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- Outdated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