Two compression formats dominate modern surveillance cameras: H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC). Both work with Angelcam, but they behave differently once your video reaches the cloud — especially when it comes to viewing the stream in a browser. This article explains the difference and helps you choose.
The short version
H.264 — universally supported. Connects, records, and plays back everywhere with no special considerations. The safe default.
H.265 — connects to Angelcam and records fine, and uses roughly half the bandwidth for the same picture quality. The catch is playback: whether the stream plays smoothly in a browser depends on the viewer's browser and device.
What's the difference?
H.265 (High-Efficiency Video Coding) is the newer format. It delivers the same picture quality at roughly half the bitrate of H.264, which means lower bandwidth use. That efficiency comes at a cost: H.265 is more computationally demanding to decode, and browser and device support for it is less universal.
H.264 (Advanced Video Coding) is older and less efficient, but it is supported by virtually every browser, device, and platform in existence. For most users, the simplicity is worth more than the bandwidth savings.
How each codec behaves with Angelcam
H.264 connects, records, and plays back with no caveats. If you want something that simply works, choose H.264.
H.265 can be connected to Angelcam and will record normally. The platform receives and stores the H.265 stream without requiring any codec change on the camera. What isn't guaranteed is smooth in-browser playback — that depends on the viewer's browser and whether their device has a hardware H.265 decoder. If you've connected an H.265 camera but the video won't play, see My H.265 camera connects but the video won't play.
Which should you choose?
For most setups, H.264 is the right choice — it works everywhere, for every viewer, with no surprises.
A few specific situations are worth thinking through:
If you're worried about bandwidth — H.265 does use less. But before switching codec, consider simply lowering the resolution on your camera. That reduces bandwidth too, and keeps the universal compatibility of H.264. It's usually the better lever to pull.
If you're broadcasting or sharing a stream with viewers — choose H.264. You don't control what browsers and devices your audience uses, and H.264 minimizes the risk that someone can't see the stream. With H.265, some viewers may not be able to play it at all.
When buying a new camera, it's worth checking that the codec is configurable — i.e. that you can switch between H.265 and H.264 — so you're not locked into one choice.
How to switch a camera from H.265 to H.264
If your camera defaults to H.265 and you'd rather use H.264, you can change it in the camera's own settings:
Open the camera's settings via its web interface or the manufacturer's app.
Find the video encoding options, usually under streaming or network settings. Many cameras have separate main and sub streams — check both.
Change the codec from H.265 to H.264.
Save and apply, then restart the camera if needed.
Confirm the camera connects to Angelcam and streams correctly.
The exact menu names vary by brand. If you can't find the setting, search your camera model's manual for "video encoding" or "codec," or reach out to our support team.
Need help?
If you're unsure which codec your camera uses, whether it can be switched, or you're seeing playback issues, our support team is happy to help.