5 Top AVI to DVD Converters for Windows and Mac [2026]

When I need an AVI video to play on a living-room DVD player, copying the original file to a blank disc is not enough. An AVI to DVD converter must create a DVD-Video disc with compatible video, audio, and navigation files. Before choosing software, I have to decide whether the result should be a playable disc, an ISO image for later burning, or simply a data backup.

In this comparison, I reviewed the published input formats, DVD output options, menu controls, operating-system requirements, and free-use restrictions of five desktop programs. I use those differences to recommend an AVI to DVD converter for each task, then explain how to author a disc and check playback.

Best AVI to DVD Converters: Quick Comparison

All five desktop tools below can turn AVI video into DVD-compatible content, but they differ in platform support, free-use restrictions, and menu controls.

Before installing any program, confirm that it creates DVD-Video, not merely a converted MPEG file or a data disc containing the original AVI. This distinction determines whether a conventional DVD player can recognize the result.

How to Convert AVI to DVD with DVDFab DVD Creator - Professional Option

DVDFab DVD Creator is a DVD authoring program that turns AVI footage into a DVD-Video disc, ISO image, or DVD folder. It accepts AVI alongside common video formats such as MP4 and MKV, then creates the video files and navigation structure required for DVD playback. You can combine several AVI clips in one project, arrange their order, and add a menu to help viewers find each title.

The main difference from a basic free burner is the editing available before authoring. You can trim or crop footage, adjust the picture, import subtitles, and customize menu backgrounds, text, thumbnails, and playback buttons without preparing the clips in a separate editor. These controls matter for projects with several videos or a menu that needs more than a preset layout.

Supported OS: 

Pros:

• Burns AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, and other video formats to DVD-5 or DVD-9 disc, ISO image, or DVD folder.
• Provides customizable DVD menus with editable backgrounds, text, thumbnails, and navigation buttons.
• Includes trimming, cropping, subtitle editing, filters, and picture adjustments before burning.
• Combines multiple AVI clips in one DVD project and lets you arrange their playback order.
• Supports hardware-accelerated encoding on compatible systems.

Cons:

• Continued full-feature use requires a paid license after the evaluation period.
• The detailed menu and video-editing controls take more setup than a basic DVD burner.

Step 1: Import Your AVI File

Install DVDFab, open Creator > DVD Creator, and click Add or the + button to import your AVI video. You can also drag the file into the main window.

Add more AVI clips to the same project if you want several videos on one disc. Arrange their playback order and check that the software identifies the source duration and audio correctly before adjusting the output.

Step 2: Choose DVD Settings and Customize the Menu

Open Advanced Settings and select DVD-5 (4.7 GB) or DVD-9 (8.5 GB). Choose the size that matches your blank disc and gives the project enough space. Set the aspect ratio to 4:3 or 16:9 and select the TV standard supported by the intended DVD player.

NTSC is common in North America and Japan, while PAL is common in much of Europe. The player's supported standards matter more than its location alone.

Open Menu Settings, choose a template, and adjust the background, title text, thumbnails, or navigation elements as needed. Preview the menu and chapter order before burning.

Use the editor if you need to trim the video, crop its frame, adjust picture settings, or add external SRT or ASS subtitles. For more subtitle options, see how to burn a DVD with subtitles.

Step 3: Preview and Burn AVI to DVD or ISO

Choose the output destination in the Save to area. Select your DVD writer to burn a blank disc, or choose ISO or folder output to save the authored DVD on your computer. Saving an ISO or folder does not require a physical disc at this stage.

Preview the project and click Start. Keep the DVD writer connected until burning finishes. Check the finished disc in the intended player, including menu navigation, chapter order, audio, and subtitles.

Free AVI to DVD Converters for Windows and Mac

A paid professional DVD creator is not necessary for every AVI file. If your main task is to create a playable DVD with a basic menu, free authoring software may provide everything you need.

DVDStyler — Free Open-Source DVD Authoring

DVDStyler is a free, open-source AVI to DVD converter for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its strength is DVD authoring: the program can create a DVD-Video disc or ISO image, combine multiple titles, and build menus with customized buttons, backgrounds, and navigation links. It also supports multiple audio and subtitle tracks.

DVDStyler is especially useful when you want to make a DVD with a menu but do not need a separate paid editor. Unlike a simple file converter, it allows you to add and edit chapter points so viewers can jump to scenes. The current stable release is 3.2.1, and the Mac installer requires macOS 10.15 or later. It does not offer the same range of built-in video editing as DVDFab; trim or color-correct your AVI beforehand if needed.

Pros:

• Free and open source.
• Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Creates interactive DVD menus.
• Supports multiple audio and subtitle tracks.
• Accepts AVI and other common video formats.

Cons:

• It focuses on DVD structure and menu authoring rather than full video editing.

How to Convert AVI to DVD with DVDStyler

1. Step 1: Create a DVD project. Open DVDStyler and choose DVD-5 or DVD-9, the aspect ratio, and the PAL or NTSC setting supported by your player.
2. Step 2: Add the AVI footage. Import the AVI file, arrange multiple titles if needed, and set chapter points for scene navigation.
3. Step 3: Design the menu. Select a menu template or customize its background, buttons, and title text. Check that menu buttons point to the intended titles or chapters.
4. Step 4: Create the DVD. Preview the project, then use the burn function to create a physical DVD or save an ISO image for later burning.

Mac users who need more details about optical drives and blank media can consult this guide to burn a DVD on Mac.

WinX DVD Author — Free Windows DVD Burner Without Watermarks

WinX DVD Author is a Windows-only, free DVD-authoring program that can turn AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, and other videos into a DVD-Video disc. It creates title and chapter menus, and its free output does not include a watermark. The program also offers basic trimming and cropping, subtitle import, aspect-ratio settings, and menu backgrounds with text or music.

WinX is a sensible choice for a simple family-video DVD when you have a Windows PC and want menu navigation without buying software. Its authoring controls cover the essentials, though the menu layouts are less flexible than tools intended for more elaborate DVD projects. The official technical specifications list DVD disc, DVD folder, and VOB output, but not ISO-image creation.

Pros:

• Free without output watermarks.
• Supports AVI and other common video sources.
• Provides title and chapter menus, subtitles, and PAL/NTSC settings.
• Includes basic trimming, cropping, cutting, and resolution controls.
• Can save DVD-folder or VOB output before disc burning.

Cons:

• Windows only.
• It does not offer ISO image creation as a listed output option.

How to Convert AVI to DVD with WinX DVD Author

1. Step 1: Load the AVI video. Launch WinX and choose Video DVD Author. Click Add File (+) to import one or more AVI clips.
2. Step 2: Arrange and edit. Put clips in playback order and adjust subtitles, trimming, cropping, or aspect ratio as needed. Click Next to continue.
3. Step 3: Set up the DVD menu. Choose a title and chapter menu design. Edit the background image, text, or music to match the project.
4. Step 4: Create the disc. Select PAL or NTSC, confirm the output folder and writer settings, and click Start. Check the finished disc in your player.

Other Video Converters with AVI to DVD Feature

Freemake Video Converter and AVS Video Converter also support AVI-to-DVD projects on Windows. Both are relevant if you already use their editing functions, but their free-use conditions are different from DVDStyler and WinX.

Freemake Video Converter

Freemake Video Converter is primarily a Windows video converter, but it also includes a to DVD option for turning AVI and other video files into playable DVD-Video. You can choose a DVD menu template, set the aspect ratio and TV standard, and write the project to a disc or save it as an ISO or DVD folder. Simple cutting, joining, and rotation tools are available before conversion.

Its biggest consideration is the free version: Freemake branding appears in the output unless you purchase the Remove Branding pack. Custom menu backgrounds also require a paid pack. The software can create automatic chapters, but it is not the better choice if you need detailed manual chapter control or watermark-free output at no cost.

Pros:

• Supports AVI and a broad range of other video formats.
• Provides DVD menu and PAL/NTSC settings.
• Can burn a DVD or save the project as an ISO image or DVD folder.
• Includes basic cut, join, and rotate functions.

Cons:

• Free output includes Freemake branding.
• Removing the logo requires the paid Remove Branding pack.
• Some custom menu functions, including custom backgrounds, require a paid pack.
• Windows only.

How to Convert AVI to DVD with Freemake

1. Step 1: Import the videos. Open Freemake and click +Video to add one or more AVI files.
2. Step 2: Select DVD output. Click to DVD and enter the disc title.
3. Step 3: Choose the menu and TV standard. Select a menu style, aspect ratio, and PAL or NTSC setting. Check which customizations require a paid pack.
4. Step 4: Burn or save. Choose the DVD writer, ISO file, or DVD folder destination, then click Convert.

AVS Video Converter

AVS Video Converter is a Windows program with a dedicated To DVD mode. Unlike a basic DVD burner, it lets you place chapter points manually or automatically, make a single-level disc menu, and adjust the video before creating the DVD files. This gives more control over a long AVI recording or a collection of short clips that need chapter navigation.

The program can create the VIDEO_TS files and pass them to a disc-burning step. Its menu editor supports a title, background picture, music, and chapter layout, but not multilevel menus. The unactivated version adds a watermark to output; users should check that limitation before processing a long project.

Pros:

• Provides a dedicated To DVD mode for AVI files.
• Can combine several AVI files in one DVD project.
• Supports PAL/NTSC, external subtitles, and aspect correction.
• Provides manual or automatic chapter creation and DVD menus.
• Can verify the written disc after burning.

Cons:

• Windows only.
• The unactivated version adds a watermark to video output.
• DVD menus are limited to a single-level structure.

How to Convert AVI to DVD with AVS Video Converter

1. Step 1: Import AVI files. Open AVS, select To DVD, and use the upper Browse button to add your video.
2. Step 2: Set the DVD output. Choose a DVD profile, check the aspect ratio and PAL or NTSC setting, and use the lower Browse button to select the output folder.
3. Step 3: Edit chapters and menus. Open Edit or Menu, add chapter points manually or at intervals, and customize the disc menu.
4. Step 4: Convert and burn. Click Convert Now!. Once the DVD files are created, choose Burn to Disc to write them to blank media; select disc verification if the burning utility offers it.

What About Older AVI to DVD Converters?

• Xilisoft AVI to DVD Converter is a dedicated application that can create DVD-Video, DVD folders, and ISO images from AVI. It has separate Windows and Mac editions; confirm the exact edition's requirements rather than assuming a different Xilisoft DVD application has the same macOS support.
• DVD Flick is a free Windows DVD-authoring program with support for AVI and older video codecs. Its latest official version remains 1.3.0.7, and its listed system requirements stop at Windows 7.
• WinAVI AVI to DVD Converter is another older dedicated product, but users should check its current availability and operating-system compatibility before relying on legacy instructions.

AVI to DVD Settings and Playback Troubleshooting

A DVD may finish burning without giving the playback result you expected. The first things to check are DVD-Video structure, the video standard, disc capacity, and the compatibility of the writer and player.

AVI vs. DVD-Video: Why Conversion Is Necessary

AVI is a multimedia container, not one fixed video codec. Different AVI files may hold DivX, Xvid, MPEG-4, DV, Motion JPEG, or other types of video. A conventional DVD-Video disc instead requires DVD-compatible MPEG-2 video and organized navigation files, normally in a VIDEO_TS folder.

Copying an AVI file directly onto a blank DVD creates a data disc, not a DVD-Video disc. Some players can read AVI data discs if they support the particular codec inside the file, but that is separate from standard DVD-Video playback. For wider compatibility with conventional DVD players, author the video as DVD-Video and keep the original AVI separately.

DVD-5 vs. DVD-9 and PAL vs. NTSC

Choose DVD-5 or DVD-9 based on the finished DVD project size, not the size of the original AVI. DVD-5 provides 4.7 GB of nominal capacity, while dual-layer DVD-9 provides 8.5 GB. The result depends on the total running time, encoded video and audio bitrates, and additional DVD content. DVD-9 leaves more room for long videos before bitrate reduction becomes necessary.

PAL and NTSC use different DVD video dimensions and timing. NTSC DVD-Video commonly uses 720 × 480 resolution, and PAL uses 720 × 576. Select the standard supported by the target DVD player. If the source is 720p or 1080p, normal DVD-Video authoring reduces it to standard definition; higher output bitrate can preserve more detail within that limit but cannot retain HD resolution.

Why Your Burned AVI DVD Won't Play

1. Inspect the disc structure. If the disc only holds an .avi file, it is a data DVD. Author a DVD-Video project instead.
2. Check the player's PAL/NTSC support. Use a DVD standard supported by the actual player rather than selecting it solely by country.
3. Check the media. Confirm that the DVD writer and player support the chosen DVD-R, DVD+R, or dual-layer disc.
4. Confirm burning completed. An interrupted burn or an unfinalized disc can fail in standalone hardware.
5. Test the authored project. If a menu works but video or sound fails, inspect the encoded output, selected audio, and menu navigation before burning another disc.
6. Compare ISO and physical playback. If the ISO plays correctly but the disc fails, try compatible blank media or a different write speed.

An online converter may change AVI into MPEG or another video format, but that file alone does not contain the authored DVD menus, navigation files, and VIDEO_TS structure required for ordinary DVD-Video playback.

Use video you own or have permission to copy, and follow applicable local copyright laws.

Conclusion

The right AVI to DVD converter depends on your operating system, free-use requirements, and the amount of disc-authoring control you need. DVDStyler provides free authoring for Windows, Mac, and Linux, while WinX DVD Author offers free, watermark-free Windows DVD creation.

DVDFab DVD Creator adds video editing, customizable menus, and disc, ISO, or folder output for more involved projects. Freemake and AVS provide other Windows options with free-use restrictions to check. For reliable standalone-player playback, make DVD-Video rather than a data disc, match the TV standard and blank media to the player, and test the finished DVD before making more copies.