Convert AVI to MP4
We turn AVI into MP4 right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
- Compression becomes lossy: the original quality cannot be restored
How they differ
| AVI | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | no |
| Lossy | yes | yes |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | no | yes |
| Released | 1992 | 2001 |
| Author | Microsoft | MPEG |
AVI
Good at
- Opens where nothing else does any more: nineties hardware, old players
- People put uncompressed video inside, so some archives are still masters
- Simple enough that a damaged file can often be read at least in part
Awkward about
- Several times heavier than modern containers at the same quality
- Neither browsers nor phones will play it
- Keeps no titles or cover art, and handles subtitles and extra tracks badly
Use it when
- The file came out of an old archive and just needs to open
- Some program insists on it and understands nothing newer
- In every other case it is worth turning into MP4
MP4
Good at
- Plays on everything: TVs, car stereos, phones a decade old
- Carries several audio tracks, subtitles and chapters in one file
- Streams well: playback starts before the file has finished loading
Awkward about
- Anything can be inside — the extension does not tell you if it will play
- The audio is almost always lossy, so it is not a master copy
- Editing without re-encoding is close to impossible in this container
Use it when
- The video is being sent or published and has to open for everyone
- Footage from a phone that people will simply watch
- One audio track is all you need
Common questions
- Does the file get uploaded to a server?
- Yes, this pair needs the server: browsers cannot encode that format. The file and the result are deleted within a couple of hours and never shared.
- Will surround sound survive?
- Yes, MP4 carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- No. MP4 is lossy, and the discarded detail cannot be recovered. Keep the original if you may still need it.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 3 files at a time, 500 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.