# AVI vs AV1: what is the difference?

AVI is a legacy container format, while AV1 is a modern video codec designed for much better compression efficiency.

Canonical URL: https://www.subclip.app/faq/avi-vs-av1-whats-the-difference

Last modified: 2026-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

**Short answer**
AVI and AV1 are not the same type of thing.

- **AVI** = container (how media tracks are packaged)
- **AV1** = codec (how video is compressed)

**What this means in practice**
- AVI is older and often larger for comparable quality.
- AV1 is newer and usually delivers smaller files at similar visual quality.
- AV1 playback/encoding support depends on browser, hardware, and OS.

**In Subclip workflows**
If you receive older AVI sources, convert them to modern delivery formats first. If you need high compression efficiency, use AV1-compatible output routes.

**Related converters**
[AVI to MP4](/tools/convert-video-format/avi-to-mp4), [MP4 to AVI](/tools/convert-video-format/mp4-to-avi), [MP4 to AV1](/tools/convert-video-format/mp4-to-av1), [AV1 to MP4](/tools/convert-video-format/av1-to-mp4).

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