WebM vs WMV
Which video format should you choose?
WebM wins on open source and royalty-free. WMV wins on strong compression for windows. 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 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
When to use WMV
Choose WMV when you need windows media player playback or windows-based video sharing. Its strengths: strong compression for windows, and native on windows platforms.
Pros
- + Strong compression for Windows
- + Native on Windows platforms
- + Built-in DRM support
Cons
- − Poor support on macOS, iOS, Linux
- − Proprietary format
- − Falling out of favor for modern web
Side-by-side
| Aspect | WebM | WMV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | WebM (VP8/VP9) | Windows Media Video |
| Extension | .webm | .wmv |
| MIME type | video/webm | video/x-ms-wmv |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| File size | Medium | Medium |
| Compatibility | Modern only▲ | Limited / legacy |
| Open source | Yes | No / partial |
| Best for | HTML5 web video embedding | Windows Media Player playback |
▲ = generally favored on that aspect. Real-world results depend on encoder settings.
Convert between WebM and WMV
WebM vs WMV — Frequently Asked Questions
Is WebM better than WMV?
Is WebM better than WMV?
Neither is universally better — they serve different needs. WebM is stronger for html5 web video embedding, while WMV is stronger for windows media player playback. Pick based on what you're trying to do.
Can I convert WebM to WMV?
Can I convert WebM to WMV?
Yes — Zen Convert handles WebM to WMV conversion for free, directly in your browser. It also handles the reverse (WMV to WebM). No signup, no watermark.
Will I lose quality converting between WebM and WMV?
Will I lose quality converting between WebM and WMV?
Both WebM and WMV 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 : WebM or WMV?
Which file is bigger : WebM or WMV?
At the same quality settings, WebM and WMV produce roughly comparable file sizes.
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.