A class-action lawsuit is a single legal action that involves a large group of similarly affected plaintiffs, and a court needs to certify the class. Class members are bound by the outcome of their case and are prohibited from filing individual claims unless they opt-out of the class.
In MDL, multiple plaintiffs have similar claims but all lawsuits are handled in front of a single judge in a single venue. MDL aims to reduce stress on the court and keep the process as streamlined as possible. Each plaintiff retains control of their individual case in MDL. Whereas an award in a class-action lawsuit is split equally by all of the plaintiffs, MDL allows for each plaintiff to obtain their own individual award.
Determining whether class action or MDL will be best for you will depend on what your priorities are. Speak to an attorney about your case to help determine the best possible option for yourself.