H.264 vs. H.265: A Practical Guide

H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC) are the two dominant video codecs. H.265 is newer and more efficient, but H.264 remains the default for compatibility. Here's when to use each and why Media Shrinker chooses H.264.

H.265: Better Compression, Less Support

H.265 can achieve the same quality as H.264 at roughly half the bitrate. That means smaller files or better quality at the same size. The catch: H.265 support is inconsistent. Safari supports it natively. Chrome and Firefox have added support in recent years, but it's not universal. Many older devices and smart TVs don't support it. If you encode in H.265, some recipients might not be able to play the file.

H.264: Universal Compatibility

H.264 has been around since 2003 and is supported everywhere. Every phone, tablet, computer, browser, and streaming platform can play it. When you're sharing a compressed video—via email, Discord, WhatsApp, or any other channel—you want it to work for everyone. H.264 guarantees that.

Our Choice

Media Shrinker outputs H.264 in MP4 because we prioritize compatibility. The extra file size compared to H.265 is a worthwhile trade-off for a tool that's meant for sharing. When H.265 support becomes universal, we'll reassess. For now, H.264 is the safe choice.