MotionShineShort answer: Pick H.264 when the video must play on any device, editor or website. Pick HEVC (H.265) when you want a smaller file and you know everyone who will watch it has a recent device. Apple's own export menu in QuickTime Player puts it the same way: Greater Compatibility is H.264, and Smaller File Size is HEVC.
Facts here come from Apple Support pages, read on 23 October 2026: "Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices" and "Export movies to other file formats and resolutions using QuickTime Player on Mac". Neither page shows a publish date.
The two codecs in plain words
A codec is the way a video is squeezed so it fits in a file. The file type (.mov or .mp4) is the box. The codec is what is inside. See MOV vs MP4 for screen recordings for the box.
| H.264 | HEVC (H.265) | |
|---|---|---|
| What Apple calls it | The more compatible option | High Efficiency Video Coding, also known as H.265 |
| QuickTime Player export label | Greater Compatibility | Smaller File Size |
| Where it is offered in QuickTime export | 4K, 1080p, 720p and 480p | 4K and 1080p only |
Apple's page also says that 1080p or lower and 60 fps or lower are more broadly compatible with older devices. That is a warning about HEVC at high settings.
Which one does my Mac use for screen recordings?
Apple's page says that on supported Macs running macOS Tahoe 26 or later, the Screenshot app has a Capture Format setting. With HDR selected, screen recordings are captured in HEVC. Apple's pages do not say which codec an SDR recording uses, so check it yourself: open the file in QuickTime Player and press Command-I to see the compression format in the Movie Inspector.
What to pick
- Sending to a client, a forum or a website that rejects files: H.264.
- Editing in an older app: H.264.
- Storing many long recordings on a small disk: HEVC, if your own devices play it.
- Not sure who will watch: H.264.
If a recording is HEVC and a player will not open it, re-export it from QuickTime Player: choose File, Export As, 1080p, then Greater Compatibility. Apple's page lists these steps. Or use the free HEVC to MP4 converter, which runs in your browser.
Where MotionShine fits
MotionShine is a free Mac screen recorder, made by the same person who wrote this post. It is for people who want zoom and a smooth cursor without editing by hand. It is not a codec tool, so if all you need is a format change, use the converter above.
FAQ
Is HEVC the same as H.265?
Yes. Apple's page says HEVC, also known as H.265.
Is HEVC better than H.264?
For file size, Apple's export menu labels HEVC as Smaller File Size. For playing everywhere, it labels H.264 as Greater Compatibility. Which is better depends on who watches.
Does QuickTime Player export H.264?
Yes. Apple's page says 4K, 1080p, 720p and 480p can use H.264.
Why will my recording not play on another computer?
It may be HEVC. Re-export it as H.264 with File, Export As, then Greater Compatibility.
Can I tell which codec a file uses?
Open it in QuickTime Player and press Command-I. Apple says the Movie Inspector shows the compression format.
