MP4 vs MOV — nearly identical, compatibility makes the difference
Both MP4 and MOV build on ISO BMFF. MP4 wins on broad compatibility; MOV is preferred inside Apple's editing ecosystem.
Quick verdict
- Distribution and the web → MP4.
- Apple-only editing workflows → MOV (ProRes and similar high-quality codecs).
- When in doubt → MP4.
Side-by-side
| Aspect | MP4 | MOV |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ISO/IEC 14496-14 | QuickTime File Format |
| Player support | Effectively universal | Apple apps, VLC, mpv |
| Codecs | H.264, HEVC, AV1 | Above plus ProRes, DNxHD |
| Alpha channel | Limited (HEVC/AV1 only) | Yes via ProRes 4444 |
| Streaming | Excellent (fMP4 for HLS) | Fair |
Converting
- Remux without re-encoding when the codec is common:
ffmpeg -i in.mov -c copy out.mp4. - ProRes or DNxHD wrapped in MOV must be re-encoded to fit in MP4.