FLV VS WebM
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Flash Video and Web Media.
FLV
flvLegacy streaming container widely used before HTML5 video adoption.
Pros
- Small file sizes
- Progressive playback
- Easy to embed in legacy players
Cons
- Deprecated technology
- No iOS/Android support
- Must be converted for modern browsers
WebM
webmOpen media file format optimized for the web.
Pros
- Open source (royalty-free)
- Optimized for HTML5
- Good transparency support
Cons
- Less support on mobile/legacy devices than MP4
When FLV wins
Stay with FLV when you need legacy archives or intranet training portals. Its strengths center on small file sizes and a feature set native to Macromedia.
When WebM wins
Choose WebM when your workflow prioritizes html5 video or web background videos. It delivers open source (royalty-free) plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | FLV | WebM |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | video/x-flv | video/webm |
| Developer | Macromedia | |
| Release Year | 2002 | 2010 |
| Best For | Legacy archives, Intranet training portals | HTML5 video, Web background videos |
Need to switch?
Where FLV still wins
Keep FLV when you need small file sizes and workflows depend on legacy archives / intranet training portals. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship WebM deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .flv glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use WebM for html5 video while archiving originals as FLV.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.