FileDial › Guides › Video and subtitles
H.264 vs HEVC (H.265): which should you use?
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
H.264 is the most widely compatible video codec. HEVC (H.265) is its successor and is claimed to compress 25 to 50 percent better at the same quality, but it needs newer devices and carries heavier licensing. Use H.264 for sharing and HEVC for saving space on Apple devices.
What each one is
H.264, also called AVC or MPEG-4 Part 10, is according to Wikipedia the most widely used format for recording, compressing and distributing video, found on Blu-ray, streaming services and HDTV broadcasts. HEVC, also called H.265, was published in 2013 as its successor, developed by the same organizations.
Both are codecs, meaning the method used to compress the picture. A file extension such as MP4 or MOV is a container that can hold either.
Size and quality
Wikipedia reports HEVC is claimed to achieve roughly 25 to 50 percent better compression at the same quality, giving an example of 4K at 30 fps needing about 50 Mbps with HEVC against about 100 Mbps with older H.264 profiles. That is a claim and an example, not a guarantee for any single clip.
In practice, HEVC wins when storage matters and the picture is complex. For short clips the saving is smaller in absolute terms.
Compatibility and licensing
H.264 is the safe default. HEVC is supported on macOS from 10.13, iOS from 11 and Android from 5.0, according to Wikipedia, while Windows 10 dropped built-in decoding and Windows 11 22H2 restored it. HEVC is patent-encumbered, with several patent pools, and the combined fees are higher than for AVC, which Wikipedia names as a reason for slower web adoption.
Apple's iPhone settings reflect this: High Efficiency saves HEVC, Most Compatible saves H.264, and Apple notes that AirDrop, Messages and email may convert to H.264 if the recipient does not support HEVC.
Which to choose and how to convert
Choose H.264 when the file goes to unknown viewers, older TVs, older PCs or a web upload. Choose HEVC for your own archive, iCloud storage or Apple-only sharing.
- To go smaller: Convert › Convert to HEVC (smaller) in FileDial.
- To go for compatibility: Convert › Convert to MP4, or export from QuickTime Player with Greater Compatibility (H.264).
- To shrink further at any codec: the Compress tools, such as Compress to 1080p.
A quick decision guide
If you do not know where the file will end up, use H.264. If the file lives on your Mac, iPhone and iCloud, use HEVC. If you must upload to a platform, check its guidelines, since most re-encode your upload anyway.
For deliverables to a client, ask for their spec. Many broadcast and professional workflows specify codecs, and neither H.264 nor HEVC may be the one wanted.
What about newer codecs
HEVC has competition. Wikipedia notes that several large technology companies backed AV1, a royalty-free alternative, through the Alliance for Open Media, and WebM supports AV1. FileDial's catalogue lists H.264 and HEVC conversions, so for AV1 you would need another tool.
For everyday use on a Mac, the choice between H.264 and HEVC covers most needs.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is choosing HEVC for a file that goes to unknown viewers and then fielding complaints that it will not play. The second is assuming that HEVC always halves the size: Wikipedia's range is a claim, and short or already-compressed clips save less. The third is converting back and forth, which stacks quality loss. Convert once from the best source you have.
A fourth is confusing codec and container. An MP4 can hold H.264 or HEVC, so two MP4 files can behave differently. If a file will not play, the codec is often the cause, not the extension.
When FileDial is the right tool: converting a library to HEVC to save space, or making a compatible MP4 for sharing, in batches and offline. When it is not: choosing exact encoder profiles or bit rates for a delivery spec, where an encoder with detailed settings is the right choice.
Checklist for choosing a codec
Use these questions in order. Each answer narrows the choice, and the whole list takes less than a minute once you know your audience and your storage situation.
- Who will watch it? Unknown viewers point to H.264.
- Where will it live? Your own Mac, iPhone and iCloud point to HEVC.
- Is there a size limit? A tighter limit favours HEVC if the viewers can play it.
- Is there a delivery spec? Follow it exactly, whatever you prefer.
- Is the source already compressed hard? Then do not expect a big saving.
- Can you test? Convert one clip, play it on the oldest device involved and only then do the rest.
- Do you need to edit? Consider an editing proxy or ProRes instead of either codec.
- Are you keeping a master? Keep the best original and treat both codecs as copies.
Reading file sizes honestly
Bit rate, not codec alone, decides size. Wikipedia explains that file size is roughly bit rate times duration divided by eight. A well-chosen HEVC bit rate gives a smaller file than the same H.264 bit rate at similar quality, but a generous HEVC setting can still be bigger than a lean H.264 one. So compare results on the result card instead of assuming the newer codec always wins.
A note on the tools
FileDial's HEVC tool is named for its goal: a smaller copy. Its results are saved beside the original, with Undo and a before-and-after size on the result card. Everything runs on your Mac with no upload.
Questions
Is HEVC the same as H.265?
Yes. HEVC and H.265 are the same codec, also called MPEG-H Part 2, published in 2013 as the successor to H.264. HEVC is the successor to H.264 and was developed by the same organizations, which is why they share the same family name.
Is HEVC better than H.264?
It compresses better, with claims of 25 to 50 percent at the same quality, but it is less universally supported and has heavier licensing. H.264 is better for maximum compatibility. It depends on the clip, because complex footage benefits most and a very short clip saves little in absolute terms.
Will HEVC play on my Mac?
Yes on macOS 10.13 and later, per Wikipedia. Windows and older devices vary, so check where the file will be watched. Check the devices of the people who will watch before choosing, since compatibility is the main risk with HEVC.
How do I convert between them?
Use FileDial's Convert › Convert to HEVC (smaller) for HEVC, or Convert › Convert to MP4 for a widely playable copy. Originals are kept beside the results. Both tools keep your original beside the result, so you can compare the two before deleting anything.