Ever tried to play a video and seen that annoying “File Format Not Supported” message? The problem may typically come down to the video file type, specifically the differences between MPG and MP4. These two formats are primarily distinguished by their age and the ease with which they play on various devices.
Understanding the thought behind these formats might help us make informed decisions when choosing the best file for optimal quality and device compatibility. Let’s break it down and learn what each format has to offer.
Key Takeaways:
- MP4 offers superior compression and quality for web delivery
- MPG provides legacy support but lacks compatibility with modern codecs
- Bulk format conversion requires automated solutions like Cloudinary’s transformation API
- Choosing the right format impacts storage costs, bandwidth, and user experience
In this article:
- Getting to Know MPG and MP4 File Formats
- MPG and MP4: A Detailed Comparison
- MPG vs. MP4: Which is More Compatible?
- Choosing Between MPG and MP4: Which is More Suitable?
- Converting MPG Files to MP4 and Back
Getting to Know MPG and MP4 File Formats
Before we jump into the technical comparison, let’s familiarize ourselves with what we’re working with. Both MPG and MP4 are container formats: think of them as boxes that hold video, audio, and metadata. However, the way these formats package and compress media makes all the difference when we’re trying to deliver content efficiently.
What You Need to Know About MPG
MPG (also known as MPEG) is one of the original video formats developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group in the early 1990s. It was built at a time when storage space was expensive and streaming didn’t exist.
The format uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression, which reduces file size while keeping picture and sound quality. If you’ve ever ripped a DVD or worked with broadcast television files, you’ve probably seen MPG files. They were the standard for physical media and TV broadcasting because they delivered solid quality for their era.
Here’s what makes MPG interesting (and sometimes frustrating):
- It relies on older compression technology that produces larger files than modern formats
- Most media players and devices can play MPG files since it’s been around forever
- The format doesn’t support modern features like subtitles, chapters, or multiple audio tracks as elegantly as newer formats
- MPG files usually have
.mpg,.mpeg, or.m2vextensions
Understanding MP4: Its Basics and Features
MP4 is the modern standard for video delivery on the web. Built on Apple’s QuickTime technology, MP4 has become the universal best video format that just works—whether someone’s watching on an iPhone, Android device, desktop browser, or smart TV.
Unlike its older cousin MPG, MP4 was designed with the internet in mind. It supports advanced compression codecs, such as H.264 and H.265 (HEVC), which enable us to deliver high-quality video at a fraction of the file size. This matters, especially when we’re thinking about bandwidth costs and user experience.
What makes MP4 the developer’s choice:
- It supports modern codecs that balance quality and file size beautifully
- It works smoothly with HTML5 video players and streaming protocols
- It can include multiple audio tracks, subtitles, and metadata in a single file
- It handles both progressive download and adaptive streaming
MPG and MP4: A Detailed Comparison
Now that we understand what each format offers, let’s examine the practical differences that matter when making tech decisions.
Is There a Difference in Video Quality Between MPG and MP4?
Here’s the short answer: yes, but it depends on how each format handles video compression.
MPG files using MPEG-2 compression deliver decent quality, but they weren’t designed for the efficiency we need today. This is because MPEG-2 is like a reliable old truck—it gets the job done, but it consumes a lot of gas. When we encode a video with MPEG-2, we’re getting acceptable quality, but at the cost of larger file sizes.
MP4 files, on the other hand, use H.264 or H.265 codecs, which we can represent as modern electric vehicles. They deliver the same (or better) visual quality as MPG but at a smaller file size. From a practical standpoint, each format can deliver similar video quality, but file sizes vary, which impacts daily delivery at scale.
MPG and MP4: Which One Takes Up More Space?
MPG files are notorious space hogs compared to MP4. To see how big the difference is, let’s look at a simple example.
A typical 10-minute video at 720p resolution:
- MPG (MPEG-2): Approximately 1.5-2GB
- MP4 (H.264): Approximately 300-500MB
- MP4 (H.265): Approximately 150-250MB
As we can see, we’re talking about storing 4-6 times more data with MPG files. When we’re managing a video library with thousands of files, these numbers add up fast. A 1TB storage bucket could hold roughly 500 MPG videos or 2,000-3,000 MP4 videos of similar quality.
MPG vs. MP4: Which is More Compatible?
While MPG has age on its side, it has been around for so long that pretty much everything can play it. Old DVD players, legacy software, and ancient Windows Media Player installations all handle MPG without breaking a sweat.
But here’s the catch: “compatibility” in 2025 means something different than it did in 2005.
Today, we need formats that work across:
- Modern web browsers (like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Mobile devices (both iOS and Android)
- Smart TVs and streaming devices
- Social media platforms
- Content delivery networks (CDNs)
That’s why MP4 is more dominant this time around. Every modern browser supports MP4 with H.264 out of the box. Upload an MP4 to YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, and it just works. Try uploading an MPG? You’ll often get an error or need to wait for the platform to convert it (which they do by converting it to… you guessed it, MP4).
Likewise, the HTML5 <video> tag, which powers most web video today, was designed with MP4 in mind as well. While technically it can support other formats, MP4 with H.264 is the only format guaranteed to work across all modern browsers without fallbacks. For developers, this means MP4 is the safe choice.
When building applications with Cloudinary’s video player, MP4 files integrate seamlessly with adaptive bitrate streaming, giving users the best possible experience regardless of their connection speed.
Video Codecs Supported by MPG and MP4
We’ve mentioned codecs a couple of times earlier, and to clarify, codecs are the actual compression algorithms that make video files manageable. Understanding codec support helps us make informed decisions about which format fits our needs.
MPG typically supports three codecs, which are the following :
- MPEG-1: The original codec, used for Video CDs
- MPEG-2: Standard for DVDs and broadcast television
- MPEG-4 Part 2: An intermediate step before H.264
That’s about it. MPG is locked into these older compression standards because of when it was developed. There’s no easy path to supporting modern codecs within the MPG container.
MP4, on the other hand, is incredibly flexible; it supports various codecs such as:
- H.264 (AVC): The current standard, which offers an excellent quality-to-size ratio
- H.265 (HEVC): Next-generation compression, 50% better efficiency than H.264
- VP9: Google’s codec, used heavily by YouTube
- AV1: The newest open-source codec, even more efficient than H.265
- AAC: For audio, delivering better quality than MP3 at similar bitrates
This flexibility is important because codec technology continues to improve. As new codecs emerge that deliver better compression, MP4 can adopt them. We’re not locked into decades-old technology.
Choosing Between MPG and MP4: Which is More Suitable?
So which format should we use? For modern web development, MP4 is almost always the right choice. Let’s break down when each format makes sense.
Choose MP4 when:
- Building web applications or mobile apps (which is most of us)
- Delivering video content over the internet
- Storage and bandwidth costs matter (they always do)
- You need modern features like subtitles, chapters, or multiple audio tracks
- Working with social media platforms or modern content management systems
- Building adaptive streaming experiences
Stick with MPG only when:
- Working with legacy systems that specifically require it
- Interfacing with broadcast television infrastructure
- Maintaining compatibility with very old playback devices
- You’ve got existing MPG content, and converting it isn’t worth the effort (yet)
For most development scenarios, especially anything web-related, MP4 is the clear winner. It’s more efficient, more compatible with modern systems, and more flexible for future needs.
Converting MPG Files to MP4 and Back
Here’s where we get practical. Let’s say we’ve inherited a library of MPG files, or we need to convert formats for a specific use case. Here’s how we can handle this, especially at scale.
For small-scale conversions, tools like FFmpeg work or using our MP4 converter tool would work great.
This approach works fine if we’re converting a handful of files. But what happens when we’ve got 5,000 MPG files that need conversion? Running FFmpeg in a loop and managing all those conversions becomes a full-time job. We need to handle:
- Failed conversions and retries
- Monitoring progress across thousands of files
- Storing both original and converted files
- Serving the right format to each user
This is exactly where Cloudinary transforms a painful process into a simple API call. Instead of managing conversion infrastructure, we can upload our MPG files to Cloudinary and transform them on demand.
The beauty of this approach is that we’re not managing converted files ourselves. Cloudinary handles storage, delivery, and optimization. If we need to change how videos are delivered later (such as serving H.265 to supported devices or adding a new watermark) we simply update the URL parameters. No re-encoding necessary.
For converting MP4 back to MPG (a rare but sometimes necessary requirement for legacy systems), the process is similar.
The key insight here is that video transformations and conversion at scale involves building infrastructure that handles errors efficiently, stores files effectively, and delivers content optimally. Cloudinary handles all this complexity behind a simple API, allowing us to focus on building features instead of managing video pipelines.
Final Words on Choosing Between MPG and MP4
The differences between MPG and MP4 primarily stem from efficiency, compatibility, and modern features. While MPG served us well in the DVD era, MP4 has become the universal standard for web video delivery. It offers better compression, broader device support, and the flexibility to adopt new codecs as technology evolves.
For developers building modern applications, MP4 is the clear choice. It reduces storage costs, improves user experience with faster load times, and integrates seamlessly with current web technologies. When we’re dealing with video at scale, whether that’s converting legacy MPG libraries or delivering content to millions of users, automated transformation solutions become essential.
Cloudinary eliminates the complexity of video format conversion and optimization. Instead of managing conversion scripts, storage buckets, and CDN configurations, we can focus on building great user experiences while Cloudinary handles the media pipeline.
Ready to simplify your video workflow? Sign up for a free Cloudinary account and start transforming videos with just a few lines of code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert MPG to MP4 without losing quality?
Yes, you can convert MPG to MP4 without noticeable quality loss by using the right encoding settings. When converting, use a high-quality preset with H.264 codec and set the CRF (Constant Rate Factor) value between 18-23 for excellent quality. Keep in mind that MPG files are often larger than necessary, so converting to MP4 typically maintains the same perceived quality while significantly reducing file size.
Which format is better for streaming video online?
MP4 is significantly better for streaming video online. It supports adaptive bitrate streaming protocols, such as HLS and DASH, which adjust video quality based on each viewer’s internet connection.
Do I need to keep both MPG and MP4 versions of my videos?
You typically don’t need to keep both versions. Store your videos in the format you use most often, usually MP4 for modern applications. If you occasionally need MPG for legacy systems, you can convert on demand rather than storing duplicate files.
