H.264 vs H.265: Which Video Codec Should You Use?

6 min read

H.265 can deliver similar visual quality at a lower bitrate, while H.264 remains easier to play across browsers, apps and older devices.

Choose H.264 for reach

H.264 in an MP4 is the conservative option for email, messaging and web playback. It is the primary VideoShrink MVP output for this reason.

Choose H.265 with a tested workflow

H.265 is attractive for storage and newer devices, but browser encoding, licensing and playback support are less consistent.

Codec is only one variable

A thoughtful H.264 encode can look better than a poorly configured H.265 encode. Source quality, scaling and bitrate still matter.