AVI VS FLV
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Audio Video Interleave and Flash Video.
AVI
aviLegacy multimedia container format by Microsoft.
Pros
- High quality master files
- Simple architecture
Cons
- Huge file sizes
- No streaming support
- Outdated
FLV
flvLegacy streaming container widely used before HTML5 video adoption.
Pros
- Small file sizes
- Progressive playback
- Easy to embed in legacy players
Cons
- Deprecated technology
- No iOS/Android support
- Must be converted for modern browsers
When AVI wins
Stay with AVI when you need legacy windows software or short uncompressed clips. Its strengths center on high quality master files and a feature set native to Microsoft.
When FLV wins
Choose FLV when your workflow prioritizes legacy archives or intranet training portals. It delivers small file sizes plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | AVI | FLV |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | video/x-msvideo | video/x-flv |
| Developer | Microsoft | Macromedia |
| Release Year | 1992 | 2002 |
| Best For | Legacy Windows software, Short uncompressed clips | Legacy archives, Intranet training portals |
Need to switch?
Where AVI still wins
Keep AVI when you need high quality master files and workflows depend on legacy windows software / short uncompressed clips. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship FLV deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .avi glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use FLV for legacy archives while archiving originals as AVI.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.