How do MP4 and MP3compare? 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.
MPEG Audio Layer III
MP3 is the most popular audio format in the world. It revolutionized digital music by compressing audio files to a fraction of their original size while maintaining good quality. Nearly every device and application supports MP3.
| Specification | MP4 | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | MPEG Audio Layer III |
| Extension | .mp4 | .mp3 |
| MIME type | video/mp4 | audio/mpeg |
| Category | Video | Audio |
| Developer | ISO / Moving Picture Experts Group | Fraunhofer Society / Moving Picture Experts Group |
| Year introduced | 2001 | 1993 |
MP4 (video) and MP3 (audio) serve fundamentally different purposes but are often compared when converting between media types.