MP4 vs WMV
How do MP4 and WMVcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.mp4
Full guide →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.
.wmv
Full guide →Windows Media Video
WMV is Microsoft's proprietary video format. It was popular on Windows platforms in the 2000s but has largely been replaced by MP4. WMV files are still encountered in corporate and legacy environments.
| Specification | MP4 | WMV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-4 Part 14 | Windows Media Video |
| Extension | .mp4 | .wmv |
| MIME type | video/mp4 | video/x-ms-wmv |
| Category | Video | Video |
| Developer | ISO / Moving Picture Experts Group | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 2001 | 1999 |
MP4 advantages
- Universal compatibility
- Excellent compression with H.264/H.265
- Supports subtitles and multiple audio tracks
- Streaming-friendly with progressive download
MP4 limitations
- Lossy compression
- Patent-encumbered codecs
- Quality varies greatly by encoding settings
- Large files at high quality
WMV advantages
- Native Windows support
- Good compression for its era
- DRM support
- Windows Media Player integration
WMV limitations
- Limited cross-platform support
- Proprietary format
- Declining popularity
- Inferior to modern codecs
Which should you use?
MP4 is the universal standard — it works everywhere. WMV has its niche: legacy windows video libraries. When in doubt, convert to MP4 for maximum compatibility.
Best uses for MP4
Best uses for WMV
Convert between MP4 and WMV
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.