MP3 VS FLV
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between MPEG-1 Audio Layer III and Flash Video.
MP3
mp3Standard technology for audio compression, universal support.
Pros
- Universal support
- Small file size
- Adjustable bitrate
Cons
- Lossy compression
- Not gapless playback
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
When MP3 wins
Stay with MP3 when you need music players or web audio. Its strengths center on universal support and a feature set native to Fraunhofer Society.
When FLV wins
Choose FLV when your workflow prioritizes legacy archives or intranet training portals. It delivers small file sizes plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | MP3 | FLV |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | audio/mpeg | video/x-flv |
| Developer | Fraunhofer Society | Macromedia |
| Release Year | 1993 | 2002 |
| Best For | Music players, Web audio, Podcasts | Legacy archives, Intranet training portals |
Need to switch?
Where MP3 still wins
Keep MP3 when you need universal support and workflows depend on music players / web audio. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship FLV deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .mp3 glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use FLV for legacy archives while archiving originals as MP3.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.