How to Choose Between HEVC and H.264 for Your Content Needs

The "best" codec isn't universal—it depends on what you're doing with the video. HEVC is technically superior in almost every way, but there are specific situations where H.264 remains the practical choice. The wrong codec for your situation either wastes storage, creates compatibility issues, or both.

This guide provides a clear decision framework. For each common scenario—recording, storing, sharing, editing, uploading—you'll know exactly which codec to use and why.

The Quick Decision Framework

Before diving into details, here's the simplified decision tree:

Use HEVC when:

• Storing videos on your device or in iCloud
• Recording new video on iPhone
• Archiving footage for long-term storage
• Sharing within the Apple ecosystem (AirDrop, iMessage)
• Managing a large video library

Use H.264 when:

• Sharing with unknown or potentially old devices
• Embedding video on a website that must work everywhere
• Exporting for enterprise or legacy systems
• Working with tools that explicitly require H.264 input

For the vast majority of iPhone users in 2026, HEVC is the right choice for everything. H.264 is a fallback for niche compatibility needs.

Scenario 1: Recording on iPhone

Answer: HEVC (High Efficiency)

There's no reason to record in H.264 on a modern iPhone. HEVC produces identical quality in half the file size, uses the same hardware encoder (no battery penalty), and is the default setting.

Setting: Settings > Camera > Formats > High Efficiency

The only exception: if someone specifically asked you to send them video in H.264 because their device can't play HEVC. Even then, it's better to record in HEVC and convert if needed—you keep the smaller original.

Scenario 2: Storing Videos on iPhone and iCloud

Answer: HEVC

Every video on your iPhone and in iCloud should be in HEVC for maximum storage efficiency. H.264 videos in your library are literally using twice the storage they need.

Action: Convert existing H.264 videos to HEVC using HEVCut. New recordings are already HEVC if your camera is set to High Efficiency.

The savings compound with iCloud: compressed videos reduce both local storage and your iCloud bill. A 50 GB video library compressed to 25 GB could save you $12-24/year in iCloud costs.

Scenario 3: Sharing via AirDrop, iMessage, or Email

Answer: HEVC (Apple handles compatibility automatically)

When you share an HEVC video via AirDrop or iMessage, iOS checks whether the receiving device supports HEVC. If it does, the video is sent as-is. If it doesn't, iOS automatically converts to H.264 during transfer. You never need to think about it.

For email: Large videos are compressed regardless of codec. HEVC videos are smaller to begin with, so they're more likely to fit within email attachment limits. If the video is too large, consider AirDrop or a sharing link instead.

Scenario 4: Uploading to Social Media

Answer: Either — the platform re-encodes regardless

Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, and Facebook all re-encode your video on their servers regardless of the input format. Whether you upload HEVC or H.264, the end result for viewers is the same—the platform's own encoding.

Practical recommendation: Upload in HEVC. The upload will be faster (smaller file size), and the platform's encoder receives a higher-quality input to work with (HEVC preserves more detail per byte).

Scenario 5: Editing in iMovie, LumaFusion, or Final Cut Pro

Answer: HEVC for most editing; consider H.264 or ProRes for heavy editing

All major iPhone and Mac editing apps support HEVC natively. For simple edits (trimming, basic color correction, adding text), HEVC works perfectly.

For heavy editing with multiple layers, effects, and color grading, some editors work more smoothly with less-compressed formats:

• iMovie: HEVC is fine for all use cases
• LumaFusion: HEVC works well; ProRes is preferred for complex multi-track timelines
• Final Cut Pro: HEVC performs well; ProRes is optimal for professional workflows
• CapCut: HEVC is fully supported

After editing: Export in HEVC for storage efficiency. Keep the project file if you need to re-edit later.

Scenario 6: Archiving Footage Long-Term

Answer: HEVC

For long-term archival storage (external drives, NAS, cloud backup), HEVC is the practical choice. It halves your storage costs while maintaining quality that's indistinguishable from H.264.

HEVC will be supported for decades—no major platform has ever dropped support for a widely-adopted video codec. H.264 has been supported since 2003 and still is. HEVC, with billions of devices supporting it, will follow the same path.

Scenario 7: Sharing with Non-Apple Devices

Answer: HEVC in most cases; H.264 as a fallback

In 2026, HEVC compatibility is near-universal:

• Android: Supported on all devices from 2018+
• Windows: Native support with free HEVC extension
• Smart TVs: All major brands from 2018+
• Gaming consoles: PS5, Xbox Series X/S support HEVC

When to use H.264 instead:

• Sharing with someone on a very old (pre-2018) Android phone
• Sending to an enterprise system that specifies H.264
• Embedding on a website that must work on every browser including very old versions
• When explicitly asked for H.264 by the recipient

Scenario 8: Web Embedding

Answer: H.264 for maximum reach; HEVC for modern audiences

If you're embedding video on a website, the codec choice depends on your audience:

• Maximum compatibility (corporate sites, government, global audience): Use H.264. It works in every browser on every device without exception.
• Modern audience (tech-savvy, recent devices): HEVC works in Safari, Chrome, and Edge. It delivers better quality at lower bandwidth, which means faster loading and less data usage for your visitors.
• Best of both: Provide HEVC with H.264 fallback using the HTML <video> element's <source> tag. Modern browsers use HEVC; older ones fall back to H.264.

The Decision Matrix

FAQ

Can I have both HEVC and H.264 versions of the same video?

You can, but there's usually no need. Record and store in HEVC. If you need H.264 for a specific purpose, convert on demand. Keeping two versions of every video defeats the purpose of compression.

Does the codec affect video quality on social media?

No. Social platforms re-encode your video regardless of input format. The platform's encoding settings determine final quality, not your upload codec. HEVC uploads may produce marginally better results because the input quality per byte is higher.

Should content creators always use HEVC?

For recording and storage, yes. For delivery, it depends on the platform. YouTube, Vimeo, and social platforms handle HEVC well. Direct downloads or embedded players may need H.264 for maximum compatibility.

My editing app exports in H.264 by default. Should I change it?

If your editor offers HEVC export, use it. The exported file will be smaller with equivalent quality. If HEVC export isn't available (rare in 2026), H.264 export is fine—you can always convert to HEVC afterward for storage.

What about ProRes?

ProRes is a professional editing codec—barely compressed, massive files (6+ GB per minute at 4K), but maximum editing flexibility. Use ProRes during editing if your workflow demands it, then export to HEVC for delivery and storage. ProRes is not practical for general storage.