M3U8 vs Other Video Formats: Complete Comparison Guide
Published on Dec 26, 2025
In the video domain, there are many different file formats, each with unique characteristics. M3U8, as a streaming playlist format, differs fundamentally from traditional formats like MP4, AVI, and FLV.
π‘ Key Difference in One Sentence
M3U8 is a "table of contents" telling the player where to get video segments;MP4/AVI/FLV are "books" containing the complete video content themselves.
1. Purpose and Structure
π M3U8 Playlist
- β’ Plain text index file
- β’ Contains no actual video data
- β’ Records video segment URLs
- β’ Supports multi-bitrate, multi-resolution
- β’ Used for streaming playback
π¬ MP4/AVI/FLV Container
- β’ Binary container file
- β’ Contains complete video and audio
- β’ Single file stores all content
- β’ Fixed bitrate and resolution
- β’ Suitable for local storage
2. Encoding Differences
| Feature | M3U8/HLS | MP4/AVI/FLV |
|---|---|---|
| Video Codec | H.264/H.265 (in .ts segments) | H.264/H.265/VP9 etc. |
| File Structure | Index + multiple segments | Single complete file |
| Bitrate | Multi-bitrate adaptive | Fixed bitrate |
| Segment Duration | Usually 2-10s/segment | No segmentation |
3. Detailed Comparisons
M3U8 vs MP4
| Comparison | M3U8 | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| File Type | Playlist (text) | Container (binary) |
| Main Use | Online streaming | Local storage/sharing |
| Live Support | β Yes | β No |
| Adaptive Bitrate | β Yes | β No |
| Offline Playback | β Needs network | β Yes |
M3U8/HLS vs RTMP
RTMP was the mainstream live streaming protocol, but is now being replaced by HLS:
| Comparison | M3U8/HLS | RTMP |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | HTTP/HTTPS | TCP proprietary |
| Latency | Higher (5-30s) | Lower (1-3s) |
| CDN Support | β Perfect | β³ Needs special CDN |
| Browser Support | β Native/hls.js | β Needs Flash (deprecated) |
4. How to Choose the Right Format
Choose M3U8/HLS
Online video sites, live platforms, IPTV, adaptive bitrate scenarios
Choose MP4
Local storage, video sharing, download viewing, video editing
Choose RTMP
Ingest side (OBS streaming), ultra-low latency scenarios
Choose DASH
Flexible codec support, platforms with existing DASH infrastructure
Summary
The fundamental difference between M3U8 and traditional formats like MP4, AVI, FLV is: M3U8 is a streaming playlist, while others are video containers. M3U8 is designed for online streaming with adaptive bitrate, multi-resolution, and live support; traditional formats are better for local storage and offline playback.
In practice, both are often used together: video content is H.264 encoded in .ts segments, organized via M3U8 index for streaming; when users download, it's typically converted to MP4 format.