Best 5 Free Video Converters You Should Try Today

Converting videos to other formats or optimizing their quality for different devices is easy using video converters. Intuitive software without a lot of additional features is best for those just starting. Any user, regardless of their level of expertise, should choose a video converter with useful features.

To make videos playable on more devices, video converters are a must-have tool. They will let you change the video’s format and resolution. It can be difficult to choose the best free video converter from the many available options.

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How to Choose a Video Converter

Here are some factors to evaluate when selecting a video converter:

Supported Formats: Check which video and audio formats are supported for input and output. Common formats include MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, FLV, WMV, etc.
Conversion Speed: Faster conversion speed means less waiting time to get your videos converted.
Output Video Quality: Converting videos can result in quality loss. Evaluate if a converter offers lossless or optimized quality outputs.
Device Presets: Presets optimized for playback on devices like iPhones, Android phones, gaming consoles,, etc. save effort.
Editing Tools: Built-in editing tools like trimming, effects, watermarks, etc. allow basic editing.
Ease of Use: An intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface offers a better user experience.

Best Free Video Converters

Based on the above criteria, we have shortlisted the following 5 free video converters worth trying out:

VLC Media Player

VLC media player is an open-source, portable, and multiplatform media player that is popularly used to play videos and music. Lesser known is its ability to also convert videos from one format to another.

It supports a wide range of video and audio formats for input and output. Some of the key positives and limitations are highlighted below:

Pros and Cons

Pros

Completely free and open-source
No ads or spyware
Supports many video formats including MP4, AVI, MKV, FLV, OGG, etc.
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Allows batch conversion for multiple files

Cons

Has a basic and dated interface
Limited editing capabilities
Slower conversion compared to dedicated video converters

Handbrake

Handbrake is an open-source and multiplatform transcoding tool that specializes in video conversion and DVD ripping.

It has an extensive list of supported input and output video/audio formats and codecs. The handbrake offers a good balance of conversion quality and speed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Free and open-source
No bloatware, ads, or malware
Fast conversion speed
Supports the most common video formats
Good output video quality
Lots of presets for devices

Cons

Interface is not very intuitive
No editing features
Requires third-party software for DVD decryption

FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a powerful open-source command-line tool for transcoding multimedia files. It is popular with developers and tech enthusiasts given the level of control it provides over conversions.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Free and open-source
Extremely fast conversion
Support a wide variety of formats
Ability to customize conversion parameters

Cons

Complete command-line-based interface
Steep learning curve

Online Convert (Web-Based)

Online Convert is a popular browser-based video converter that performs all conversions online without needing a software installation.

It supports conversions between a decent range of formats. Since it’s online, performance may depend on your internet connection speed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Easy-to-use web interface
No need to download software
Good conversion speeds
No size limit for uploads

Cons

Requires upload of videos which can take time
Limited output format options
Need internet access to perform conversions

Prism Video Converter

Prism Video Converter is a popular free video conversion utility for Windows.

It has a neat interface and offers all the key functions needed for most common video conversion needs. Fast and stable performance even on older PCs is a highlight.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Good conversion speeds
Multiple output formats supported
Allows DVD ripping
Works well on older PCs also

Cons

Windows only
Output quality could be better
Limitations on the free version

Conclusion

When choosing a free video converter, opt for one that strikes the right balance for your needs between supported formats, conversion speed, output quality, and interface.

VLC players offer a basic but free video conversion utility supporting all major formats. Handbrake provides very fast conversions and extensive format support. FFmpeg is great for command-line-based customized encoding. Online Convert requires no local software installation. The Prism Converter offers a good all-round free solution for Windows.