9 Best Free Video Converters for PC and Mac (Compared)

I often see people online asking for recommendations on the best free video converter – and for good reason. Converting videos between different formats is something we all need to do, whether it's for sharing, editing, or ensuring a video play on a particular device.

However, not everyone can justify paying for premium video converter software, especially when you're new to video editing or working with a tight budget. Free video converters solve this by offering essential functions without the cost. But with so many options available, it's tough to identify which ones are truly reliable, user-friendly, and worth your time.

To help with this, I've tested and compared the top video converters for 2025, evaluating each based on speed, output size, and video quality. I understand the frustration of slow conversions, confusing interfaces, and pixelated results, which is why my recommendations are backed by objective data and hands-on experience. Dive in to find out which converters, whether for MP4, H.264, or general video needs, offer the best results without compromise.

💡 A note on paid and free video converters: While this list focuses on "free" options, remember most free video converters have limitations like restricted formats, potential quality loss, or higher CPU usage. For advanced features (e.g., 4K conversion) or faster processing, a one-time purchase of an affordable premium option can offer significant advantages. I've included a mix of genuinely free tools and highly-rated premium software with generous free trials to help you find the perfect fit.

What Is a Video Converter

Simply put, a video converter is software that changes a video file from one format to another. This is essential for ensuring your videos can be played on various devices, media players, and platforms, while also allowing you to optimize file size and quality. Beyond basic format changes, modern converters often include tools for compression, audio conversion, and adjusting technical settings like bitrate or frame rate.

How I Objectively Evaluate Video Converters

To ensure objective results, I subjected each video converter to standardized testing, assessing speed, file size, and quality based on consistent parameters. While factors like source files, settings, or hardware can influence performance, my testing provides a reliable benchmark for comparing converters. I used "High Qualityquot; or quot;Recommended " presets, and hardware acceleration may impact speed, but the results reflect the software versions available at the time.

Test Environment

• Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit).
• Processor (CPU): 13rg Gen Intel ® Core ™ i7-13700K, 3.42GHz.
• Graphics Card (GPU): AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with Radeon Vega Graphics.
• Memory (RAM): 32.0GB (31.8GB Available).
• Test file: 58MB, 13s 4K UHD @30fps HEVC (H.265) MOV video, recorded with iPhone 16.
• Background processes were minimized to dedicate system resources to the conversion task.

Testing Settings

• Settings Approach: I prioritized using a direct preset when one was available. I'll specify the exact preset in my reviews. Otherwise, I manually adjusted parameters to meet the target format, leaving advanced settings at their defaults to simulate a typical user experience.
• Video Settings: I applied a CRF of 23 when possible, or selected the "High Quality" or "Recommended" preset.
• Audio Settings: Audio was consistently set to AAC Stereo, 192 kbps, or matched the source when applicable.

Top Video Converters: A Quick Comparison (Performance Data)

This table provides a concise comparison of several popular video converters, based on my hands-on testing. You can quickly see a breakdown of key metrics, including their pricing model, supported input/output formats, and my performance data on the video conversion time, output file size, and video quality. The chart also includes my assessment of each tool's ease of use and a general expert rating from a third-party source.

🏆 = Best performer in its category

Metrics I Measured

• Cost Time (seconds): Shorter times are better.
• Output File Size (MB): Reflects compression efficiency at chosen quality.
• Output Quality: Experts rated visual quality (clarity, color, motion smoothness, compression artifacts) on a scale from Excellent to Poor.

9 Best Video Converters List (with Hands-on Review)

1. VideoProc Converter AI - My Top Pick for Overall Performance

Overview: VideoProc Converter AI is the best video converter software for Windows and macOS computers. It can convert any of around 370+ media formats to your choices of 420+ output formats. Namely, you can use it to convert MKV to MP4, MOV to MP4/MPEG, YouTube to WAV, MP4 to MP3, MP4 to AVI/WMV, H264 to H265, MTS to MP4, and even DVDs to digital in just 1 click.

Thanks to advanced level-3 GPU acceleration and other tech like hyper-threading and AMD "3DNow" tech, VideoProc Converter AI is incredibly fast, converting videos up to 47x faster than real-time by fully leveraging your hardware. It's very low CPU usage means you can easily multitask, like emailing or watching videos, during transcoding.

No worry about quality loss anymore! Using next-gen encoding tech and smart compression methods, this video converter retains 99% original quality while shrinking size by 90%. It intelligently handles compression to ensure your videos look great. It also features Auto Copy, a unique function that lets you quickly change video format containers (remux) without re-encoding or losing any quality.

The best part is its comprehensive suite of powerful AI features. These include AI Super Resolution for upscaling videos to 4K with enhanced details, Frame Interpolation for converting frame rates up to 480FPS for ultra-smooth viewing, and even face restoration (for images) and colorization (for images). These advanced AI capabilities make VideoProc Converter AI exceptionally versatile for both modern and legacy media.

Pros:

• Feed in, (batch) convert, and export to almost any format you can imagine.
• Automate the conversion process with presets for YouTube, iPhone, Apple TV, Sony PS5, Xbox, DVD…
• Minimizes quality loss with advanced encoding options: video remux, 2-pass encoding, and x265 high entropy codec.
• Allow you to select the needed chapters, language tracks, and subtitles when converting DVDs.
• The fastest video converter. Up to 47x faster conversion speed while not slowing down your computer.
• New AI features to enhance videos and images: AI Super Resolution, Frame Interpolation, Stabilization...
• Also functions as a video downloader, video compressor, and video editor.

Cons:

• Primarily a paid software (with a free trial for short videos).
• It cannot be used for converting image files.
• It only runs on Windows 7/8/10/11 and Mac.

How Is It Performance in Practice

⚡ Quick Performance Breakdown:

• Speed: 2.5 seconds (Winner 🏆 vs. 10-25s average).
• Quality: No visible loss (Retained original detail via High Quality Engine).
• CPU Usage: Only 2-5% (No lag while multitasking).

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, VideoProc Converter AI completed the task in an astonishing 2.5 seconds, producing an output file size of 23.7MB with no noticeable quality loss. This demonstrates its superior speed and efficiency.

For a more practical scenario, converting my 46-second iPhone HEVC 4K test clip (99.6 MB) to a 1080p H.264 MP4 file took just under 15 seconds on my test system, fully leveraging its Level-3 GPU acceleration. Crucially, during this process, I found CPU usage remained remarkably low, hovering around 2-5%, allowing me to easily multitask without slowdowns – a stark contrast to many other converters I tested.

2. Any Video Converter Free - Best for a Plenty of Audio Special Effects

Overview: Any Video Converter Free is a versatile software that combines a video converter, a video cutter, a video cutter, and a few other quick tools into one package. It can import popular video formats and enables you to choose streaming-friendly and highly compressed codecs such as HEVC and VP9 for output. This enables you to convert your videos for faster streaming on social media and video-sharing platforms. You're allowed to choose the operating system on which you intend to play the video. However, this free video converter provides limited choices in this regard, allowing you to select only Windows, Android, or iOS.

This one of the best video file format converters lets you customize various video properties, including the codec, frame rate, and encoding settings. However, our observations indicate that you don't have many codec options to choose from. For instance, when converting video files to MOV format, your choices are limited to auto or H264 as the video codec, with popular codecs like ProRes and MPEG4 not being available. Similarly, for WebM, it only supports VP9, and for MP4, MPEG4 is not supported, while AVI exports are limited to Xvid. It's important to note that Any Video Converter Free is just the trial version, so it comes with certain limitations, such as not supporting downloading or recording videos in HD 1080P resolution, and restricting you from merging more than five videos into a single file.

Pros:

• Straightforward and visually appealing UI design, making it easy to use.
• Can increase video resolution to over 200% of the original.
• Allows adjustment of video frame rate, constant quality, and more.
• Supports GPU acceleration for faster conversion (up to 5x faster).
• Combines video conversion with basic cutting and merging tools.

Cons:

• Noticeable quality loss in exported videos, even at high-quality settings.
• Cannot convert videos to editing-friendly formats like ProRes, and lacks support for specific codecs like MPEG4 for MP4 or Xvid for AVI.
• Cannot preview the original video before conversion.
• Cannot specify the bitrate, limiting fine control over output file size and quality.
• Free version has significant limitations (e.g., no 1080P download/recording, merge limit).

How Is It Performance in Practice

⚡ Quick Performance Breakdown:

• Speed: 6.41 seconds (Slower).
• Quality: Noticeable pixelation in fast-moving scenes.
• CPU Usage: 67% (High - May slow down other apps).

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, Any Video Converter Free completed the task in 6.41 seconds, producing an output file size of 30.5MB. During this process, CPU usage was observed at 67%.

Any Video Converter Free can make use of the GPU to encode full HD videos, which can accelerate the conversion process to up to 8X faster than real-time play. I tested that by converting an 1:40s of HEVC video recorded by iPhone to MP4 H.264, and it took around 40 minutes to complete the conversion, which was fast. However, the quality of the exported video looked bad. I chose 5 (lossless, maximum quality) as the constant quality, but the output looked pixelated and washed out, indicating a noticeable quality loss despite the settings.

3. FFmpeg - Best Free Video Converter for a Wide Range of Supported Video Formats

Overview: The fact is the majority of the open source and commercial video converters in the market are taking FFmpeg behind the scenes. Therefore, I'm very satisfied with what this best video format converter can do in terms of conversion capabilities.

It essentially can change video formats of all sorts, the supported input video codecs range from ISO disc images, MP4 (H.261/H.262, MPEG 4 Part 2, etc.), AMD/ATI (ATI VCR1/VCR2) to MOV (Cinepak, ProRes, QuickTime Animation, QuickTime Graphics, etc.), Avid, ASV… However, just because it is capable of doing everything doesn't mean everyone can benefit from this powerful video converter.

FFmpeg is the best free video converter software for advanced users or engineers who know a command-line environment. It doesn't come with a GUI. So you can't convert videos with simple clicks as you're doing with VideoProc Converter AI or other paid or free video converters.

Pros:

• Gives you the complete freedom to convert almost any video and audio format imaginable.
• It's a free video converter for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• The backbone for many other video conversion tools, ensuring robust performance.
• Can leverage hardware acceleration for faster encoding.

Cons:

• Requires deep knowledge of command-line syntax, codecs, and parameters, making it challenging for beginners.
• All operations are command-line based, lacking the intuitive visual interaction of other converters.
• Achieving desired results often requires extensive experimentation and research.

How Is It Performance in Practice

⚡ Quick Performance Breakdown:

• Speed: 9 seconds (Average).
• Quality: Good (Depends on command line settings).
• CPU Usage: 46% (Moderate).

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, FFmpeg completed the task in 9 seconds, producing an output file size of 24.3MB with acceptable quality loss. CPU usage during this test was 46%.

Testing FFmpeg's performance is inherently tricky because it entirely depends on the specific commands used and the system's hardware. There's no simple "drag and drop and hit convert" here. For example, when I converted my 46-second iPhone HEVC 4K test clip to 1080p H.264 using a standard ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium -c:a copy output.mp4 command, it took around 30 seconds on my test system, with moderate CPU usage (around 40-60%). I found the quality was good, comparable to HandBrake at similar settings. However, achieving optimal speed and quality with this open-source video converter requires deep knowledge of codecs, parameters, and command syntax – it's a tool where the user's expertise heavily influences the outcome.

4. Movavi Video Converter - Best for Beginners Looking for a Simple Video Converter

Overview: Movavi Video Converter is a user-friendly video converter that allows you to convert your videos quickly and easily. It supports a wide range of input and output formats, including popular ones like MP4, AVI, and MKV. The software also has pre-configured conversion settings for specific devices like smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles.

One unique feature of Movavi Video Converter is its SuperSpeed mode, which utilizes advanced technology to convert videos at a lightning-fast speed. The only downside to this feature is that it's only available for converting to the same codec and resolution as the original file. Additionally, the software also has a batch conversion feature that lets you convert multiple videos simultaneously.

Movavi Video Converter also includes a built-in editor where you can trim and crop videos, adjust color, add filters, or apply watermarks and subtitles. You can also use AI Upscaling to enhance the quality of your videos by increasing their resolution.

Pros:

• Simple and beginner-friendly design.
• Support a wide range of input and output formats.
• Include advanced features like SuperSpeed mode and AI Upscaling.
• Provide basic editing tools.

Cons:

• Adds a watermark to the output file in the free trial version.
• Large video files may take a long time to convert.

How Is It Performance in Practice

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, Movavi Video Converter completed the task in 10.5 seconds, producing an output file size of 24.8MB with acceptable quality loss. CPU usage during this test was 38%.

During my testing, it proved to be a fast and efficient video converter. It took about 10 seconds to convert a 1-minute video from MP4 to MKV. However, the upscaling process was too long and didn't produce as significant of a change in quality as I had hoped. Overall, this is a great choice for beginners and those looking for a simple video converter with a bonus editing feature.

5. Avidemux - Best Free Video Converter for Basic Editing Features

Overview: Avidemux is a free, open-source video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering, and encoding tasks. While primarily known for its editing functionalities, particularly its ability to perform direct stream copies (lossless cutting and joining without re-encoding), it also includes robust conversion capabilities. It supports a wide range of video and audio formats, making it a versatile tool for basic video manipulation and format transcoding.

Avidemux's interface is functional but can feel a bit dated and less intuitive compared to modern video software. However, for users who need to quickly trim a video, apply a basic filter, or change its container format without re-encoding, it excels. When it comes to full re-encoding (converting from one codec to another), it offers a decent selection of codecs and configuration options, though it might not be as fast or feature-rich as dedicated converters. It's a solid choice for users who need a free, cross-platform tool that combines basic editing with reliable conversion.

Pros:

• No cost, no watermarks, and actively maintained.
• This free video converter is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Excellent for direct stream copying (cutting/joining) without re-encoding, preserving original quality.
• Handles a good range of input and output video and audio formats.
• Useful for simple tasks like cutting, filtering, and re-muxing.
• When re-encoding, it generally produces good quality output.

Cons:

• Re-encoding can be significantly slower than dedicated converters, especially for larger files.
• Can be challenging for beginners to navigate, especially for transcoding tasks.
• Lacks the comprehensive control and advanced options found in professional converters.
• Does not leverage GPU acceleration, relying solely on CPU, which contributes to slower speeds.
• It's workflow is more geared towards editing, which might feel less streamlined for pure conversion needs.

How Is It Performance in Practice

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, Avidemux completed the task in 25.3 seconds, producing an output file size of 26.0MB with no perceptible quality loss. CPU usage during this test was 55%.

When I tested Avidemux by converting my 46-second iPhone HEVC 4K test clip to 1080p H.264 MP4, it took around 50 seconds on my test system. CPU usage during this process was consistently around 60-70%. The output quality was good, maintaining most of the original detail, but it wasn't quite as sharp or pristine as the results from dedicated converters like Shutter Encoder or Xmedia Recode. It felt a bit clunky to navigate the conversion settings, reinforcing the impression that its primary strength lies in its editing capabilities, especially direct stream copy, rather than being a pure conversion powerhouse.

6. HandBrake - Best Free Video Converter for Cross-platform Users

Overview: One of the best free video converters is HandBrake. This is a professional video conversion software that can output videos from multiple video formats (MP4, MKV, AVI, TS, M2TS) as well as digitize Blu-ray and DVDs to MKV, MP4, and WebM formats. It also provides beginners with presets for quick conversion but still comes with tons of options for advanced users to customize the video bitrate, frame rate, resolution, and other properties.

The support of modern GPU encoding is a big plus as it can accelerate the whole conversion process at a speed of 2x to 3x faster than real-time playback. And the adopted x265 encoding enables HandBrake to generate high-quality videos without taking up large storage space.

HandBrake is a cross-platform and open-source video converter which means you can utilize it on Windows, Mac, and Linux and get access to all incredible features without having to pay a dime.

Pros:

• No cost, no watermarks, and actively developed by a community.
• Basic editing toolkits including cut, crop, subtitle, filter…
• Completely free with GPU acceleration supported now.
• Flexible video parameter settings, even in command lines.

Cons:

• Unstable with errors, despite being constantly updated.
• Won't convert encrypted DVDs.
• Good for experienced users, but not friendly enough for beginners.
• Can only convert to MP4, MKV, and WebM, which might not cover all niche requirements.
• Software encoding for large files can be time-consuming without leveraging hardware acceleration.

How Is It Performance in Practice

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, HandBrake completed the task in 12.3 seconds, producing an output file size of 25.1MB with acceptable quality loss. CPU usage during this test was 55%.

HandBrake's speed in my testing varied significantly depending on the encoding preset I chose. Converting my 4K HEVC test clip to 1080p H.264 took over 90 seconds using the 'Fast 1080p 30P' preset, but improved to 36 seconds when I switched to 'Very Fast 1080P'.

While it can be reasonably fast with optimized settings and GPU acceleration enabled, I found it often consumed a high percentage of my CPU resources (often over 90%), making my system sluggish. Attempting to convert my 7.26GB ISO file was problematic; it took a lengthy 2.8 hours to complete, and I experienced failures where it didn't scan all titles correctly on my initial attempts.

The interface, while powerful, felt complex and less intuitive than paid options like VideoProc Converter AI or Movavi, making it better suited for users who are comfortable with technical settings and don't mind a steeper learning curve.

7. VLC - Best Free Video Converter for Batch Conversion

Overview: Did you know that you might already have one of the best video file converter installed on your computer? And its name is VLC media player. Most of us know this amazing program as a free media player developed by VideoLan that can play a variety of media including some videos that are unrecognizable on other players. But few know VLC is a versatile video converter that can batch convert videos in HEVC, VC-D, VP3/VP5/VP6/VP8, WMV, DVD, MPEG-1/2, and tons of codecs, regardless of the container formats.

VLC's conversion interface is somewhat basic and less intuitive than dedicated video converters, but it gets the job done for common formats. It supports a decent range of input and output formats, though its strength lies more in its universal playback than in advanced conversion features. It's a practical choice for users who need to convert a file occasionally without downloading additional software, but it's not designed for batch processing or high-volume, high-quality conversions.

Pros:

• No cost, no watermarks, and widely available.
• Available on virtually all operating systems and mobile devices.
• No need to download separate software if you already use VLC for playback.
• Can play almost any media file, making it a versatile tool.
• Adequate for converting small files to common formats.

Cons:

• Lack support for latest codecs (AV1, VP9) and editing-friendly formats (ProRes).
• Output quality can be significantly degraded, with loss of detail and potential artifacts.
• Lacks advanced controls for codecs, bitrate, or filters.
• The conversion interface is less intuitive and somewhat hidden compared to its playback features.
• Can consume significant system resources during conversion.

How Is It Performance in Practice

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, VLC Media Player completed the task in 28.7 seconds, producing an output file size of 26.5MB with noticeable quality loss. CPU usage during this test was 62%.

When I tested VLC by converting my 46-second iPhone HEVC 4K test clip to 1080p H.264 MP4, it took a surprisingly long time, around 1 minute and 15 seconds on my test system. During this process, CPU usage was consistently high, often peaking at 80-90%. The output quality was noticeably degraded, with a significant loss of detail and some visible artifacts, especially in areas with fine textures. This confirms that while VLC can convert, it's not optimized for speed or high-fidelity output, particularly with larger or higher-resolution files. It's best suited for very small, non-critical conversions where convenience outweighs quality and speed.

8. Shutter Encoder - Best Free Video Converter for Plenty of Editing Options

Overview: If you are looking for the best file converter software with useful video editing capabilities, then you'd love Shutter Encoder. It is chock full of integrated features, allowing you to convert video codecs from one to another, burn subtitles to your videos, trim/crop footage, download web videos/music, record your screens, and more.

Shutter Encoder packs all necessary conversion options that can satisfy a seasoned user's demand. Thanks to the well-categorized codec list and the simplified interface, it doesn't require newbies much effort to utilize the full potential of Shutter Encoder to convert videos for editing, broadcasting, or other purposes.

Many paid video converters support only Windows and Mac. Open-source video converter freeware are very compatible but usually come with a bit of out-of-date features and UI design. This made the cross-platform Shutter Encoder a perfect option for Linux and Ubuntu users.

Pros:

• Professional features without any cost or watermarks.
• Capable of converting with virtually no perceptible quality loss, ideal for professional workflows.
• Handles a vast array of video, audio, and image formats, including professional codecs.
• Beyond conversion, offers cutting, joining, rewrapping, burning subtitles, and more.
• Well-organized interface despite its advanced capabilities.

Cons:

• While intuitive for pros, new users might find the sheer number of options overwhelming.
• Lacks advanced AI-powered enhancements like upscaling or frame interpolation.

How Is It Performance in Practice

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, Shutter Encoder completed the task in 11.8 seconds, producing an output file size of 25.0MB with no perceptible quality loss. CPU usage during this test was 45%.

When I tested Shutter Encoder by converting my 46-second iPhone HEVC 4K test clip to 1080p H.264 MP4, it took around 22 seconds on my test system. During this conversion, CPU usage was consistently around 40-50%, indicating efficient resource utilization. The output quality was exceptional, virtually indistinguishable from the original source, even when scrutinizing fine details. This confirms its "no visible quality loss" claim for practical purposes, especially when using appropriate settings.

This free video converter's ability to handle a wide range of professional codecs and its robust hardware acceleration support make it a highly efficient and reliable tool for serious video work. While it offers many advanced options, its interface is surprisingly intuitive for those with some video editing background.

9. Xmedia Recode - Best Free Video Converter on PC for Relatively Low Memory Usage

Overview: Xmedia Recode is a powerful, free, and portable video and audio converter designed exclusively for Windows users. It stands out for its exceptionally broad format compatibility, allowing it to handle virtually any video or audio input and convert it into a vast array of output formats. This makes it an ideal solution for users who frequently work with diverse media types and require precise control over their conversion parameters.

Xmedia Recode offers an extensive suite of customization options, including granular control over video and audio codecs, bitrate, frame rate, resolution, aspect ratio, and various filters. Beyond basic conversion, it also supports features like chapter editing, subtitle integration, and fundamental video editing functions such as cropping and padding. While its interface might initially appear somewhat cluttered due to the sheer volume of options, its underlying power and flexibility are undeniable, especially for those who need fine-tuned control over their media conversions. It also supports hardware acceleration, which significantly contributes to its fast conversion speeds.

Pros:

• Offers full functionality without any cost or restrictions.
• Capable of remuxing videos with the original quality.
• Support editing chapters when ripping DVD to digital format.
• Provides granular control over nearly every aspect of the conversion process.

Cons:

• Not support to read ISO files.
• Won't generate UHD HDR video.
• The abundance of options and tabs can be overwhelming and less intuitive for beginners.
• Lacks advanced AI-powered enhancements such as upscaling or intelligent noise reduction.

How Is It Performance in Practice

In my standardized test, converting a 13-second 4K HEVC MOV source file to 1080p H.264 MP4, Xmedia Recode completed the task in a remarkably fast 10.5 seconds, producing an output file size of 24.8MB with no perceptible quality loss. CPU usage during this test was a low 40%.

To convert the test DVD disk to MPEG-2 MP4, this free video converter for Windows took over an hour. I did notice it could consume a significant amount of memory in certain conversions; for example, converting my HEVC test clip to VP8 took up to 2500MB of memory, which is quite high.

Why You Need a Video Converter

Why is a video converter necessary? Because in the real world, video compatibility is a constant challenge. As users on platforms like Reddit often share:

"Some cameras record in old formats that aren't compatible with new editing software. In my case, the camera I'm using saves files in .mpg so I needed to convert it to .mp4." - @liightless-bird from reddit.com

"I've been finding a lot of videos I want to snag short meme clips from end up being MKV format., but After Effects seems to take issue with MKV when I try to import." - @ideDeezNutz from reddit.com

These examples highlight just a few common frustrations. Based on countless user needs and scenarios, here are the key reasons why you'll likely need a reliable video converter:

• Change videos into different formats for playing on iPhone 16, 4K/8K TVs, PS5, Xbox, Mac…
• Remux video format from one format to another in 1 second without re-encoding or quality loss
• Convert videos recorded by GoPro, DJI, iPhone, DSLR cameras, or screen captures to editing-friendly format
• Transcode videos for sending on Discord, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and other social media without quality loss
• Share the same video across platforms in optimized formats to maximize engagement on each.
• Convert DVDs (including the new and 99-title DVDs) with favored chapters, subtitles, and languages
• Convert video resolution, for example, upscale video to 4K with enhanced clarity and better details.
• ...

How to Choose the Best Video Converter for You

Choosing the right video converter depends heavily on your specific needs and priorities. Drawing from my rigorous testing and comparison of numerous tools, I've identified the key criteria that truly matter. Below, I'll walk you through these crucial factors – from supported formats to speed and quality – and highlight which video converters excel in each area, helping you select the best option for your workflow.

1. Supported Formats

Taking this criterion, the best video converters are VideoProc Converter AI, FFmpeg, and Shutter Encoder.

Many of you want a video converter with the aim to overcome the device compatibility issues for freely playing any videos on smartphones, music players, computers, TVs, game consoles, DVD players, etc. Therefore, the best video converters should have the capability to read and write plenty of different formats.

2. Picture Quality

Taking this criterion, the best video converters are VideoProc Converter AI and FFmpeg.

Though quality always rolls downhill every time you make the video conversion, an excellent video converter can retain most of the data from the original files. In this way, the slight loss in video quality happened while the video conversion process won't be noticed by human eyes.

3. Conversion Speed

Taking this criterion, the best video converter is VideoProc Converter AI.

I see too many people complain about the video converter they use to convert Blu-ray discs and TV series responses ridiculously slow. That's true. Most paid and free downloadable video converters in the market take several hours to successfully convert minutes of video. Luckily, you don't have to tolerate that sort of plain trashes anymore as I have excluded those terribly slow video converters for you.

4. GPU Acceleration

Taking this criterion, the best video converter is VideoProc Converter AI.

We want to avoid high CPU usage, ideally keeping it below 80%. GPU-accelerated video converters can significantly speed up the conversion process by offloading work from the CPU, leading to faster overall performance.

Currently, 65% of video converter software utilizes GPU acceleration for encoding only, while 24% leverage it for both encoding and decoding. VideoProc Converter AI stands out as the only converter that fully utilizes hardware acceleration across encoding, decoding, and UHD video processing, maximizing performance.

5. Low Investment

Taking this criterion, the best video converter is VideoProc Converter AI.

Generally speaking, there are 3 factors you should consider: the cost of the video converter software, the supplement investments in hardware, and the associated costs of the learning courses.

That is to say, the best video converter software itself should be free or low-cost. It doesn't require too much computer resource as well. Thus you don't need to update your PC built for running it smoothly. The sleek and straightforward layout is also necessary for you to easily apply it without having to follow any expensive training courses.

FAQs about Best Video Converter

1. What is the best video converter?

I have compiled a list of the 9 best video converters, and VideoProc Converter AI stands out as the top choice. However, it is crucial to remember that the ideal video converter for you ultimately hinges on your unique requirements. While cost-effectiveness holds universal importance, there are several other pivotal factors to consider, including:

Supported Formats: Having a diverse selection of format options is undoubtedly advantageous. It's crucial to ensure that the chosen video converter aligns with the formats you work with. For example, if you want to convert video files to MOV format, video converters like HandBrake, which don't support MOV output, won't work for you.

Picture Quality: Choose the one that prioritizes maintaining picture quality. Take VideoProc Converter AI, for instance, which utilizes a high-quality engine, supports 2-pass encoding, and adopts the high-entropy encoding technique. These features are specifically designed to ensure the maximum preservation of the original video quality.

Conversion Speed: None of us want to waste hours converting video files, right? So, go for a video converter that's got lightning-fast conversion speed! It'll save you tons of time, especially if you're dealing with big video files or a bunch of 4K/8K stuff.

Features: When choosing a video converter, most of us want more than converting the video formats. An all-in-one solution is preferred, with features like basic editing, subtitle addition, and online video downloads.

Ease of Use: We all like an effective converting experience. But don't get me wrong. Opting for the simplest video converter isn't always the best choice, as many online converters are extremely easy to use but lack advanced features. The ideal choice would be a converter with a learning curve that aligns well with its feature set.

By carefully considering these factors, you will be empowered to make an informed decision regarding the video converter that aligns best with your specific requirements and preferences.

2. Which is the best free video converter?

I've mentioned a few free video converter software like HandBrake, Shutter Encoder, FFmpeg, Freemake Video Converter, and VLC media player. While these may work for some users, they often come with a few common drawbacks. Let's dive into some of the reasons why it's hard to find the best free video converter.

Steep Learning Curve: Almost all completely free video converters are open-source programs, which means they're designed with developers in mind rather than the average user. They might require some effort and possibly training on your part before you can fully grasp how to use them.

Watermarks: Free video converters, like Freemake Video Converter, often slap a watermark on the converted videos. This serves as an incentive for users to upgrade to the premium version and remove the watermark.

Length/Size Limitations: Let's take free online video converters as an example. Many of them impose restrictions on the size of the videos you can convert, typically around 500MB or 2GB. To bypass these limitations, you'll have to purchase the premium plan.

Lack of Features: While a few free video converters offer a decent range of features, many fall short when it comes to important aspects like options for editing or choosing specific output formats. If you're looking for extra video editing capabilities or specific formats, the free options might not meet your needs.

As you can see, finding the best free video converter can be quite a challenge due to these factors. It often means making compromises between limitations and functionality.