MP4 to WebM Converter
Create WebM videos for websites and web apps that prefer open formats. Choose the quality and maximum resolution, remove the sound for background videos, and download a WebM file every WebM-capable browser can play.
- Files stay on your device
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Quality
Creates WebM with VP8 video and Opus audio, the combination supported by every browser that plays WebM.
WebM encoding runs on your device at roughly real-time speed for 720p video. Short clips and lower resolutions convert faster.
How to use MP4 to WebM
- Drop an MP4, M4V or MOV file onto the upload area.
- Pick a quality level: High, Balanced or Smaller file.
- Choose a maximum resolution; tick Remove audio for silent background videos.
- Select Convert to WebM and download the file.
MP4 to WebM features
VP8 + Opus
Open, royalty-free codecs supported by every browser that plays WebM.
Web-sized defaults
720p and balanced quality by default, a good fit for embedded videos.
Silent background videos
Remove the audio track for autoplaying hero and background videos.
Quality presets
High, Balanced and Smaller file trade size against detail.
Resolution limit
Scale large videos down to 1080p, 720p or 480p.
Browser-based
The video is encoded on your device.
When to use MP4 to WebM
- Adding a WebM source to an HTML5 video element alongside MP4.
- Creating autoplaying background videos for landing pages.
- Supplying video to platforms or web apps that require WebM.
- Preparing short looping clips as a GIF alternative.
- Using open, royalty-free formats in open-source projects.
MP4 to WebM FAQ
Why VP8 and not VP9?
VP9 produces smaller files but its encoder is not available in the in-browser engine this tool uses, so the converter uses VP8, which every WebM-capable browser plays. For VP9, use a desktop encoder such as FFmpeg or HandBrake.
Is WebM better than MP4?
WebM is open and royalty-free and is well supported in browsers. MP4 with H.264 is more compatible with phones, TVs and editing software. Many sites provide both and let the browser choose.
Will the WebM be smaller than my MP4?
Not always. VP8 is roughly comparable to H.264 in efficiency. To reduce size, choose Smaller file or a lower resolution, or use the Video Compressor for MP4.
How do I use WebM with an MP4 fallback?
List the WebM source first and the MP4 second inside a video element. Browsers play the first format they support.
Should background videos have audio?
No. Browsers only autoplay muted videos, so removing the audio saves space and avoids confusion.
WebM on the web
WebM was introduced in 2010 as an open, royalty-free alternative to proprietary web video formats. It combines a variant of the Matroska container with the VP8 or VP9 video codecs and Vorbis or Opus audio. All major browsers support WebM playback today, which makes it a natural choice for web projects that prefer open standards.
VP8 was the original WebM codec. Its compression is broadly similar to H.264 baseline profiles, and decoders exist in every browser that supports WebM. Opus, the audio codec used here, is a modern open codec that sounds excellent at low bitrates and is the standard audio format for web real-time communication.
For background and hero videos, keep clips short, remove the audio, and choose a modest resolution. Adding the poster attribute with a still image makes something appear instantly while the video loads, and preload="none" avoids downloading the video until it is needed.
Providing both WebM and MP4 sources is the most robust approach for websites: each browser downloads only the first format it supports, so there is no extra cost to offering both.