Video Format Comparison

OGV vs MP4: Open Theora Video vs Universal H.264 Container

OGV was the open-source alternative to H.264 used in web video from 2009 to 2015. MP4 (H.264) is the universal web and mobile video standard. OGV has essentially zero use cases in modern web development — WebM/VP9 or WebM/AV1 have replaced it as the open-source alternative, while MP4/H.264 remains universal.

OGVvsMP4

Quick Verdict

Use OGV when…

OGV has no modern use cases. If you have existing OGV content, convert to MP4 or WebM. New content should never be produced in OGV.

Use MP4 when…

Use MP4 for universal compatibility. For the open-source alternative to H.264, use WebM (VP9 or AV1) — not OGV. MP4 H.264 has ~97% browser support; OGV is unsupported in Safari.

OGV vs MP4: Feature Comparison

Feature	OGV	MP4
Video codec	Theora (old, inefficient)	H.264 or H.265 (modern, efficient)
Safari support	None	Native
iOS support	None	Native
Compression efficiency	Poor vs H.264	Excellent
Open source / royalty-free	Yes	No (H.264 has patent licensing)
Modern open-source alternative	WebM/VP9 is better	N/A
Status	Obsolete	Active standard

When OGV wins

✓Video codec: Theora (old, inefficient)
✓Safari support: None
✓iOS support: None

When MP4 wins

✓Video codec: H.264 or H.265 (modern, efficient)
✓Safari support: Native
✓iOS support: Native

Frequently asked questions

Is WebM better than OGV?

Yes, significantly. WebM uses VP8 or VP9 (or AV1) video codecs, which are dramatically more efficient than Theora. VP9 produces quality similar to H.264 while being royalty-free. If you need an open-source, royalty-free web video format, WebM is the correct choice. OGV/Theora is outdated even in the open-source ecosystem.

Why did browsers drop OGV support plans?

When H.264 royalties were made free for internet video in 2010, the primary motivation for OGV (avoiding licensing fees) weakened. Chrome dropped Theora support in Chrome 88 (2021). Firefox retained it but it's rarely used. The community moved to WebM/VP9 for royalty-free video instead. OGV became a historical footnote.

Do any platforms require OGV today?

No mainstream platforms require OGV. Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons historically used OGV and WebM for media files, but modern uploads use WebM or MP4. If you're contributing to Wikimedia, WebM (VP9) is the preferred format. OGV files on Wikimedia still play but new uploads don't require OGV.