MOV Vs. MP4 File Format- Which is the Best Choice?

Today, there are different kinds of video file formats supported across various video platforms. The choice of a video file format depends upon the user’s requirement and the type of file they are working on. Here you will get to know the difference between MOV and MP4.

MOV and MP4 are the two most commonly used video file formats. They both use the lossy video compression approach to hold the videos. This method makes the video much lighter in size as it eliminates the portion of the video that is less significant. In addition, it maintains a minimum quality loss after the video has been compressed.

Which File Format is the Best? MOV or MP4?

About MOV

MOV is a popular video format file originally developed by Apple. It was intended to support its QuickTime movie player and is often used to save videos, movies, etc. It uses an advanced algorithm especially developed by Apple and is compatible across different versions of Mac and Windows operating systems. It uses the concept of tracks to store data. A track, which stores a particular type of data, is stored in a multimedia container file. There are many such tracks present in the container. There are different tracks for holding different data types like text, audio, video, etc. Such tracks maintain a hierarchy consisting of atoms as an object. In addition, it uses a specific format to contain a digitally encoded media stream. If the digitally encoded media stream is present in some other file, it makes a data reference to the media stream. Various advantages are associated with the MOV format, making it a much more popular and usable format for videos. However, it has some proprietary issues.

Based on the standard used by the MOV format, the MP4 file format was later developed. There were only minor modifications, too, while data tagging information. Later, it was used as an industry standard. Because of their almost identical nature, the MPEG-4 format can be used by both the MOV and MP4 container formats. Even though MOV was intended for QuickTime players and MP4 uses the same lossy compression standards, they are mostly interchangeable in a QuickTime-only environment. A file in MOV format can be easily converted into MP4 and vice-versa without changing the video encoding. IT is very much possible in the case of the Apple environment. If you work in an environment other than Apple, you might face some complexities.

About MP4

MP4 is an industry-standard with larger support for operating systems than Apple. There are various media players which support this format in different operating systems. In addition, they are widely supported across various handheld devices like video players and gaming devices. In addition, it has a larger range of support for hardware devices like Sony PSP and various DVD players. On the software side, it includes most DirectShow / Video for Windows codec packs. Based on the MPEG-4 file format, the QuickTime (MOV) file format was approved by the International Organization for Standardization. In the year 2001, the QuickTime format specification was published. The MPEG-4 file format specification was created based on the QuickTime format specification.

Later in the year 2001, the MPEG-4 specifications were revised based on the specification published in 1999 and the MP4 (.mp4) file format. With the advancement in technology and the requirements, it was in 2003 when the first version of the MP4 format was revised. It was replaced by MPEG-4 Part 14. MP4 can be used as a base for multimedia files like 3GP, Motion JPEG 2000, etc.

You can check the MP4RA website, which is the official registration authority website and contains all the registered extensions for ISO Base Media File Format.

So Which Video Format to Go with better?

Both MOV and MP4 do not have any real effect on the encoded video qualities. They act like containers. So the choice between MOV and MP4 is simple, provided you know the application area. Based on the place where you need to play the resulting videos, you can choose between MOV and MP4 Or convert one into another free using a popular video converter tool such as Stellar Converter for Audio Video.

Ideally, if you are using Mac, MOV is quite safe and efficient

• They are a high-quality file format for storing and sharing digital information.
• Many free media players like QuickTime, Windows, and Real Player support MOV files.
• They combine multiple audio and video files independently.
• It can be used in professional applications by isolating the elements while editing or during playback.
• The MOV file size differs depending on the length and compression technique used.
• Usually, MOV files are of high quality, and their size exceeds many other multimedia formats.
• If you cannot run your MOV video files, it might be possible that your video has been corrupt; in that case, MOV video repair is an easy process. You can repair your corrupt .mov videos using any professional MOV video repair tool.

 

However, in the case of any non-Apple devices, MP4 proves to be a much better option.

• It supports multiple bits of data.
• They are compatible with low bandwidth, making them transmit on a narrow bandwidth.
• They are supported across various devices and programs, including Apple QuickTime 6 and later editions.
• The MP4 format was intended to store MPEG-4 format and required less overhead than other formats.
• MP4 enhances the high-resolution content by using the latest codec, H264.
• It provides great flexibility in how data is stored in files.
• It uses advanced video coding (AVC) technology and Apple’s advanced audio coding (AAC) to improve the old audio container format.
• MP4 video output is of very high quality as compared to DVD.
• MP4 video files are also prone to corruption & you can also fix your corrupt or inaccessible videos using good video repair software.

Conclusion: 

MOV and MP4 are the best video file formats used by millions of people around the globe & choosing the best among them is a very hard decision. As described above, one can choose either file format according to the operating system they are using or the video player they are using to play those videos. If you are still unhappy with the video formats you are using, you can easily convert them to any of your choice video formats free of cost.

If you cannot use your favorite video file format, such as MOV and MP4, due to corruption issues, use Stellar Repair for Video to fix them effectively.

 

 How to Repair Corrupt MP4 and MOV File using VLC

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About The Author

Oliver Powell

Oliver Powell is a Data Recovery Expert at Stellar®. He is a passionate technology blogger & content creator, He explores new applications and has deep understanding of data recovery. He has experience in Windows & Mac data recovery domain.