How do I play an TS file?

VLC, MPV and PotPlayer play nearly every TS file on desktop. Browser support varies: modern Chromium, Firefox and Safari play common containers via the HTML5 <video> tag, but niche TS variants may fail. If a device refuses your TS, convert to MP4 with our TS to MP4 converter for universal playback.

MOV vs TS — Differences, File Size & When to Use Each

MOV vs TS

A detailed comparison of QuickTime Movie and MPEG Transport Stream — file size, quality, compatibility, and which format to choose for your workflow.

Convert MOV → TS Convert TS → MOV

MOV

QuickTime Movie

Video Files

MOV is Apple's QuickTime container format, widely used in video production on macOS and iOS. It supports high-quality codecs like ProRes and is the default recording format for iPhones and professional cameras.

About MOV files

MPEG Transport Stream

Video Files

TS (Transport Stream) is used for broadcasting, streaming, and recording live TV.

About TS files

Strengths Comparison

MOV Strengths

Professional-grade container — supports ProRes, DNxHD, and every pro codec.
Multi-track friendly — video, audio, subtitles, chapters, markers all coexist.
Native in every major NLE (Final Cut, Premiere, Resolve, Avid).
Low overhead — the ISOBMFF structure is efficient.
Timecode, alpha channels, and HDR metadata are first-class citizens.

TS Strengths

Designed for noisy channels — packet-level error correction.
Multi-program: one TS can carry several TV channels.
Native format for all digital TV broadcasts and HLS streaming.
Streaming-first: no need to download whole file to start playing.
30+ years of stable, deployed infrastructure.

Limitations

MOV Limitations

Windows and Linux need QuickTime or FFmpeg-based players to read all features.
ProRes-encoded MOVs are gigantic — 4K clips run 400-900 MB/minute.
Metadata format diverges slightly from MP4, which causes interop bugs.
Older QuickTime codecs (like Animation or DV) are considered legacy.

TS Limitations

Packet overhead (~3% vs Program Stream).
Seek index is implicit — requires scanning for random access.
Multiple audio/subtitle selection requires parsing PMT (Program Map Tables).
fMP4 is gradually replacing TS for modern low-latency streaming.

Technical Specifications

Specification	MOV	TS
MIME type	video/quicktime	video/mp2t
Extensions	.mov, .qt	.ts, .m2ts, .mts
Container	QuickTime File Format (ISO Base Media File Format)	—
Common codecs	ProRes, H.264, HEVC, DNxHD, Animation	—
Max file size	2^64 bytes	—
Standard	—	ISO/IEC 13818-1 (MPEG-2 Systems)
Packet size	—	188 bytes (standard); 192 bytes (M2TS/Blu-ray)
Primary use	—	Broadcast TV + HLS streaming

Typical File Sizes

MOV

iPhone 4K clip (HEVC, 1 min) 170-300 MB
4K ProRes 422 (1 min) 400-600 MB
1080p ProRes 4444 (1 min) 800 MB - 1.5 GB

TS

HLS video segment (6 seconds, 1080p) 2-5 MB
1 hour recorded TV (HD) 4-8 GB
Satellite transponder capture (1 min) ~300 MB

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Convert between MOV and TS online, free, and without installing anything. Encrypted upload, automatic deletion after 2 hours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

MOV is a video container format developed by Apple for its QuickTime framework. It can hold video, audio, text, and effects tracks. MOV files from iPhones and professional cameras often use high-quality H.264 or ProRes codecs.

TS (MPEG Transport Stream) is a video container format that bundles one or more video streams, audio tracks, and optional subtitles into a single file. The container format determines how metadata is organised and which codecs can live inside; the visual quality itself depends on the codec (H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1) rather than the TS wrapper. It is part of the video files family.

MOV files play in QuickTime Player (macOS), VLC (cross-platform, free), Windows Media Player (with codecs), and most modern video editors like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro.

VLC, MPV and PotPlayer play nearly every TS file on desktop. Browser support varies: modern Chromium, Firefox and Safari play common containers via the HTML5 <video> tag, but niche TS variants may fail. If a device refuses your TS, convert to MP4 with our TS to MP4 converter for universal playback.

MP4 is more universally compatible across devices and platforms. MOV is preferred in Apple-centric and professional video editing workflows. For sharing online, convert MOV to MP4 for maximum compatibility.

Upload your TS to KaijuConverter and pick MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, or any other target. Our pipeline uses FFmpeg under the hood and stream-copies when codecs are compatible (no quality loss) or transcodes at high-quality defaults otherwise. Conversion runs server-side; both files delete within two hours.