AV1 vs. H.264: The Ultimate Video Codec Comparison for 2024

Introduction to AV1 vs. H.264

What is H.264?

Overview and History of H.264

Key Features of H.264

• Wide Adoption: H.264 powers everything from YouTube videos to Blu-ray discs, video conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams), and surveillance systems. For developers building real-time communication tools, integrating a robust

  Video Calling API

  can leverage H.264’s strengths for seamless video experiences.
• Mature Ecosystem: Its extensive software and hardware support ensures seamless playback across devices and platforms.
• Real-Time Encoding: H.264's encoding speed is ideal for

  live streaming

  and conferencing.
• Hardware Acceleration: Most CPUs and GPUs from the past decade support H.264 encoding and decoding, reducing power consumption and latency.

What is AV1?

Introduction to the AV1 Codec

Key Features of AV1

• Next-Gen Compression: Delivers up to 30-50% better compression efficiency over H.264 at similar quality.
• Royalty-Free: AV1 is free of licensing fees, making it attractive for open-source projects and commercial platforms alike.
• Designed for Streaming: Supports modern streaming requirements, adaptive bitrate, and high dynamic range (HDR). If you’re developing cross-platform video apps, exploring

  flutter webrtc

  can help you leverage AV1’s benefits for high-quality video on mobile.
• Active Development: Backed by major industry players, AV1 continues to evolve with improvements in speed, quality, and hardware support.

AV1 vs. H.264: Technical Comparison

Compression Efficiency and Video Quality

File Size Comparison at Different Bitrates

Code Example: FFmpeg Quality Comparison

1# Encode a 4K video with AV1fmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libaom-av1 -b:v 2M av1_output.mkv
2
3# Encode the same video with H.264
4ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -b:v 2M h264_output.mp4
5

Encoding and Decoding Speed

• H.264: Fast encoding/decoding, optimized for real-time applications and live streaming. Mature hardware support ensures low CPU usage. Developers working with

  webrtc android

  can take advantage of H.264’s efficiency for smooth mobile video communication.
• AV1: Slower encoding due to advanced algorithms, although decoding is improving as hardware support grows. Real-time encoding is possible with high-end CPUs or dedicated hardware, but latency can be higher than H.264.

Hardware & Software Support

• H.264: Ubiquitous support across CPUs, GPUs, mobile devices, browsers, and streaming platforms. If you’re building browser-based video solutions, using a

  javascript video and audio calling sdk

  ensures compatibility with H.264 for seamless user experiences.
• AV1: Rapidly expanding hardware support (Intel Tiger Lake, NVIDIA RTX 30 series, AMD RDNA2, recent ARM chips), and software decoding in Chrome, Firefox, VLC, and FFmpeg. Some legacy devices lack AV1 decoding.

Licensing and Royalty Fees

• H.264: Subject to licensing fees via MPEG LA, which can impact commercial deployments or large-scale streaming services.
• AV1: 100% royalty-free and open-source, lowering costs and legal barriers, especially for startups and open platforms.

AV1 vs. H.264: Use Cases and Applications

When to Use H.264

• Legacy Device Support: Ensures compatibility with older hardware and browsers.
• Real-Time Streaming: Low-latency encoding for video calls, live broadcasts, and surveillance. For rapid integration, you can

  embed video calling sdk

  solutions that support H.264 for instant deployment.
• Content Distribution: Broad support in existing workflows and infrastructure.

When to Use AV1

• Bandwidth Savings: Streaming high-resolution content (4K/8K) over constrained networks.
• Future-Proofing: Preparing content for next-gen devices and platforms.
• Open-Source Projects: Avoiding licensing complications and fees.

Common Scenarios and Decision-Making

• Streaming Platforms: Netflix and YouTube are rolling out AV1 for select content, but still rely on H.264 for legacy devices.
• Content Creators: Use AV1 for archiving or delivering premium content; H.264 for mass compatibility.
• Enterprises: Evaluate audience device mix and network constraints before migrating fully to AV1. For cross-platform mobile apps, leveraging a

  react native video and audio calling sdk

  can help support both codecs as needed.

Implementing AV1 and H.264 (with code snippets)

Encoding Video with AV1 and H.264

1# Encode video to AV1 (libaom-av1)
2ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libaom-av1 -crf 30 -b:v 0 output_av1.mkv
3
4# Encode video to H.264 (libx264)
5ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 output_h264.mp4
6

• -crf sets quality (lower is higher quality; typical range: 18-28 for H.264, 28-35 for AV1)
• -b:v 0 with AV1 enables constant quality mode

Tips for Smooth Integration

• Check Hardware: Ensure target devices or platforms support AV1 decoding, especially for mobile and smart TV deployment.
• Fallbacks: Implement codec negotiation in streaming applications (e.g., provide both AV1 and H.264 renditions and use Media Source Extensions or HLS/DASH for adaptive delivery).
• Monitor Performance: Profile encoding workflows for speed and resource usage, especially at scale.
• Stay Updated: AV1 encoder performance is improving rapidly; update your encoding stack regularly. For developers seeking a streamlined approach, integrating a

  Video Calling API

  can help abstract codec complexities and future-proof your video workflows.

AV1 vs. H.264: Pros and Cons Summary Table

Future of Video Codecs: Is AV1 the H.264 Replacement?

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Codec in 2024