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Use MP4 when a video must play everywhere. Use WebM for web playback in Chrome-based browsers. You can convert WebM to MP4 free in your browser.
The short answer
Use MP4 when the video has to play everywhere: email, social platforms, phones, presentations and video editors.
Use WebM when you are publishing video on a web page or working inside Chrome, Edge or Firefox, and you want efficient files.
Side by side
| WebM | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Open, royalty-free format developed for the web | International standard container (MPEG-4 Part 14) |
| Typical codecs | VP8, VP9 or AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio | H.264 (most common) or H.265 video with AAC audio |
| Plays in browsers | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera | All major browsers |
| Phones, TVs, editors | Limited support in many | Widely supported |
| File size | VP9 and AV1 can be smaller at similar quality | Efficient, results depend on settings |
| Best for | Web embedding, browser recordings | Sharing, editing, archiving |
File sizes vary with the encoder settings, so treat any single comparison with caution.
Why recordings often come out as WebM
The recording tools built into Chrome commonly produce WebM files, so many browser-based recorders hand you one. That works well for playing the video back in a browser. It becomes a problem when you drop the file into an editor, send it to a colleague on an older device or upload it to a platform that expects MP4. If you record in Chrome, our guide to screen recording in Chrome with audio covers the steps.
How to convert WebM to MP4 for free
- Open the WebM to MP4 converter.
- Drop your WebM file onto the page, or choose it from your computer.
- Press Convert and wait for the progress bar to finish. Keep the tab open while it runs.
- Download the MP4.
The conversion runs in your browser, so your video is not uploaded anywhere. There is no sign-up and no watermark. Large files take longer because your own computer does the work.
Keeping quality when you convert
- Keep the original file until you have checked the converted copy.
- Convert once, from the original. Converting a converted file loses more detail each time.
- If a file is too large to send, trim what you do not need first with the video trimmer.
Related free tools
- MP4 to WebM for web embedding.
- MP4 to GIF for short looping clips.
- MP4 to MP3 to extract the audio.
- MOV to MP4 for iPhone and Mac recordings.
- The full set, including image and PDF tools, is on the free tools page.
Questions
Is WebM better than MP4?
Neither is better in every case. WebM is an open format that suits web playback in Chrome-based browsers. MP4 is the safer choice when the video has to play on many devices and in editing software.
Can I play WebM on an iPhone or Mac?
Support has improved in recent versions of Safari, but older devices and many apps still handle MP4 more reliably, which is why people convert.
Does converting reduce quality?
Converting re-encodes the video, so a small loss is possible, especially at low bitrates. Keep your original file and avoid converting the same video repeatedly.
Is the converter really free, and is my file uploaded?
It is free, needs no sign-up and adds no watermark. The conversion runs in your browser and the file never leaves your device.