AVI vs. MP4: Which is the Best Video Format

Both AVI and MP4 are popular video formats, but what's the difference? Which one is better? This post will focus on AVI vs. MP4, and fully compare these two video formats. Besides, you also can learn an effective way to convert AVI to MP4 or vice versa here.

When it comes to talking about the video formats, AVI and MP4 stand out from the crowd in terms of popularity. These two video formats are used widely from all walks of life. But you may be confused: AVI vs. MP4, what's the difference? And which one is better for you?

Here, we will fully compare AVI and MP4 in detail, including the quality, video size, compression, compatibility, etc., so that you can choose the suitable format for your video! Moreover, this post offers a one-stop solution to convert video and audio formats in the end.

Part 1. Quick Introduction to AVI and MP4

Before comparing AVI and MP4 file formats, Let's learn what the AVI and MP4 files are.

What is AVI File?

AVI is a common video format containing and encoding both audio and video. It was developed in 1992 by Microsoft, and now is the standard video format for Windows computers. This video file has less compression ability than other similar video formats like MOV and MPEG. 

What is MP4 File?

Short for MPEG-4 Part 14, MP4 is one of the most popular video formats worldwide. It was introduced in 2001 by the Moving Picture Experts Group. This video format is mainly used to store video and audio data. Besides that, it can store images and subtitles, and provide high-quality video while retaining minimal file sizes.

Part 2. AVI vs. MP4: Comprehensive Comparison Between AVI & MP4

After having basic learning about AVI and MP4, now you can check the following information about AVI vs. MP4 in this part.

AVI vs. MP4: Compression

As discussed before, the AVI file uses less compression to store video and audio files for better quality. On the contrary, to avoid occupying more space on your computer or device, the MP4 file uses more compression than the AVI file.

AVI vs. MP4: File Size

Because of the compression, MP4 and AVI perform differently in file size. The AVI files tend to be larger than most video formats, including MP4, due to the minimal compression features. It is generally averaging about 2 - 3GB per minuter of video.

As for MP4, it is a lossy video format, which takes up less storage than AVI. So if you have a storage limit, the MP4 video format seems to be a good choice.

AVI vs. MP4: Quality

When it comes to video quality, is AVI better than MP4? The answer is YES. Although AVI and MP4 are both video wrapper formats, they use different codecs. (The AVI uses DivX codec, while MP4 uses the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec), which means the AVI has better video quality than MP4. 

If it is hard to understand, let's put it in another way. The AVI file is lossless, and there will be fewer images lost, so it brings you higher quality for playback. As for the MP4, it uses more compression to ensure the small file size, so it is not as good as AVI in terms of video quality.

AVI vs. MP4: Compatibility

As for the compatibility, MP4 will win by a landslide. MP4 can be played on almost any media player and device. However, the AVI file only can be played on Windows Media Player or other Windows-based players.

Part 3. How to Convert AVI to or from MP4

After doing the AVI vs. MP4 comparison, we can find both video formats have their own advantages and disadvantages. So you may need to convert these two video files for different occasions. But how? Don't fret. EaseUS Video Converter can help you.

As an all-in-one media converter, it allows you to change your video or audio file formats flexibly with preserving the original quality. Apart from the basic features, it also enables you to adjust the output file's parameters. Let's take video conversion as an example: this software lets you change video frame rate, resolution, codec, and many more to create an excellent video. Besides, there are many other functions waiting for you to explore!

To help you convert your files, we offer you a step-by-step guide below:

Step 1. Import Target Videos

Open EaseUS Video Converter. Click "Video Converter" > "Choose Files" to import videos. If you have several files in a folder, you can directly import the folder by clicking the down arrow icon next to the plus icon and selecting "Add Folder".

Step 2. Adjust Settings for Output Files

Click "Settings" to select the output format, and your desired quality and resolution. 

For advanced settings, you can click "Edit" to change the output file's parameters or file name. 

Step 3. Start Conversion

Go back to the main interface, you can change the saving path by clicking the down arrow icon at the bottom. Then you can click "Convert" or "Convert All" to start your video conversion task.

Step 4. View Converted Files

Once done, click "Finished" to view your converted files. Here you can play, rename, or delete your output files flexibly.

The Bottom Line

On this page, we not only show you the difference between AVI and MP4, but also share with you a powerful media converter. To conclude, we hope that you can really get help here!