WebM (WebM video format)
WebM is an open, royalty-free video format for the web using VP8, VP9 or AV1 video and Opus or Vorbis audio. Learn when to use WebM instead of MP4.
- Type
- Video
- File extensions
- .webm
- MIME type
- video/webm
What is WebM?
WebM was launched by Google in 2010. It is based on the Matroska container and only allows open codecs: VP8, VP9 or AV1 for video and Vorbis or Opus for audio.
VP9 WebM files are often smaller than H.264 MP4 files at the same quality, which makes WebM popular for web video and screen recordings made in browsers.
When to use WebM
- Video on websites
- Browser-based screen recordings
- Video with transparency (VP9 alpha) in supported browsers
Limitations
- Some editors, TVs and older Apple devices handle WebM poorly
- VP9 and AV1 encoding is slower than H.264
Compatibility
Supported by Chrome, Edge and Firefox; Safari supports WebM playback in recent versions.
Compared with other formats
- MP4: MP4 with H.264 is the safest choice for maximum compatibility.
Tools for WebM files
Video to GIF
Turn a section of an MP4, WebM or MOV video into a high-quality animated GIF using a generated palette.
Video Converter
Convert videos between MP4, WebM, MOV and MKV with codec and quality options.
Video Cutter
Remove an unwanted section from the middle of a video and join the remaining parts.
Video Trimmer
Keep only the part of a video between a start and end time.
Video Merger
Join multiple video clips into a single MP4 in the order you choose.
Video Compressor
Reduce video file size with quality-based or target-size compression.
Video Resizer
Change video resolution, for example from 4K to 1080p or 720p.
Video Cropper
Crop the video frame to a region or aspect ratio such as 9:16 for vertical video.
Video Rotator
Fix sideways or upside-down videos by rotating them 90, 180 or 270 degrees.
Video Reverser
Play a short video clip backwards, with or without reversed audio.
Video to MP3
Extract the audio track from any video and save it as an MP3.
WebM to MP4
Convert WebM recordings to H.264 MP4 for playback on any device.