How Do You Convert Video Files?
This video converter features an intuitive interface, even the green hands can get the hang of it quickly. No matter you need a free video converter to MP4 format, transcode 4K/HD video to play on your desired mobile, or compress 4K to 1080p/720p, the freeware will make all jobs done within 3 steps. Just add your video clips to the program and select a profile, the brilliant video encoder runs - more smoothly. Check the easy steps below and get started with it.
Step 1. Load your video files.
Install and open the free video converter, then import your video file through "+ Video" button, or a simple drag-'n-drop.
Step 2. Choose an output format.
Choose an output format from the output profile column, such as to AVI, MP4, MPEG, MOV, WMV, FLV, Music etc.
Step 3. Start Conversion.
Tap the Start button to activate video conversion immediately.
Get Started on Converting Videos on Your Windows (11/10) Now >>
Top 6 Free Video Converters
When you're searching for a video converting tool, your budget can be of the top consideration, and of course, free option is much preferred. Besides, there are many other factors to consider, like the video converting performance, output quality, conversion speed, ease of use, etc. Here we introduce 6 free video transcoders that perform well in all these aspects.
1. WinX's Free Video Converter
This tool developed by Digiarty Software is a stable yet free video converting program supporting video files at up to 8K/4K resolution. It's available to convert video to any mainstream format, be it HEVC, H.264, MP4, MKV, M2TS, WMV, MOV, WebM, AAC, etc. Aside from converting video to MP4/MP3, compressing, cropping, cutting, merging, and more are all on hand to give you a good video processing experience.
The video converting software prides itself on being so quickly in converting video, especially the large 4k video. It attributes its great performance to the advanced transcoding kernel and the unique hardware acceleration tech. Most importantly, you will be pleased to know that its 47x faster converting speed doesn't come at the expense of output quality.
Pros:
- Convert 8K, 4K, HD video to any format without problem.
- Fast video processing speed & lossless output quality.
- Pretty easy to operate.
- Clean and no intrusive ads.
Cons:
- Lacks features such as burn videos to DVD, text narration.
2. Freemake Video Converter
As a free video converter that has stood its ground for years, there is something extraordinary about Freemake. It allows you to convert videos, burn DVDs, and create photo slideshows. You're free to encode videos to over 500 formats, including MP4, MP3, WMV, AVI, MKV, DVD, 3GP, MOV, and others.
A slight word of warning: Freemake deliberately shows you lots of upsell attempts, when you try to use its free version. If you stick to the free option, the video converting speed seems to be intentionally slowed down and Freemake logo is added at the beginning and end of all converted videos. This is terribly intrusive. But the logo and upsells will be removed and you can enjoy smooth video conversion, once you've upgraded to the paid version.
Pros:
- A simple interface that is easy to understand.
- Excellent formats support.
- Build-in editing tools.
Cons:
- Take a long time to convert large videos.
- Some features of free version are locked, like video to MP3 conversion, video edit, and subtitles etc.
- Free version is basically usable, with Freemake logo added to every converted file.
3. 123apps Video Converter
123apps is an online video converter that is able to freely change video format, resolution, codec, and file size right in the web browser. It is totally free of charge, with no need to download additional software or ask for any sign up. This tool supports over 10 format like MP4, AVI, MPEG, MOV, and is known for constant update for supported codec including the new HEVC. Unlike other online video converting tools that insist on restricting number of files you can convert and watermarking each converted video, there isn't file limit or watermark in 123apps.
However, 123apps also have some cons you need to pay attention to. For example, the slow upload speed is one of the known issues. In our test, it takes about 1 minute to upload a 40MB video file. So you may spend a lot more time uploading a files over GB, despite it claims to support up to 4GB file size, let alone queuing videos. Besides, the converted file cannot be downloaded occasionally, this can be annoying. Ads are a part of the 123apps Video Converter, which can be obtrusive while you convert video file.
Pros:
- Easy to use. No need to install third-party software.
- import video from local, Google Drive, Dropbox, and URL.
- Support HEVC conversion.
Cons:
- Uploading and converting can be slow, depend more on network speed.
- Cannot convert the video more than 4GB.
4. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter Free can handle conversions to everything from MP4 and VOB to HEVC and more than 100 input formats. The output options are well categorized into Apple iPhone, Samsung, Android, Huawei, Sony, TV, etc. You can also extract audio from any video into a limited number of formats like MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, and more. For basic conversion, just choose the input option (disc, video, url), select the video you want to convert, choose an output profile, and click "Convert now", it will begin the conversion.
Additionally, AVC offers tons of options like burn to DVD, play video, add subtitles, rotate video, apply effects, adjust the brightness, contact, saturation, and more, all within a self-explanatory interface, without overwhelming you with additional bells and whistles. You can also choose to upgrade to the Pro version for more features, such as rip DVD, DVD menu templates, capture video screen. It is priced at $9.95 per year. In our test, AVC ran into occasionally buggy playing and relatively lengthier video converting speed compared with other video converter. If speed isn’t too much a bother for you, it is still a wise choice.
Pros:
- 4k HEVC support.
- NVIDIA NVENC accelerated encoding.
- Clean. No ads or malware.
Cons:
- It takes a long time to convert a video file.
- No option for general video format profile.
5. HandBrake
Handbrake has built up a cult following for years for its complete free, open-source and clean video transcoding ability. Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, it takes advantages of third-party libraries such as x265, FFmpeg, and libvpx to convert a range of popular formats, including H.264, H.265, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Theora, and VP8/9.
This free video converter enables you to re-encode videos to MKV, WebM, MP4 or other settings required for common devices, like smartphone, game console, Chromecast, and Roku. You can even delve into advanced video encoding options to alter bitrate, codec, resolution, add your own subtitles and more. However, you will need a bit of learn curve if you are a beginner to convert video format. In our test, the video conversion time is slow, so be patient for any 4k or larger video conversion.
Pros:
- Free, open-source, and ad-free.
- Manual & automatic scaling, and deinterlacing.
- Able to convert both DVD and video.
Cons:
- Limited video format support.
- Non-intuitive interface and design.
- Slow converting speed.
6. FFmpeg
FFmpeg is a free and open source software project consisting of a brunch of libraries and programs, able to record, decode, encode and stream multimedia contents. At its core is the FFmpeg command line, designed to convert any video or audio, from the most obscure ancient format to the cutting-edge codec, such as H.264, HEVC, MP3, AAC, MPEg-4, Prores, QuickTime, SWF, FLAC, VP9 and many more.
For experienced users, encoding audios and videos with FFmpeg is pretty easy through command, e.g. "ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.webm". However, as it's based on command lines, it might be a little bit tricky for novices, especially when they need adjust video/audio parameters or do some editings while converting video format.
Pros:
- Support cross-platforms, including Linux, Windows and macOS.
- Allow users to convert, record and stream audio and video.
Cons:
- Quite difficult for beginners.
- There are too many libraries that make users confused.
Convert 4k video 
Compress oversized video
Play 4K/HD video
