Format comparison
AVI vs MP4
By Suprabhat Updated How we write these
The short answer
AVI is a 1990s container that usually holds older, less efficient codecs, so the same video is often much larger and won’t play on phones or in browsers. Convert AVI to MP4 unless an old device or program specifically needs AVI.
Audio Video Interleave
Choose AVI when
- An old DVD player, camera or program requires it
- Legacy editing software
- You must keep the original file untouched
MPEG-4 Part 14
Choose MP4 when
- Watching on a phone, tablet or smart TV
- Uploading or sharing
- Saving space
Side by side
| Property | AVI | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Audio Video Interleave | MPEG-4 Part 14 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | MPEG-4 Part 2 (DivX or Xvid) video with MP3 audio | H.264 or HEVC video with AAC audio |
| Typical size | Often two to three times the size of a modern MP4 | 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute |
| Support | Legacy | Opens everywhere |
| Opens on | Windows Media Player and VLC; no browser or iPhone plays it | Every phone, browser, TV, editor, chat app and upload form |
| Best for | Old Windows software and hardware players that expect it | Sharing video anywhere |
| Introduced | 1992 | 2003 |
Watch out with AVI
AVI is only a wrapper. The same extension can hide DivX, Xvid, MJPEG or uncompressed video, which is why one AVI plays and the next doesn’t.
Watch out with MP4
An MP4 that won’t play is rarely broken; it usually holds a newer codec such as HEVC or AV1 that the player doesn’t support.
Need to switch?
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Questions
Is AVI better than MP4?
AVI is a 1990s container that usually holds older, less efficient codecs, so the same video is often much larger and won’t play on phones or in browsers. Convert AVI to MP4 unless an old device or program specifically needs AVI.
Which is smaller, AVI or MP4?
MP4 is usually smaller for the same content. AVI: Often two to three times the size of a modern MP4. MP4: 1080p phone video runs roughly 60–130 MB a minute.
How do I convert AVI to MP4?
Use the free AVI to MP4 converter. It runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
How do I convert MP4 to AVI?
Use the free MP4 to AVI converter. It works the same way, entirely on your device.
More format comparisons
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MP4 vs MOV: which should you use?
MP4 and MOV usually contain exactly the same video, so quality isn’t the difference. MP4 plays on everything and is what websites and apps expect; MOV is Apple’s format, best kept for editing in Final Cut or iMovie. - Format comparison
MP4 vs MKV: which should you use?
MKV can hold almost anything, including several audio languages and subtitle tracks, which makes it ideal for a media library. MP4 holds less but plays on phones, browsers, editors and social apps, so it wins whenever a video is shared. - Format comparison
MP4 vs WEBM: which should you use?
WebM is the open format made for the web, and VP9 or AV1 inside it can be smaller than H.264 in MP4. MP4 is still the more compatible choice: it plays on iPhones, TVs and in every editor and social app. - Format comparison
MKV vs AVI: which should you use?
MKV is the modern choice: it holds any codec, several audio tracks, subtitles and chapters, and handles HD video properly. AVI dates from 1992 and is tied to older codecs like DivX and Xvid, so the only reason to keep one is an old DVD player or TV that reads nothing else.