# H.264 vs HEVC

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/h264-vs-hevc
Last updated: 2026-10-08

> Definition: H.264 (AVC) and HEVC (H.265) are video compression standards. HEVC was designed to need about half the bitrate of H.264 for similar quality, while H.264 remains the most widely supported codec for playback and upload.

H.264 and HEVC are two generations of the same idea: compress video so it's small enough to store and stream while still looking good. H.264 is the codec almost every device, browser and platform can play. HEVC, its successor, squeezes the same picture into fewer bits but asks more of the hardware decoding it.

## What's the difference between H.264 and HEVC?

The main difference is efficiency versus compatibility. When the ITU agreed the HEVC standard in January 2013, it said HEVC would need only half the bit rate of H.264 ([source](https://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/01.aspx)). Real savings vary with content and encoder settings.

| | H.264 (AVC) | HEVC (H.265) |
|---|---|---|
| First approved by the ITU | 2003 ([source](https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.264)) | 2013 |
| Efficiency | Baseline | Designed for about half the bitrate at similar quality |
| Compatibility | Plays almost everywhere | Wide on modern devices, patchier on older ones and some browsers |
| Encode/decode cost | Lower | Higher, usually needs hardware support |
| Typical use | Uploads, web, sharing | Phone recording, 4K and HDR, storage |

## Which codec should you use for social and YouTube uploads?

For uploads to social platforms and YouTube, H.264 is the safe choice. YouTube's recommended upload settings list H.264 in an MP4 container ([source](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en)), and every platform re-encodes what you send, so HEVC's smaller file mostly saves upload time rather than improving what viewers see. HEVC makes more sense for archiving, for 4K and HDR masters, and for recording on phones where storage matters.

## What about recording: should you film in HEVC?

Filming in HEVC is fine on modern hardware, since it saves a lot of storage. Apple Silicon Macs decode it in hardware, so editing HEVC phone footage on a recent Mac is smooth. The trade-off appears on older computers, where HEVC can make playback stutter, and when sharing raw files with people on older systems.

## Which codec does Vidiyo use?

Vidiyo imports your footage, creates matching playback proxies, and exports H.264 video with AAC audio in an MP4 at 1080p and 30 fps. There's no HEVC export option and no codec choice: one format that every platform accepts. The export runs on your Mac and is validated before it's saved, and Vidiyo's scheduling through Buffer uploads that same H.264 file.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is HEVC better than H.264?

HEVC compresses more efficiently, so files are smaller at similar quality. H.264 is more compatible and faster to encode and decode on older hardware. For uploads to social platforms, H.264 is the safe default.

### Does YouTube accept HEVC?

YouTube accepts many formats, but its recommended upload settings list H.264 in an MP4 container. It re-encodes every upload, so the smaller HEVC file mostly saves upload time.

### Why are my iPhone videos HEVC?

iPhones can record in HEVC to save storage. In Settings, Camera, Formats, choosing Most Compatible makes new videos use H.264 instead.

## Related terms

- [Bitrate](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/bitrate)
- [Frame rate](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/frame-rate)
- [Aspect ratio](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/aspect-ratio)

## Where Vidiyo does this

- [The best video editing setup for Mac](https://getvidiyo.app/blog/best-video-editing-setup-for-mac)
- [Private, local video editing with AI](https://getvidiyo.app/features/private-local-editing)

## Sources

- [ITU-T H.264: Advanced video coding for generic audiovisual services](https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.264) (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices (Apple Support)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/116944) (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [ITU press release: new video codec to ease pressure on global networks (2013)](https://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/01.aspx) (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [Recommended upload encoding settings (YouTube Help)](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en) (accessed 2026-10-08)