# Compare image import and instance import processes in VM Import/Export
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The following table summarizes the key differences between image import and instance import.


| Characteristic | Image import (Recommended) | Instance import | 
| --- | --- | --- | 
|  CLI support  |  Amazon CLI  |  Amazon EC2 CLI  | 
|  Supported formats for import  |  OVA, VHD, VHDX, VMDK, raw  |  VHD, VMDK, raw  | 
|  Multi-disk support  |  ✔  |    | 
|  Windows BYOL support  |  ✔  |    | 

For additional information on these import processes, see [Image import overview](image-import.md) and [Instance import overview](instance-import.md).