AVI vs MKV: What’s the Difference & Which Format to Choose?

AVI vs MKV

Here is a table to help you quickly understand the difference between AVI and MKV.

Now, let’s give more detailed information about AVI vs MKV.

What Is AVI and MKV?

AVI, also known as Audio Video Interleave, is a file format that combines audio and video data into a file for simultaneous playback. It is mainly used as a container for TVs, movies, and other videos. The AVI format was developed by Microsoft in November 1992 and is now commonly used for file transfers and storage of video and audio tracks.

MKV, which is also known as Matroska (Matroska Multimedia Container), is a free and open-standard container format. It was created in 2002 by Steve Lhomme, an independent developer.

An MKV file can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture, or subtitle tracks in one file. It is used to store common multimedia content, like movies or TV shows.

AVI vs MKV: Pros and Cons

This section introduces information about AVI vs MKV, including their pros and cons.

Pros

# AVI

Pros:

• Wide device and media player compatibility.
• Low hardware requirements.
• Works well on older devices.
• Good video quality after compression.
• Suitable for devices with limited hardware performance.

Cons:

• Not compatible with Mac and iOS-based apps and devices.
• Lossy compression that sacrifices quality for file size.

# MKV

Pros:

• Supports lossless video quality.
• Stores multiple video, audio, image, and subtitle tracks.
• Supports various codecs.
• High-quality video and audio.
• Supports multiple audio tracks and subtitles.
• Open-source and flexible.

Cons:

• Most mobile devices do not support it.
• The file is large, which can easily cause uploading problems.

AVI vs MKV: Which One to Choose

Neither format is universally better. Choose AVI for wider compatibility and playback on older devices. Choose MKV for high-quality video, multiple tracks, and subtitles.

How to Convert AVI to MKV or Vice Versa

Fast steps:

• Choose a converter.
• Import the target video.
• Choose the output format.
• Start conversion.

Option 1. MiniTool Video Converter

MiniTool Video Converter is the first tool that is worth trying for conversions between MKV and AVI. It is a free program. It supports 1,000+ video and audio formats, batch conversion, and video-to-audio conversion.

MiniTool Video Converter

• Batch convert video/audio files among 1000+ formats.

• Quickly compress videos for easy storage and transfer.

• Accurately extract subtitles from video/audio files.

• Effectively enhance video quality.

Buy Now Free Download

Here is how to convert AVI to MKV with MiniTool Video Converter:

1. Launch MiniTool Video Converter.

Download and install MiniTool Video Converter. Then, launch it.

2. Import the source file.

In the Convert Video tab, click Add Files to add the target video to the software.

3. Choose the output format

Click the arrow icon next to Convert all files to option. Then, select MKV in the Video section. Next, select the video resolution to continue.

4. Set the output folder.

Expand the Output option and select a path according to your requirements.

5. Start conversion.

Click Convert All to start the conversion process.

When the conversion process ends, you can access the storage location to use the converted video directly. The above steps are also appropriate for conversion from MKV to AVI.

Option 2. VLC Media Player

If you are using macOS, you can try VLC Media Player since it supports multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux.

VLC is not just a video player. You can also use it to do video conversion work. It is a free program. You can go to the official VLC site to get this software.

Here is a guide on how to convert AVI to MKV using VLC:

1. Open VLC.

Download VLC Media Player and install it on your Mac.

2. Import the target video file.

Launch it and go to File > Convert / Stream. Click Open media on the pop-up window and then select the source file from your computer.

3. Set the output format.

Select the output format from Choose Profile.

4. Set the save destination.

Click Save as file and then specify a location to save the output video.

5. Start conversion.

Click Save to start converting the AVI file to MKV. Wait for the process to finish, then open the destination folder to find the MKV file.

Option 3. Online-Convert

Online-Convert is a faster video converter. It also allows you to convert videos from your computer, Dropbox, and Google Drive to the format you want to use. Besides, URL-to-video is also available. You can even drop the video onto the page for conversion.

Here is a guide on how to convert AVI to MKV:

1. Go to the official site of Online-Convert.

2. Select Convert to MKV in the Video converter section.

3. Click Go > click Choose Files to import the target file.

4. Click Start conversion.

5. Click Download to save the video to a suitable location.

You can also follow these steps to convert MKV to AVI.

Option 4. Zamzar

If you just want to convert AVI to MKV once, Zamzar is the ideal option. It can convert images, audio, video, or different types of documents. Since the converted file link will be sent to the provided email address, you can download it from the email.

1. Navigate to zamzar.com on your device.

2. Click Add Files… to import your local AVI file.

3. Choose AVI from the Convert to drop-down list.

4. Click Convert Now to start the MKV conversion.

These steps can also be applied to MKV-to-AVI conversion.

Bottom Line

AVI vs MKV comes down to compatibility versus features. AVI is suitable for wider compatibility and older devices, while MKV is better for high-quality video and multiple tracks. Several tools can convert between the two formats. Among the tools recommended above, MiniTool Video Converter is most suitable for batch conversion.

If you have any related issues, you can let us know in the comments or contact us via support@minitool.com.

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