MKV vs MP4, side by side
| MKV | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matroska Video | MPEG-4 (H.264) |
| Type | Video | Video |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Best for | archiving films with multiple tracks; converted to MP4 for compatibility | sharing and publishing video anywhere |
Choose MKV if…
…you need archiving films with multiple tracks; converted to MP4 for compatibility.
Choose MP4 if…
…you need sharing and publishing video anywhere.
Convert between them
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between MKV and MP4?
Matroska Video (MKV) is lossy and best for archiving films with multiple tracks; converted to MP4 for compatibility. MPEG-4 (H.264) (MP4) is lossy and best for sharing and publishing video anywhere.
Is MKV better than MP4?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your use case. Choose MKV for archiving films with multiple tracks; choose MP4 for sharing and publishing video anywhere.
Should I use MKV or MP4?
Use MKV when you need archiving films with multiple tracks. Use MP4 when you need sharing and publishing video anywhere.
Can I convert MKV to MP4?
Yes — you can convert MKV to MP4 (and back) for free, in seconds, right here.
Last updated July 2026