Understanding Video Codecs: H.264, HEVC (H.265), VP9, and AV1 Explained
Table Of Contents
If you’ve ever exported a video and faced the dreaded dropdown list of codec options, you’re not alone. In the previous blog, we touched on how codecs compress and decompress video data — the critical process that makes high-quality video deliverable over the internet, playable on your phone, and watchable on streaming platforms.
In this post, we’ll explain how video codecs work, why there are so many, and what the most common ones—H.264, HEVC, VP9, and AV1—are best used for.
How Do Codecs Work
At a basic level, video codecs reduce file size by removing redundant or imperceptible information. Most codecs use lossy compression, which means they permanently discard some data to shrink file size. But don’t worry — the goal is to remove data you won’t notice visually.
There are two main ways codecs compress:
- Intra-frame compression: Compresses each frame individually (like JPEG images).
- Inter-frame compression: Compresses by analyzing differences between frames, saving only the changes.
This clever mix of compression methods lets you stream full HD or even 4K video without needing terabytes of storage or bandwidth.
H.264 (AVC): The Undisputed Champion (For Now)
The H.264 codec, also known as MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding), is the most widely used video codec in the world.
✅ Pros:
- Excellent compatibility across devices, browsers, and platforms.
- Solid video compression for HD and even some 4K content.
- Fast hardware decoding support nearly everywhere.
❌ Cons:
- Not the most efficient video codec for high resolutions.
- Not royalty-free (though most platforms have licensing covered).
🔍 Where You Find It: YouTube (fallback), Blu-ray, online video players, live broadcasts.
💡Looking for templates optimized for fast rendering and playback with H.264? Check these templates out.
HEVC (H.265): The Efficiency King
HEVC, or H.265, stands for High Efficiency Video Coding — and for good reason. It offers about 50% better compression than H.264 at similar quality levels.
✅ Pros:
- Great for 4K and HDR content.
- Smaller file sizes or better quality at the same bitrate.
❌ Cons:
- Not as universally compatible.
- Licensing is more complex than H.264.
- Requires more processing power to encode/decode.
🔍 Where You Find It: Apple devices, Netflix (4K), newer TVs and smartphones.
VP9: Google’s Open Alternative
Developed by Google, VP9 is a royalty-free codec that offers compression comparable to HEVC.
✅ Pros:
- Free to use — great for open web.
- Widely used on YouTube.
- Decent performance in browser-based players.
❌ Cons:
- Less widespread hardware decoding support.
- Slower encode speeds in some workflows.
🔍 Where You Find It: YouTube, WebM formats, some Android devices.
🎬 Creators uploading regularly to YouTube should explore video templates optimized for VP9-ready workflows.
AV1: The Future is Open (and Efficient)
AV1 codec is the newest kid on the block, backed by giants like Netflix, Google, and Amazon. It promises superior compression over both VP9 and HEVC — and it’s completely royalty-free.
✅ Pros:
- Best-in-class compression efficiency.
- No licensing fees — ideal for scalable platforms.
- Designed for modern streaming standards.
❌ Cons:
- Limited hardware support today (improving rapidly).
- Slower encoding times, especially on older machines.
🔍 Where You Find It: Netflix (experimental), YouTube (some content), Chrome, Firefox.
Choosing the Right Codec
Here’s a quick comparison table to help you decide which codec fits your needs best:
Conclusion
Choosing the right video codec is about balancing quality, file size, compatibility, and sometimes licensing costs. For maximum compatibility, H.264 is still a safe bet. If you’re pushing resolution or bandwidth limits, HEVC or AV1 might be better. If you’re looking for a royalty-free codec with wide adoption today, VP9 is a solid middle ground.
Now it’s your turn. Explore Pixflow’s video templates to supercharge your next video project, and most importantly, start creating better, smarter videos today.
Blog Label:
- AV1 codec
- best video format for Instagram
- best video format for YouTube
- H.264 codec
- H.265 codec
- HEVC codec
- professional video codecs explained
- Video codec
- video compression
- video editing codecs
- Video file format
- Video formats and codecs
- VP9 codec
- What is the difference between video format and codec
Frequently Asked Questions
A video codec compresses and decompresses digital video to reduce file size while maintaining quality. It’s essential for storing, sharing, and streaming video efficiently.
HEVC (H.265) offers about 50% better compression than H.264, meaning smaller files at similar quality. However, it’s less widely supported and requires more processing power.
VP9 provides similar or slightly better compression than H.264 and is royalty-free, making it ideal for YouTube and web use. However, it lacks the universal hardware support of H.264.
AV1 is royalty-free, highly efficient, and backed by major tech companies. It's designed to outperform HEVC and VP9 in compression, though hardware support is still catching up.
H.264 is the safest for compatibility, but VP9 or AV1 can offer better quality at smaller sizes if supported. The best codec depends on your editing tools and audience’s devices.
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