Top 6 Apps to Open AVI on Mac

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Top choice
Elmedia 4.8 Rank based on 131+ users, Reviews(131)
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When you’re about to sit down and watch your favorite movie or TV show, you need to know you can rely on the player installed on your computer. Not having the proper software to play AVI files on Mac can lead to a disappointing experience. Since all devices produced by Apple arrive with QuickTime as the default media player, you will have difficulties playing AVI videos since QuickTime doesn’t support certain codecs. In this situation, you need to make sure you find the best third-party video player available on the market. We’ve gathered the top 5 media players out there to help you find the best AVI viewer Mac users can wish for.

Table of contents:

  1. Elmedia
  2. JustPlay
  3. VLC
  4. 5K Player
  5. Cisdem
  6. Free AVI Player for Mac
  7. What to look for at an AVI video Mac-friendly Player
  8. What’s the best AVI player for your MacBook?
  9. An in-depth breakdown to help you find the best AVI player for Mac
  10. What is an AVI File?
  11. FAQ

Best AVI player for Mac - choose from the list

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1. Elmedia Player
Requirements: OS X 10.9+. 59.49MB free space. Version 7.16(2296). (27 Oct, 2020). 4.8 Rank based on 131+ users, Reviews(131)
Category: MultimediaApplication
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Elmedia Player is a top choice for many users and here’s why. Aside from AVI files, this Mac AVI player also supports a huge number of formats: MKV, WMV, MP4, MOV, MP3, FLAC, etc. You don’t need to download additional codes and add-ons. It has a very user-intuitive interface, making it simple and friendly for anyone - even those with little to no Mac experience.

Best avi player for mac

With Elmedia Player, you can be certain that any video format and any resolution you throw at it, it will play smoothly and reliably every time. What’s more, you can easily watch AVI files from YouTube, Dailymotion and Vimeo ad-free - directly in your video player window.

Advanced Features of Elmedia Player

With this incredible MacBook AVI player, you get tons of amazing benefits that outweigh many similar video players online. But with Elmedia Player PRO, it just takes your video experience to an entirely different level.

You instantly get access to incredible features like the ability to stream local videos to your Apple TV, Smart TV, Chromecast, and any AirPlay or DLNA-enabled devices. You also get full customization control of video and audio settings so you can fine-tune your needs exactly the way you like it.

Mac avi player

Top features of Elmedia AVI Player

  1. Support of almost every video and audio format available
  2. Simple to use, clean design and very user-friendly
  3. Support for external audio tracks

Pros

  • Highly personalized for the best viewing experience
  • Easy to navigate and use
  • Tons of supported video and audio formats
  • Wireless sharing to other devices
  • Open Online Video option to watch popular sites directly in the player without ads

Cons

  • Uses up considerable CPU
  • Only available on Mac, no PC option

2. JustPlay

How to play avi files on mac

JustPlay is a small app that packs quite a punch when talking about playing video files. It can handle AVI files with ease, offering you the possibility to play Ultra HD resolutions, 8K included. Its interface is smooth and you can easily find your way around the app even if it’s the first time you’re seeing it. It comes with a hardware-accelerated decoding function that makes the app capable of playing even the largest .avi files easily while also giving you full control over audio sync, playback speed or subtitles.

Of course, the functions list offered by JustPlay can go on. And we need to mention the automatic deinterlacing feature so that you will never have to see the horizontal artifacts that can be sometimes visible on objects that move fast.

Key features of JustPlay

  1. It can handle AVI files smoothly and at top quality.
  2. Multiple settings for the playback process.
  3. Resolutions of up to 8K supported.
  4. Allows you to easily manage volume.

Pros

  • Plays audio and video files without extra plugins or codecs.
  • The hardware-accelerated decoding for smooth playback.
  • 8K, 4K and HD resolutions fully supported.

Cons

  • Doesn’t support download or video editing.
  • Only available as a paid software.

3. VLC Media Player

Avi player for mac

Another perfect answer for all those that wonder how to open AVI on Mac comes from VLC Media Player. Not only that VLC is extremely versatile, being capable of dealing with a long list of formats with ease, but it’s also an all-in-one tool for opening the less-used formats. Thanks to its V10-bit codec VLC handles every video you throw at it without needing extra plugins or codecs. The downside, however, comes from VLC not being capable of playing Blu-ray videos. And if you’re fine with that, there’s something else that might bug you about VLC. The audio can lag a lot sometimes, ruining the entire experience. However, if they could deal with the audio issue, VLC could move up in our rankings.


Key features of VLC

  1. VLC is a very capable media player for AVI files on Mac.
  2. Available on other operating systems as well.
  3. Can handle multiple formats without codecs or plugins.
  4. Support embedded subtitles.
  5. Video streaming to other devices.

Pros

  • Available on macOS, Windows, Android, Linux and iOS.
  • Doesn’t require too many system resources.
  • Free version available.
  • Hotkey support for fast operation.

Cons

  • Audio can get delayed on certain videos.
  • Doesn’t deliver graphic media library support.
  • The UI could receive an update as it looks outdated.

4. 5KPlayer

Avi mac

Another suggestion for an app that will enable you to view AVI files on Mac without a problem comes from 5KPlayer. Just like the other software we presented so far, 5KPlayer can handle many video formats without needing any codecs or plugins. The list offers but is not limited to AVI, MOP4, MKV, WMV, FLV, MOV, WMA, H.265, or 3GP. So, if you want to watch AVI on your Mac, you can rely on the 5KPlayer to deliver a smooth experience.

Capable of handling high resolutions of 4K or 8K, this player also plays audio files. It offers support for AirPlay and also allows users to download video and audio files from multiple websites. It doesn’t look like this app has any evident glitches or issues, however, it can sometimes take a long time to process a video before playback.


Key features of 5KPlayer

  1. Support high-quality videos and offers outstanding playback for AVI files.
  2. Built-in video search so you rapidly find the video you want to play.
  3. AirPlay support so you can easily stream media to Apple devices.
  4. Comes with a built-in radio player as well.
  5. It offers streaming from online video sharing sites directly.

Pros

  • Capable of playing a plenty of DVD files.
  • Delivers 3D functionality.
  • Ultra HD playback supported.
  • Fine-tune the audio and video with the multiple settings offered.

Cons

  • Downloading video files is time-consuming.
  • No subtitle customization available.
  • Needs plenty of resources, mainly CPU.
  • The UI can seem complicated to new users.

5. Cisdem

Mac avi player

Last on our list but not least, Cisdem is another AVI viewer Mac users can rely on when they look for a remarkable video-watching experience. Compared to VLC, it is a lot easier on the system resources and its user interface is a lot more appealing. The formats it supports is just as wide as with the other software suggestions we offered in this article, making Cisdem a great solution for those wondering how to view AVI on Mac.

Resolutions can go as high as 5K and even at high resolution, this player does a great job at synchronizing the audio to video. Since it can also be used to download YouTube videos, it’s an awesome solution to take care of many of your needs.


Cisdem key features

  1. Capable of dealing with .avi files and other 50 formats as well.
  2. Can handle 1080p / 4K / 5K videos without buffering or crashing.
  3. Automatically loads subtitles.
  4. 100% free without annoying ads or unwanted software.
  5. Full control over playback with screenshot availability.

Pros

  • Can handle more than 50 formats.
  • Subtitles are loaded automatically.
  • No ads during playback.
  • No extra plug-ins or codecs needed.

Cons

  • Won’t run efficiently on older laptops, like dual-cores.
  • Can take some time to load the video before playback.

6. Free AVI Player for Mac

Free AVI Player for Mac

Free AVI Player for Mac is another popular alternative to play AVI files on Mac. It shares many similar features to Elmedia Player like the ability to play HD quality videos, support for a long list of file formats, and high-quality audio output. You also get to run Blu-Ray and DVD files with ease and the ability to customize your viewing settings like screen size, subtitle options, brightness, and hue control, and the ability to adjust audio tracks and effects. Also, with additional helpful benefits like screenshot capture, optimized lossless audio experience, and support in multiple languages, this software is definitely worth a peak for any video consumer.


Top Features of Free AVI Player for Mac

  1. Wide range of supported video formats
  2. Lossless and immersive audio playback at high-quality resolution
  3. 4K and 8K HD video support
  4. Blu-Ray playback

Pros

  • Reliable HD video and audio playback
  • Simple interface and usability
  • Lossless audio playback
  • Customizable settings for a personalized viewing experience

Cons

  • Free version is very limited; requires paid version to unlock the key features

What to look for at an AVI video Mac-friendly Player

  1. The first thing you should do is make sure it can handle multiple formats like AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, SWF, FLV, 3GP, MFK, MPEG and many more.
  2. Support for the latest macOS versions is mandatory.
  3. The player should offer top-quality performance at super-high resolutions - 4K / 8K.
  4. Simple and intuitive user interface with features that are easy to access.
  5. Playlist support is always a plus. Finding that player to enable you to create and edit a playlist will make it easier to watch all your favorite movies.
  6. You should not get any ads or pop-ups when you’re playing the videos.

An in-depth breakdown to help you find the best AVI player for Mac

This chart provides you with an at-a-glance analysis of the best AVI players for Mac, comparing general info as well as in-depth technical capabilities.

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Top features
VideoDuke
Elmedia
JustPlay
VLC
5KPlayer
Cisdem
Open AVI on Mac as well as other video formats
Open AVI on Mac as well as other video formats
yes (AVI, FLV, SWF, MP4, WMV, MOV, DAT, M4V, MPG, DivX, MKV, etc.)  
yes (MP4, AVI, MOV, SWF, DAT, MKV, etc.)  
yes (MKV, MP4, VOB, WMV, MPG AVI, etc.)  
yes (MKV, M2TS, MP4, AVI, WMV, FLV, etc.)  
yes (MKV, AVI, FLV, AVCHD, WMV, etc.)  
Supports for many popular audio formats
Supports for many popular audio formats
yes (MP3, WMA, AC2, MKA, OGG, FLAC, AAC, etc.)  
yes (FLAC, AAC, MP3, WMA, etc.)  
yes (AAC, AC-3, FLAC, MP3, ALAC, etc.)  
yes (MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, etc.)  
yes (MP3, OGG, ACC, WMA, AIFF, etc.)  
Allows local AVI streaming to TV
Allows local AVI streaming to TV
yes (PRO)  
no  
yes  
yes  
no  
Supports Playlist Creation
Supports Playlist Creation
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
Includes Video Tuner
Includes Video Tuner
yes (PRO)  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
Supports video format conversions
Supports video format conversions
no  
no  
yes  
no  
yes (PRO)  
Includes enhancement and light editing of video files: flip, rotate, mirror, etc
Includes enhancement and light editing of video files: flip, rotate, mirror, etc
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
Included Audio Equalizer
Included Audio Equalizer
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
no  
Allows playback adjustment for audio/video delay
Allows playback adjustment for audio/video delay
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
Integrated subtitle support
Integrated subtitle support
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
Allows subtitle playback acceleration/deceleration (Subtitle sync)
Allows subtitle playback acceleration/deceleration (Subtitle sync)
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
no  
Allows searching for subtitles online
Allows searching for subtitles online
yes  
yes  
add-on  
no  
no  
Picture-in-picture capability
Picture-in-picture capability
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
Allows hardware acceleration
Allows hardware acceleration
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
Allows you to record your desktop
Allows you to record your desktop
no  
no  
yes  
no  
no  
Features browser extension option to allow media to play directly from the Internet
Features browser extension option to allow media to play directly from the Internet
no  
no  
yes  
no  
no  
No-cost option
Free option
yes
no
yes
yes
yes

What’s the best AVI player for your MacBook?

Are you looking for an AVI player for your MacBook? Well, we took out all the guesswork for you. We’ve compiled a list of top .avi players for macOS. But there are a few critical variables to keep in mind before downloading your next AVI player. In order for you to enjoy your HD movies to the fullest, you need a player that won’t slow down your MacBook or use up too much of your battery. That’s why we suggest Elmedia Player as your ultimate player for your AVI files. Not only does it meet both these important criteria, but it also has a load of other useful features to make your experience that much more worthwhile.

More about AVI files

How to play avi files on mac

The full name for AVI files is Audio Video Interleaved and it was introduced by Microsoft all the way back in 1992. Such a file can contain both video and audio, and it does a great job at synchronizing the two. It is one of the most popular video formats out there for movies and other long files thanks to its limited compression and good quality. Even more than that, being developed by Microsoft, it is used in Windows Media Player which helped make it very popular back in the days when Windows boomed on the market.

FAQ

Below we have compiled the most frequently asked questions regarding AVI files playback. Feel free to send us any other questions that you may need answers to by writing in our comments section.

Indeed, a Mac can play AVI files through its native video player - QuickTime. However, you should know that some codecs are not supported by this player. To avoid getting an AVI video with a codec that is not supported by QuickTime, install Elmedia Player on your Mac. It will play hundreds of formats without needing extra codecs or plugins, delivering you an awesome watching experience.

The best option to watch AVI files is through Elmedia Player. This all-in-one app will make it so easy to open any type of file that you will never need another app again. Here’s how you can open .avi files with Elmedia:

  • Drag and drop the video file straight into the Elmedia window or on its icon in the Dock.
  • Locate the video file, right-click on it and then select Elmedia Player from the list of options you get when clicking "Open With".
  • From inside Elmedia, access the File Menu and then click Open.

There’s only one answer to this question: Elmedia Video Player PRO. Elmedia Player PRO is versatile and it plays AVI files on Mac without needing codec packs or any other additional software. On top of that, this software enables you to download AVI files from the internet, stream them towards Apple TV,Chromecast , Smart TV, or any DLNA-certified and AirPlay device. Elmedia Player PRO is capable of receiving video when streaming from another device, making it a multi-channel streaming software. The infinite settings you can play with regarding the video attributes, audio, subtitles, and playback make Elmedia Player the best solution for playing videos and do many more.

If you’ve ever wondered how to play AVI files on Mac, without installing additional software, here’s a simple way to do that.

Go to https://convert-video-online.com/ and follow these simple steps:

  1. Choose "Open" or the other options to select the file you want to convert.
  2. For video output format, choose "MOV".
  3. Hit "Convert".
  4. Once it’s done converting, download, and start playing your newly converted file.

Yes, Windows 10 can play AVI with Windows Media Player. In fact, you can play multiple other formats as well with PC’s default player. But be sure you’re running the latest version of WMP and have the required codecs, or else you may run into playback issues with certain audio or video files. Alternatively, you can always go third-party like VLC Player, which works perfectly well with PC, too.

Elmedia Player
Requirements: OS X 10.9+ , 59.49MB free space
Version 7.16(2296) (27 Oct, 2020) Release notes
Category: MultimediaApplication
Free website version
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