Compare Audio Video Interleave and WebM 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.
WebM Video
WebM is an open-source video format developed by Google, specifically designed for efficient web video delivery. WebM uses the VP8 or VP9 video codec (or the newer AV1) with Vorbis or Opus audio, providing excellent quality at small file sizes. VP9 delivers quality comparable to H.265/HEVC while being royalty-free. WebM is natively supported by all major web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and is the preferred format for YouTube's adaptive streaming. The format supports transparent video (alpha channel), HDR, and 4K+ resolutions. WebM's open-source, royalty-free nature makes it attractive for web developers and content creators who want to avoid licensing fees associated with H.264/H.265.
| Feature | AVI | WEBM |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Audio Video Interleave | WebM Video |
| File Extension | .avi | .webm |
| Category | video | video |
| Free to Convert | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Browser Support | ✓ All Browsers | ✓ All Browsers |
| Convert to Each Other | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
或将文件拖放到此处
最大文件大小：2GB