How do MP4 and MOVcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
MPEG-4 Part 14
MP4 is the most widely used video format in the world. It's the default for everything from YouTube to TikTok, smartphones to streaming services. If you need one video format that works everywhere, MP4 is it.
QuickTime Movie
MOV is Apple's video format, native to macOS and iOS. iPhones record video in MOV format by default. It supports high quality and professional features but works best within the Apple ecosystem.
| Specification | MP4 | MOV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | QuickTime Movie |
| Extension | .mp4 | .mov |
| MIME type | video/mp4 | video/quicktime |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Developer | ISO / Moving Picture Experts Group | Apple |
| Year introduced | 2001 | 1991 |
MP4 is the universal standard — it works everywhere. MOV has its niche: iphone and ipad video recording. When in doubt, convert to MP4 for maximum compatibility.
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.