How to Convert AVI to DVD on Windows and Mac in 2026: 6 Best Tools

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) files work fine on a computer, but most standalone DVD players and TVs expect content in the DVD-Video standard: MPEG-2 video structured in a VIDEO_TS folder with its own menu and chapter data. Dropping an AVI file onto a blank disc does not produce that structure. To watch AVI footage on a TV through a DVD player, or to create a physical disc you can share or archive, you need to convert and author it first.

As someone who has spent years working with disc conversion workflows, I tested six AVI to DVD converters to map out which one fits which situation, from full-featured paid tools to free utilities and an online option. This guide covers how each one handles the conversion, what the output quality looks like, and where each tool falls short.

Burn AVI to DVD on Windows & Mac with DVDFab DVD Creator

DVDFab DVD Creator is a dedicated DVD authoring tool that handles the full pipeline: importing AVI (and 200+ other formats), re-encoding to MPEG-2, adding a navigable menu, and burning to disc or saving as an ISO or VIDEO_TS folder. I tested it against several AVI files ranging from standard-definition home footage to 1080p source material, and the output quality held up well at the default bitrate settings. The built-in GPU acceleration noticeably shortens encode time on supported hardware compared to CPU-only tools.

💻 Supported OS: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and macOS 10.13 – 15.x

👍 Key Features:

• Burns popular video formats (including AVI, MKV, MP4, and MOV) to DVD-5 or DVD-9 disc, ISO image, or VIDEO_TS folder.
• GPU-accelerated encoding via NVIDIA CUDA, AMD, and Intel Quick Sync reduces render time significantly on supported hardware.
• Built-in menu library with static and motion templates; background, text, and chapter markers are all customizable.
• Video editor covers trimming, cropping, subtitle embedding, filter effects, watermarks, and audio track management.
• Batch conversion lets you queue multiple AVI files into a single disc project without restarting the workflow.
• Output is watermark-free; generates an .nfo metadata file alongside the disc structure by default.

👎 Limitations:

• Full feature access requires a paid license; the free trial limits output length.
• The menu editor, while capable, takes a few minutes to learn if you have not used DVD authoring software before.

Step 1: Install DVDFab DVD Creator and Import Your AVI

Download and install DVDFab DVD Creator. Open the Creator module, select DVD Creator mode from the top-left switcher, and click the + button to load your AVI file.

Step 2: Set Disc Format, TV Standard, and DVD Menu

Set the disc name, then choose DVD-5 (4.7 GB) or DVD-9 (8.5 GB) depending on how much footage you are burning. Under TV Standard, select NTSC if your DVD player is in North America or Japan, or PAL for Europe and most of Asia. Selecting the wrong standard is the most common reason a burned disc plays on a computer but not on a living room player. Set the aspect ratio to 4:3 or 16:9 to match your source footage.

Browse the menu template library and pick a design. You can swap the background image, edit the title text, and adjust chapter thumbnail positions directly in the preview.

Use the built-in editor to trim unnecessary footage, crop the frame, embed subtitles, or apply color filters and watermarks before finalizing.

Step 3: Preview and Burn to Disc or ISO

Preview the project, then choose your output destination: a blank disc in your drive, an ISO image, or a VIDEO_TS folder. Click Start to begin encoding and burning MKV to DVD.

Convert AVI to DVD with Xilisoft AVI to DVD Converter

Xilisoft AVI to DVD Converter is a dedicated Windows and Mac authoring tool that converts AVI, DivX, and MPEG files to DVD disc, ISO image, or VIDEO_TS folder. The built-in menu editor covers background customization, subtitle tracks, audio selection, and basic clip trimming. It handles the full authoring workflow without requiring third-party software.

Worth noting before you download: Xilisoft's development appears to have stalled in recent years, with no significant updates since the early 2020s. Mac compatibility beyond macOS Mojave (10.14) is unconfirmed, and users on modern macOS versions have reported installation issues. If you are on macOS 12 or later, one of the cross-platform alternatives below is a more reliable choice.

💻 Supported OS: Windows 11/10/8/7 and Mac OS X up to 10.14 (Mojave); compatibility with macOS 11+ is unconfirmed

👍 What it does well:

• Converts AVI and other common video formats to DVD disc, folder, or ISO with a straightforward workflow.
• Menu editor supports background images, audio tracks, subtitle layers, and chapter text in a single panel.
• Multithreading processes multiple titles simultaneously, which reduces total time on large disc projects.

👎 Where it falls short:

• No confirmed compatibility with macOS 11 or later; modern Mac users risk installation failures.
• Trial version imposes an output length cap, limiting how much footage you can test before purchasing.
• Crashes and freezing during the burn process have been reported by users, particularly on longer conversions.

Getting Started with Xilisoft

Convert AVI to DVD Free with Freemake Video Converter

Freemake Video Converter is a free Windows tool that converts AVI and 60+ other video formats to DVD, then burns directly to disc or saves to an ISO. It includes basic DVD menu templates and supports simple editing operations: trim, crop, and rotate. If your goal is a no-cost way to create a disc that plays on a standard DVD player, Freemake covers the basics without requiring a learning curve.

The free version adds a visible watermark to all DVD output. Removing it requires a paid upgrade. Past versions of the installer bundled third-party software, though more recent releases have reduced this; it is still worth using a custom install path and unchecking any optional components during setup.

💻 Supported OS: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7

👍 What it does well:

• Supports 62 input video formats, covering most common AVI variants without codec pre-installation.
• Simple, task-oriented interface: Import, set format, and burn: a three-step workflow with no advanced configuration needed.
• Provides DVD menu templates and basic editing (trim, crop, rotate) in a single free package.

👎 Where it falls short:

• Free output includes a watermark; removing it requires purchasing the full version.
• Lacks advanced DVD authoring features such as chapter markers, custom menu animations, or multi-title disc structure.
• Occasional stability issues reported during longer encode sessions.

Using Freemake's DVD Conversion Mode

Burn AVI to DVD Free with WinX DVD Author (No Watermark)

WinX DVD Author is a free, Windows-only DVD authoring tool that converts AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, and a range of other formats to DVD disc or ISO. It includes basic chapter and menu authoring, and can pull video from certain online sources in addition to local files. For users who want a no-cost, no-watermark solution on Windows and are working with relatively short or simple projects, it is a functional option.

In practice, the interface is noticeably dated and the tool can be unresponsive on longer encodes. I have encountered sluggish startup, occasional burn failures, and access violation errors during testing. These issues appear more frequently with larger files. If reliability matters more than cost, a maintained alternative is worth considering.

💻 Supported OS: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7 (Windows only; no Mac version available)

👍 What it does well:

• Completely free with no watermark on output, a genuine advantage over Freemake for Windows users.
• Supports a range of common video formats without additional codec installs on most Windows setups.
• Includes basic DVD menu customization and chapter authoring for simple disc projects.

👎 Where it falls short:

• Windows only; Mac users have no equivalent from this developer.
• Burn failures and access violation errors occur more frequently with larger or higher-bitrate AVI files.
• Development pace is slow, and some video formats listed as supported may not encode correctly in practice.

Creating a DVD Project in WinX DVD Author

Burn AVI to DVD with AVS Video Converter (Windows Only)

AVS Video Converter is a Windows-only tool that covers video format conversion and DVD authoring in one application. Under the AVS brand, it sits alongside a broader suite of audio, video, and photo editing programs. For AVI to DVD conversion, it provides a dedicated "To DVD" workflow with basic menu design and editing tools, making it a reasonable pick if you are already using other AVS software and want to avoid switching applications.

💻 Supported OS: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7 (Windows only)

👍 What it does well:

• Supports a wide range of input video formats, including AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, and WMV.
• Batch conversion lets you queue multiple video files and process them in a single session.
• Integrates with the broader AVS software suite, useful if you already have AVS tools installed for audio or photo work.
• Built-in editing panel covers trimming, menu creation, and basic chapter adjustments before burning.

👎 Where it falls short:

• No Mac version is available at any tier.
• The free trial adds a watermark to converted output; a subscription is needed for clean output.
• Occasional crashes have been reported during longer encode sessions.

The AVS Video Converter DVD Workflow

Convert AVI to DVD Online with ZamZar

ZamZar is a browser-based file conversion service that converts AVI files to a DVD-compatible MPEG-2 format without installing any software. It supports hundreds of input formats and sends the converted file to your browser for download once processing is complete.

One important limitation to understand before uploading: ZamZar converts the video stream to a DVD-compatible format, but it does not create a playable DVD disc. You still need a separate burning tool to author menus, set NTSC/PAL, and write the VIDEO_TS structure to disc. ZamZar is most useful if you only need the converted file for further processing, not as a one-step solution to get a disc that plays on a TV.

👍 What it does well:

• It converts files entirely in-browser on any operating system.
• Supports a broad range of input formats beyond AVI, useful if you have mixed-format source files.
• Straightforward three-step workflow: upload, select output format, download.

👎 Where it falls short:

• Does not burn to a physical disc or create DVD menus, or VIDEO_TS structure; a separate authoring step is needed to burn a DVD.
• Free tier has a file size cap; larger AVI files require a paid plan.
• Processing speed is slower than desktop tools, particularly for large files on a slower connection.

AVI to DVD Converter Comparison

The table below covers the six tools across the dimensions that matter most for an AVI to DVD project. Speed ratings are relative (on the same test machine with GPU acceleration where supported); price reflects the entry-level paid tier as of mid-2026.

DVDFab DVD Creator and Xilisoft are the only desktop options that run on Mac. On the free-tier watermark question, WinX DVD Author is the only tool in the table that produces clean output at no cost.

Speed separates DVDFab from the rest: GPU acceleration puts it in a different class for batch work, while the other four desktop tools rate as moderate on the same hardware. ZamZar sits apart from all five desktop tools: it converts the video stream but produces no disc structure, menu, or chapter data.

FAQs

Conclusion

Converting AVI to DVD is straightforward once you match the tool to your situation. The main split is between cross-platform tools with full authoring features and free Windows-only utilities with basic capabilities.

Choose DVDFab DVD Creator if you need Mac support, GPU-accelerated batch processing, or motion menu templates; it is the only tool in this list that covers all three. Choose WinX DVD Author if you are on Windows and need a no-cost, watermark-free result for a small project and can accept occasional reliability limitations. Choose Freemake if you want a simple free workflow and the watermark in the trial is not a concern.