MP4 vs AVI: Video Format Comparison Guide - MP4.app

Compare MP4 and AVI video formats. Understand their differences in compression, quality, compatibility, and choose the right format for your videos.

MP4 Format

MP4 is the most widely used video format, offering excellent compression and compatibility.

AVI Format

AVI is an older video container format that supports various codecs.

MP4

AVI

Compression
Lossy (H.264/H.265)
Depends on codec
Quality
Good to excellent
Good
File Size
Small to medium
Large
Compatibility
Universal
Good (Windows)

MP4 Pros

  • Excellent compression
  • Universal compatibility
  • Good quality
  • Supports multiple codecs

MP4 Cons

  • Not always the best quality
  • Can have compatibility issues with older devices

AVI Pros

  • Good quality
  • Supports multiple codecs
  • Widely supported

AVI Cons

  • Larger file size
  • Less efficient compression
  • Older format

When to use MP4

  • Online video streaming
  • Mobile devices
  • Social media
  • General video playback

When to use AVI

  • Legacy video files
  • Windows systems
  • Video editing

Convert MP4 to AVI

AVI to MP4

Summary

MP4 offers better compression and universal compatibility, making it ideal for most use cases.