Movavi Video Converter supports more than 180 media formats, including AVI and MP4, and it offers the batch conversion option, so you can easily convert multiple videos at one time. Right away, everything felt intuitive – no digging through menus or cryptic options and I loved the clean interface. It’s clearly designed for people who just want something that works without much fuss.

Everyone knows VLC as a player that “just plays anything.” But what most people don’t realise (myself included, until recently) is that it also doubles as a converter. It’s not fancy and the interface hasn’t changed in years, but it’s free and trustworthy.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using VLC

Step 1. Download the program for your PC or Mac using the link below.

Download VLC

Install the media player following the on-screen instructions and launch it.

Step 2. Open the Media menu in the top left part of the program window and click Convert / Save. In the window that opens, click the Add button to upload your video to the program. Find the file on your hard drive and click Open. Next, click Convert / Save.

Step 3. Choose Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4) from the Profile drop-down menu. If you want to change video or audio codecs, click the Wrench icon next to the Profile drop-down menu.

Step 4. Click the Browse button, select the output folder for the video, and enter a name for the file. To launch the conversion, hit the Start button.

Freemake is one of those names you’ve probably seen floating around forums for years. The program has a super-simple user interface and converts videos pretty fast, without any file size or length limitations. It’s a Windows-only tool, and people love it because it makes converting 4K and large videos fairly easy. That said, it does push you toward the paid version.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using Freemake

Step 1. Get the converter by following the link below.

Download Freemake

Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation. Launch the program.

Step 2. To upload your videos to the converter, hit the Video button in the upper-left part of the program window. Locate your files and click Open.

Step 3. If you want to cut your video before the conversion, click the Scissors icon next to the file name, trim the video as needed, and hit OK.

Step 4. To select the target format, click the to MP4 button. In the window that opens, specify the saving settings: select the preset and the output folder. To start the conversion, hit the Convert button.

HandBrake is an open-source powerhouse. If you’ve ever talked to video editors or hardcore techies, you’ve probably heard them rave about it. One of the best things about it is that the conversion process can be customized, so you can create your own presets with appropriate video and audio settings. It’s not the prettiest, but it gives you so much control over every little detail of the conversion.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using HandBrake

Step 1. Download the appropriate version of the AVI file converter from the HandBrake website.

Download HandBrake

Install the converter by following the on-screen instructions. After the installation is complete, run the program.

Step 2. Drag and drop your videos to the program window. Alternatively, you can click the Folder (Batch Scan) button if you’re converting multiple files or File to convert a single file.

Step 3. MP4 will be selected as a target format by default. If you want to change the video codec or frame rate, open the Video tab and specify the settings.

Step 4. To change the destination folder, click the Browse button in the lower-right part of the program window. Click the Start Encode button to launch the conversion.

If you don’t want to install software, Movavi also has a free online tool. It allows you to change video, audio and image formats on the fly, as well as their resolution and bitrate. I found it really convenient for quick, one-off conversions. Just don’t expect it to handle huge files.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using Movavi Online Video Converter

Step 1. Open the app in your browser

Go to the Online Video Converter page

Step 2. Click the Add Your Media button, find the file for conversion, and hit Open. Alternatively, you can add a file from Dropbox.

Step 3. Select the desired format from the list in the right part of the program interface. To change video resolution and audio quality, click the cogwheel icon.

Step 4. Start converting your file by hitting the Convert button.

CloudConvert supports over 200 formats and even lets you tinker with advanced settings like codecs, resolution, and subtitles. You can also add the subtitles to your video if you need to. It feels like the most “pro” of the web-based tools.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using CloudConvert

Step 1. Visit the CloudConvert website.

Proceed to the CloudConvert website

Step 2. To upload your media file to the website, click the Select File button, find your video, and hit Open. Alternatively, you can add a video by entering the video’s URL or upload a file from your cloud storage.

Step 3. If you want to specify the video settings, click the Wrench icon. To start converting your video, hit the Convert button.

Step 4. After the conversion is complete, a preview window will appear. You can check the converted video. To download the clip, click the Download button.

It works pretty quickly, so you will have your converted video ready to go in a matter of minutes. It’s one of the simplest tools I tried, so if, like me, you hate fiddling with settings, this might be your go-to. Just upload, choose MP4, and grab your file.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using Zamzar

Step 1. Go to the Zamzar website.

Proceed to the Zamzar website

Step 2. Click the Add Files button to upload your video. To add a video by entering the URL, click Select link under the Add Files button.

Step 3. To start the process, hit the Convert Now button. Wait until the conversion is complete and click the Download button to save the converted file on your computer.

FreeConvert felt like a happy medium between simplicity and power. If you’re a bit of a tech pro, it has a wide range of video and audio options for advanced users, so you can cut, rotate or flip until your heart’s content! The interface is modern, and it offers useful extras like aspect ratio control and subtitle options.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using FreeConvert

Step 1. Follow the link below to get to the website.

Proceed to FreeConvert.com

Step 2. Click the Choose Files button to locate your video for the conversion. Alternatively, you can upload your video from Google Drive or Dropbox or enter the video’s URL.

Step 3. If you need to change the video and audio settings, hit the Cogwheel icon, specify the settings, and click the Apply Settings button.

Step 4. To start converting AVI to MP4, hit the Convert to MP4 button. Once the conversion process is finished, click Download MP4 to save your video.

Online-Convert feels like a nerdier cousin of FreeConvert. It gives you tons of customisation - screen size, bitrate, audio tweaks - but at the cost of a slightly clunky interface. It’s great for sound as the audio settings let you select an audio channel and audio codec, as well as change the audio quality, but just be careful of the free plan offer as it comes with restrictions. If you do want to remove these limitations, it will mean opening one of their subscription plans - and your wallet!

How to convert AVI to MP4 using Online-Convert

Step 1. Go to the Online-Convert.com website.

Proceed to Online-Convert.com

Step 2. Drag and drop the video to the browser window. Or click the Choose Files button to upload your file. To upload the video from your Dropbox or Google Drive, click the corresponding links.

Step 3. If you want to change the saving settings, go to Video settings (optional) and Audio settings (optional) below. To launch the conversion, hit the Start conversion button. After the process is finished, the video will be downloaded automatically. You can also upload the converted file to your cloud storage or download it as a ZIP file.

It’s one of the simplest tools I’ve tried – just upload, click convert, and download. It’s great if you want something hassle-free, though it’s limited in features and file size. The service doesn’t provide any editing tools and advanced options, so if you need more attention to detail, you may need to look elsewhere..

How to convert AVI to MP4 using ConvertFiles

Step 1. Visit the ConvertFiles website.

Proceed to the ConvertFiles website

Step 2. Hit the Browse button to upload your file. Locate your video with the .avi extension and click Open.

Step 3. Check Send a download link to my email (optional) and enter your email if needed. To launch the conversion process, hit the Convert button.

Step 4. Once the conversion is complete, follow the Click here to go to the download page link and hit the Download Free button to save the file to your computer.

Convertio is one of the slickest-looking online tools I tested to change AVI to MP4. Before the conversion, the service allows you to cut your video, select the codec and frame rate, and resize and rotate the clip. The drag-and-drop interface is modern and clean, and it supports a huge range of file types. But again, the free version has strict limits.

How to convert AVI to MP4 using Convertio

Step 1. Go to the Convertio website.

Proceed to the Convertio website

Step 2. To upload your files, hit the Choose Files button. Or simply drag and drop the file into the browser window.

Step 3. Click the Cogwheel icon if you want to specify the advanced settings. To start converting your file, hit the Convert button.

Step 4. When the conversion is finished, click the Download button to save the file with the .mp4 extension to your computer.