Compare Audio Video Interleave and MPEG-4 Video formats — understand the key differences and when to use each
Audio Video Interleave
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in 1992 as part of Windows 3.1. AVI stores interleaved audio and video data and supports a wide range of codecs including DivX, XviD, MPEG-4, and uncompressed video. While AVI is one of the oldest video formats still in use, it has several limitations: no native support for modern codecs (H.265), subtitles require external files, and streaming capabilities are limited. AVI files tend to be larger than MP4 or MKV equivalents. However, AVI remains widely supported by media players and video editing software. Many legacy video cameras and older devices output AVI files. Converting AVI to MP4 typically reduces file size while maintaining quality and improving compatibility with modern devices.
MPEG-4 Video
MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the world's most widely used video container format, standardized as ISO/IEC 14496-14. MP4 can contain video (H.264, H.265/HEVC, AV1), audio (AAC, MP3, AC-3), subtitles (SRT, ASS), and metadata in a single file. H.264/AVC is the most common video codec in MP4 files, providing excellent quality at reasonable file sizes. MP4 supports 4K, 8K, HDR (HDR10, Dolby Vision), 360° video, and multiple audio tracks. It's the default video format for smartphones, digital cameras, streaming services (YouTube, Netflix), social media platforms, and web browsers. MP4 files are natively playable on virtually every device and operating system without additional software. The format supports fast seeking, progressive download, and adaptive streaming (DASH). For web video, MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio provides the widest compatibility.
| Feature | AVI | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Audio Video Interleave | MPEG-4 Video |
| File Extension | .avi | .mp4 |
| Category | video | video |
| Free to Convert | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Browser Support | ✓ All Browsers | ✓ All Browsers |
| Convert to Each Other | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
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