M4V vs MP4: Which Video Format Should You Use and Why?
Video is one of the most popular and engaging forms of content on the web. According to Wyzowl, 92% of businesses use video as a marketing tool in 2023. However, not all videos are created equal. Different video formats can affect your videos' quality, compatibility, and performance.
Two of the most common video formats are M4V and MP4. You may have seen these file extensions when downloading or streaming videos online. But what are they and how are they different? In this blog, we will explain everything you need to know about M4V and MP4, and how to choose the best format for your videos.
First, what is M4V and Mp4?
M4V and MP4 are container formats that can store video, audio, and other data. A container format is like a box that holds different media files together. The media files inside the box are encoded using different codecs, algorithms that compress and decompress data.
M4V is a video format developed by Apple is mainly used for iTunes Store videos. It is based on the MPEG-4 Part 14 standard, MP4. However, M4V has additional features and restrictions that make it different from MP4.
MP4 is a video format widely supported by most media players and devices. It is also based on the MPEG-4 Part 14 standard but is more flexible and versatile than M4V. MP4 can store various types of media files using different codecs.
M4V and MP4 have some similarities and differences in their features and compatibility. Here is a table that compares some of the main aspects of M4V and MP4:
| Aspect | M4V | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Video codec | H.264, MPEG-4, HEVC, AV1 | H.264, MPEG-4, HEVC, AV1, VP8, VP9, Theora |
| Audio codec | AAC, AC-3 | AAC, MP3, Opus, Vorbis, MP2 |
| Additional features | AC3, chapters, soft subs, DRM protection (FairPlay) | Subtitles, menus, 3D content, streaming over the internet |
| Restrictions | Limited to Apple devices and programs (iTunes, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, QuickTime Player) | Compatible with most media players and devices (Windows Media Player, VLC player, Android, Windows Phone) |
| Quality | Similar to MP4 depending on the codec and compression settings used. It may have higher quality due to DRM protection. | Similar to M4V, depending on the codec and compression settings used. It may have lower quality due to its smaller size and wider support. |
As you can see from the table, M4V and MP4 have some advantages and disadvantages depending on your goals and preferences. In this blog, we will help you decide which format is better for your videos and how to easily convert your videos from RAW format to M4V or MP4 as required.
M4V or MP4: which one to choose?
Choosing between multiple video formats like M4V and MP4 can be tricky, as there is no definitive answer to which one is better. It depends on your goals, preferences, and requirements for your videos. You need to consider some factors that can affect the quality, compatibility, and performance of your videos, such as:
- Audience you are catering to
- The content you are publishing
- The desired performance
Audience you are catering to
Who are you trying to reach with your videos? If your target audience mainly uses Apple devices or iTunes Store videos, then M4V may be your better choice. M4V is designed to work seamlessly with Apple products and services, and it can offer a consistent and smooth viewing experience for your viewers.
However, if you want to reach a wider audience across different platforms and devices, then MP4 may suit you. MP4 is a standard format widely supported by most media players and devices, and it can offer more flexibility and accessibility for your viewers.
The content you are publishing
What kind of content are you creating or distributing with your videos? If your content is original or exclusive, M4V may offer more protection from piracy or unauthorized distribution. M4V has a DRM protection feature called FairPlay, which prevents copying or modifying video files without authorization. This can help you safeguard your intellectual property and revenue.
However, if your content is public or shareable, MP4 may offer more flexibility and accessibility. MP4 has no DRM protection feature, meaning anyone can copy or modify the video files without restriction. This can help you increase your exposure and reach.
The desired performance
How do you want your videos to perform on the web? If your content requires high quality or resolution, then M4V may deliver better results for your videos. M4V has a higher quality level than MP4 due to its DRM protection feature, which prevents unauthorized copying or modification.
This can help you preserve the original quality and resolution of your videos. However, if your content requires fast loading or streaming speed, MP4 may perform better for your videos. MP4 has a smaller file size than M4V due to its wider support and compatibility. This can help you reduce the bandwidth and storage costs of your videos.
As you can see from these factors, M4V and MP4 have advantages and disadvantages depending on your goals and preferences. You need to weigh each format's pros and cons and decide which suits your needs better. In the next section of this blog, we will show you how ImageKit can help you optimize and transform your videos for the web, regardless of whether you use M4V or MP4 format.
From the above, we know that M4V and Mp4 differ drastically in video quality, compatibility, security, and accessibility. Here is a table that summarizes the information.
- Video Quality
- Compatibility
- Security
- Accessibility
| Aspect | M4V | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | High | Medium |
| Compatibility | Low | High |
| Security | High | Low |
| Accessibility | Low | High |
The table shows that M4V has higher video quality and security than MP4 but lower compatibility and accessibility. This means that M4V can offer better protection and resolution for your videos but also limit your audience and distribution options.
On the other hand, MP4 has lower video quality and security than M4V but higher compatibility and accessibility. This means that MP4 can offer more flexibility and reach for your videos but can compromise your quality and performance.
But, your videos are not always in M4V or mp4 format. You have to convert them to either of the formats before they are ready for publishing.
How ImageKit Can Help You Convert Videos Between M4V and MP4
ImageKit is a powerful image and video CDN that offers dynamic optimizations, transformations, adaptive bitrate streaming, digital asset management, URL-based manipulation APIs, smart cropping, face detection, format support detection, content analysis, automatic format conversion, quality compression, integrated CDN, multi-region processing network, and more features for video delivery and performance.
With ImageKit, you can easily upload, store, optimize, transform, stream, and deliver your videos in any format you want. Whether you use M4V or MP4 format for your videos, ImageKit can help you improve your website speed and user experience with its advanced video features.
You don't need to download or install any software or app to convert your videos between M4V and MP4 formats. You can simply use ImageKit, a powerful and easy-to-use image and video optimization tool that can help you transform and convert your videos in real time.
ImageKit can automatically detect the best output format for your videos based on browser, device compatibility, and content characteristics. You can also specify the output format of your choice using the URL-based format transformation parameter.
For example, if you have a video in M4V format and you want to convert it to MP4 format, you can simply add ?tr=f-mp4 at the end of the video URL. ImageKit will instantly convert your video to MP4 format and deliver it to your viewers.
Souce: Automatic video format conversion - ImageKit.io Docs
Similarly, if you have a video in MP4 format and you want to convert it to M4V format, you can simply add ?tr=f-M4V at the end of the video URL. ImageKit will instantly convert your video to M4V format and deliver it to your viewers.
ImageKit can also help you optimize and transform your videos for the web, regardless of whether you use M4V or MP4 format. Using the URL-based transformation parameters, you can resize, crop, rotate, watermark, and overlay text or images on your videos in real time. You can also create predefined transformations for videos to save time and maintain code sanity.
With ImageKit, you can easily upload, store, optimize, transform, stream, and deliver your videos in any format you want. Whether you use M4V or MP4 format for your videos, ImageKit can help you improve your website speed and user experience with its advanced video features.
Start streaming better with ImageKit! Sign up for a free trial.