H.264 or H.265? Picking the Right TikTok Download
When you download a TikTok video here you get two video buttons. Download HD is usually an H.265 file at 720×1280, and Download is an H.264 file at 576×1024. People are often surprised that the HD file is smaller. Here is why, and when to choose each.
Two codecs, one video
A codec is the method used to compress video. TikTok encodes every upload at least twice:
- H.264 (AVC) has existed since 2003. Every phone, TV, laptop and messaging app can play it.
- H.265 (HEVC) arrived in 2013. It keeps the same picture with roughly half the data, but it needs newer hardware to decode smoothly.
TikTok uses H.265 for its higher resolution copies because it saves them a lot of bandwidth.
What we measured
We downloaded the same 48-second TikTok in both versions:
| Version | Resolution | Video bitrate | File size |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.265 (HD) | 720×1280 | ~510 kbps | 3.5 MB |
| H.264 (normal) | 576×1024 | ~460 kbps | 2.7 MB |
The H.265 file has about 56% more pixels for only about 30% more data, and on a phone screen it looks noticeably sharper around text and faces.
Where H.265 plays without problems
- Android: practically every phone sold since 2016 decodes H.265 in hardware.
- iPhone and iPad: supported since iOS 11 (2017).
- Mac: QuickTime and Safari play it on any recent macOS.
- Windows 10/11: the built-in Films & TV app needs the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. VLC and MPC-HC play it without any extra download.
- Smart TVs: most models from 2017 onwards.
Where H.264 is the better pick
- Sending the file on WhatsApp, Telegram or Facebook Messenger to people with older phones.
- Editing in older versions of video editors that do not import HEVC.
- Playing from a USB stick on an older TV or car screen.
Short answer
Use Download HD when the video is for you on a recent phone or computer. Use Download when you plan to send it to others or play it on older equipment. Both versions are free of the TikTok watermark.