Step 1. Install Movavi’s AVI file converter
When you’ve downloaded the file, run it and follow the usual macOS instructions to install the software.
Top 7 Best AVI Converters for a Mac [2024]
Here's how to convert AVI files on a Mac:
Video creators of all abilities and experience using Mac devices for their AVI projects will find the need to choose the best free AVI converter for a Mac.
To ensure that you receive only verified information, we do the following:
Movavi Content Team has tested all the products covered in this article.
When testing products, we compare all key parameters, including merging video clips, changing video speed, recording voice-overs, creating slideshows, and other significant features.
List of the best free AVI converters for a Mac
Movavi Video Converter for Mac – an intuitive and powerful encoding program that enables you to convert MKV, MTS, FLV, MPEG, WMV, and DVD VOB files to MPEG-4, QuickTime (MOV), as well as to many other popular formats.
Platform: Desktop
OS: macOS X 10.13 or higher, Windows
How to use Movavi Video Converter
Pros:
It supports a large variety of media formats, offers presets for quick conversion, and is powered by the SuperSpeed technology.
Cons:
Can’t burn DVDs
This is a high-performance AVI converter for a Mac. It’s user-friendly and feature-rich and supports a variety of file formats, including AVI.
Platform: Desktop
OS: macOS X 10.9 or higher, Windows
How to convert AVI files on a Mac with Prism Video Converter
Pros:
It supports a wide range of file formats, offers additional features such as video effects and has a user-friendly interface.
Cons:
It is not free – there is a trial version, otherwise, you need to choose from 2 pricing plans.
3. Zamzar
This is a free online AVI file converter that offers fast conversion of large files, online storage, and high-speed downloads.
Platform: Online
OS: Any, web-based service
How to use Zamzar
Pros:
This online AVI file converter for a Mac is free up to a file size of 50 MB, it is fast and secure and offers excellent customer service.
Cons:
It is worth noting that there are no editing options available. You need a good internet connection to use it.
4. VLC
This AVI video converter for a Mac supports almost all media file formats and file sizes. It is easy to use and also completely free.
Platform: Desktop
OS: macOS X 10.7.5 or higher, Windows, Linux
How to convert AVI on a Mac with VLC
Pros:
It is free, fast, reliable, and feature-rich.
Cons:
The interface is a bit outdated, and the conversion process is not straightforward.
5. HandBrake
This is a free AVI converter for a Mac, Windows, and Linux. Easily convert your AVI video into one of the wide selection of codecs supported by this tool.
Platform: Desktop
OS: Windows, macOS, Linux
How to convert AVI to Mac-supported formats with HandBrake
Pros:
Available as a free download, it offers advanced video conversion – a selection of other features such as presets, editing tools, filters, and subtitles.
Cons:
It is not very user-friendly in design and the learning curve is steep if you are a beginner.
This Mac AVI converter offers fast conversion speed and supports a variety of output formats.
Platform: Desktop
OS: macOS X 10.6 or higher, Windows
How to use MacX Video Converter Pro
Pros:
It is user-friendly, has a free trial version available, supports numerous file formats, provides fast, reliable conversions, and includes editing tools and features.
Cons:
The pro version is paid, and the editing features are somewhat limited.
7. CloudConvert
This is a free online AVI video file converter. It is user-friendly with an easy-to-navigate interface and supports a wide range of file formats.
Platform: Online
OS: Any (web-based service)
How to use CloudConvert
Pros:
It is suitable for all experience levels and offers tools to modify the resolution, quality, and file size.
Cons:
A negative point is that the free version only allows up to 25 conversions per day. You need a good internet connection to use it.
How to convert AVI files on a Mac with Movavi Video Converter
Converting AVI files is easy and quick with Movavi Video Converter. Follow the guide below to convert your files in no time.
Step 1. Install Movavi’s AVI file converter
When you’ve downloaded the file, run it and follow the usual macOS instructions to install the software.
Step 2. Add the AVI files
To add one or more files for conversion, click the Add Media button in the upper left-hand corner of the window and choose Add video.
Step 3. Edit your files
You can edit your AVI files before the conversion. Open the Edit drop-down list and choose an option. You can trim and crop your clip, apply effects, and more.
Step 4. Specify the output format
At the bottom of the program interface, you will find the most popular conversion presets. If you don’t see the format you need, you can click the Video or the Devices tab.
If you intend to watch the converted video on an iPad, iPhone, Android tablet, or another multimedia device, click Devices. Then select the appropriate preset from the list of brands and models.
If you just want to convert AVI to MP4, 3GP, FLV, or another format for viewing on your computer, select Video and choose the appropriate format from the list. To access the advanced output format settings, where you can change parameters like video height and width, choose a sample rate, and make other adjustments, click the Cogwheel button.
Step 5. Start converting
Before you start converting, you may want to set a new destination folder. By default, converted files are saved to your Movavi Library, but you can also click the Save to button and specify a new directory for the converted files. Then click Convert in the bottom right corner to start the conversion process. Your file will be converted in just a few minutes.
Bonus: How to convert an AVI file on a Mac with a command line
The next way to convert your AVI files is to use FFmpeg – a command-line conversion tool. This option is better suited to those with at least some basic coding understanding.
How to use FFmpeg:
Download and install the program on your Mac.
Download FFmpeg
Find the Terminal app and then initiate it.
Drag and drop FFmpeg to the Terminal.
Type the command –i. Add the original AVI video into Terminal.
Then enter xxx(the output file name).mp4.
For individual AVI file conversion, you need to type this line:
-i input.flv xxx.mp4.
If you’re batch processing multiple files, type the following:
for i in .avi; do name=`echo "$i" | cut -d'.' -f1` echo "$name" ffmpeg -i "$i" "${name}.mp4" done or for i in .avi; do ffmpeg -i "$i" "${i%.*}.mp4"; done.
Press Enter to convert your AVI videos to MP4.
Summary: How to choose a Mac AVI converter
When you start looking for an AVI file converter for a Mac, the options might seem overwhelming. To help you make your selection, check out the points to consider below:
Technical requirements: begin by looking at your technical requirements. Make sure that a converter is available for your Macintosh.
OS: do you need an online service or software download? If you want to convert larger files, then definitely go for a desktop program.
Experience: take into consideration your level of experience and skills and target a solution that is either beginner-adapted or of a more professional level.
By testing out some of the above-mentioned options, you will soon find an AVI converter for a Mac (free or paid) that suits your needs.
What is an AVI file?
Movavi Video Converter
The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!
Frequently asked questions
If you are looking at how to play AVI files on a Mac, first, you will need to download an AVI player for your Mac. The iOS operating system doesn’t read AVI format, so if you want to watch AVI videos on your Macbook (or even just open AVI on your Mac), you need to find a software program that supports the AVI format. We recommend VLC.
Here are some of the best AVI converters:
Movavi Video Converter
Prism Video Converter
VLC
HandBrake
MacX Video Converter Pro
Zamzar
CloudConvert
You will need to download an AVI-to-MP4 converter on your Mac. If you are looking to convert AVI to MP4 on a Mac, VLC is a free, reliable option that supports a wide range of file formats and offers fast conversions. One of the best Mac AVI converters is Movavi Video Converter. It supports 180+ file formats, has an intuitive interface, and offers fast, high-quality file conversions at an affordable price.
The built-in Mac media player, QuickTime, doesn’t support the AVI codec. This is why you need to use a third-party AVI movie viewer or an AVI video converter Mac-compatible software program or online tool.
Download Movavi Video Converter to easily convert your AVI files and then import them into iMovie.
See other useful how-to guides
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