MP4 vs MOV vs GIF: which to choose
ConvertFlow can export to MP4, MOV, MP3, and GIF. Here is a practical guide to picking the right one.
MP4 (H.264)
The default choice for almost everything online: websites, phones, social apps, and email. Small file size for the quality, widely supported. Use MP4 when you need a normal video with sound that plays everywhere.
MOV
Often the format produced by iPhone and many cameras. MOV can contain the same codecs as MP4 (e.g. H.264). Export to MOV if you need to match an Apple workflow or a specific editor that prefers QuickTime. For general sharing, MP4 is usually better.
MP3
Audio only. ConvertFlow strips the video track and encodes audio with LAME. Use this to extract a soundtrack or podcast clip from a video file.
GIF
Short, silent, looping animation. Great for reactions and simple demos. GIFs get large quickly — ConvertFlow scales to a reasonable width and caps length so files stay usable. Prefer MP4 for longer clips or anything that needs sound.
Quick recommendation
- Share on web / social / phone → MP4
- Keep Apple-friendly master → MOV
- Need audio only → MP3
- Short silent loop → GIF