language video files. Its strengths: supports unlimited tracks and subtitles, and open source and royalty-free.
Pros
- + Supports unlimited tracks and subtitles
- + Open source and royalty-free
- + Excellent quality preservation
Cons
- − Not natively supported on iOS or Safari
- − Larger files than MP4
- − Limited streaming support
When to use MOV
Choose MOV when you need editing in final cut pro or premiere pro or macos and ios native playback. Its strengths: excellent quality for editing, and native on macos and ios.
Pros
- + Excellent quality for editing
- + Native on macOS and iOS
- + Supports multiple tracks and metadata
Cons
- − Larger file sizes than MP4
- − Limited support on Windows and Android
Side-by-side
| Aspect | MKV | MOV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matroska Video | Apple QuickTime Movie |
| Extension | .mkv | .mov |
| MIME type | video/x-matroska | video/quicktime |
| Compression | Compressed | Compressed |
| File size | Large | Large |
| Compatibility | Modern only | Wide▲ |
| Open source | Yes | No / partial |
| Best for | High-quality movie storage | Editing in Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro |
▲ = generally favored on that aspect. Real-world results depend on encoder settings.
Convert between MKV and MOV
MKV vs MOV — Frequently Asked Questions
Is MKV better than MOV?
Is MKV better than MOV?
Neither is universally better — they serve different needs. MKV is stronger for high-quality movie storage, while MOV is stronger for editing in final cut pro or premiere pro. Pick based on what you're trying to do.
Can I convert MKV to MOV?
Can I convert MKV to MOV?
Yes — Zen Convert handles MKV to MOV conversion for free, directly in your browser. It also handles the reverse (MOV to MKV). No signup, no watermark.
Will I lose quality converting between MKV and MOV?
Will I lose quality converting between MKV and MOV?
Both MKV and MOV 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 : MKV or MOV?
Which file is bigger : MKV or MOV?
At the same quality settings, MKV and MOV produce roughly comparable file sizes.
Which one is better supported on phones?
Which one is better supported on phones?
MOV has broader mobile support. Most phones (iPhone and Android) play it natively without extra apps.