FLV vs 3GP
How do FLV and 3GPcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.flv
Full guide →Flash Video
FLV was the dominant web video format during the Flash era. While Flash is dead, FLV files still exist in archives and legacy systems. Converting FLV to MP4 is one of the most common conversion needs.
.3gp
Full guide →3rd Generation Partnership Project
3GP is a video format designed for 3G mobile phones. While modern smartphones use MP4, 3GP is still used in feature phones and developing markets where bandwidth and storage are limited.
| Specification | FLV | 3GP |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Flash Video | 3rd Generation Partnership Project |
| Extension | .flv | .3gp |
| MIME type | video/x-flv | video/3gpp |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Developer | Adobe (Macromedia) | 3rd Generation Partnership Project |
| Year introduced | 2003 | 2003 |
FLV advantages
- Very small file sizes
- Fast to decode
- Was the web video standard
- Simple container format
FLV limitations
- Flash Player is discontinued
- Limited browser support
- Outdated codec support
- No modern features
3GP advantages
- Very small file sizes
- Designed for mobile devices
- Low bandwidth requirements
- Plays on feature phones
3GP limitations
- Very low quality
- Outdated format
- Limited resolution support
- Not suitable for modern use
Which should you use?
FLV and 3GP target different use cases. FLV is ideal for converting old web videos, while 3GP works best for feature phone video playback.
Best uses for FLV
Best uses for 3GP
Convert between FLV and 3GP
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.