Abstract The commutation strategy is the important content of matrix converter industrial application, for it not only affects the converter safe operation, but also is closely related to the input and output performance. In this paper, the matrix converter and the three-level inverter are compared on the perspective of three-level, the relationship between them is studied, and the logical correspondence of switch tubes in two topologies is established. By analyzing the switching sequence of the three-level inverter and equivalent the clamping diode, the two-step voltage-controlled commutation strategy is obtained, which proves the equivalence between the matrix converter and three-level inverter.