Summary: A video converter can solve compatibility issues of video formats and allow you to change one kind of video format (like MP4, MOV, WEBM, AVI, etc.) to another. Here we list 5 best free video converters (no trialware or shareware included) for your choice to convert MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, ASF, MKV and other common video formats.
Note: Some of the free video converter programs to be mentioned below are not feasible to convert all kinds of videos, and some consist of ads or plug-ins, which is actually the common disadvantage of free programs. If you want to find a more versatile, solider and safer video converter program, you can follow my advice to try
Video Converter Genius, a 100% anti-viruses and specialized program to convert various videos to any formats, such as MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, WEMB, WMV, etc.
1. Handbrake
Handbrake, a multithreaded transcoding app developed in 2003, is one of the most popular free video converter software today. But this software is mainly specialized in transcoding videos for Apple devices.
- Operating System supported: Windows OS, Mac OS X, and even Linux.
- Supported input formats: 3GP, AVI, DVD-Video, FLV, MP4, OGG, TS, VCD, WMV.
- Supported output formats: MP4, MKV.
Note: Handbrake only supports to convert videos to MP4 and MKV.
2. Freemake Video Converter
In general, free video converter is complicated, scary, intimidating, but Freemake Video Converter does not belong to this category. Just need to load one or more videos to this program and start to convert.
- Operating System supported: Windows OS.
- Feasible input formats: 3GP, AVI, DVD-Videos, FLV, MP4, MPEG-PS, OGG, TS, QuickTime, VCD, WMV.
- Supported output formats: 3GP, AVI, DVD-Videos, FLV, MP4, MPEG-PS.
Note: Freemake Video Converter may have some plug-ins and ads. If you do not want converters with ads or plug-ins, be cautious.
3. Format Factory
The next free video file converter I'd like to introduce is Format Factory. It is also easy to get conversion started: you can add videos to be converted and select video format to transfer to. Editing audio channel, aspect ratio, and bit rate are available as well.
- Operating System supported: Windows OS.
- Available input formats: 3GP, AVI, FLV, MP4, MPG, SWF, and WMV.
- Output formats supported: 3GP, AVI, FLV, MP4, MPG, SWF, and WMV.
Note: Format Factory will try to install a program that you may dislike. You can stop this by choosing Decline. No clear evidence to prove whether this program is harmful or not.
4. EncodeHD
EncodeHD is an easy-to-perform portable program to convert videos to various devices, which allows you to run on USB thumb drives.
- Operating System supported: Windows OS.
- Input formats: ASF, AVI, DIVX, FLV, M2V, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPG, MPEG, OGM, TS, VOB, WMV, and XVID.
- Output devices: Apple TV, iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry 8/9 Series, Nokia Lumia 920/E71, Samsung Galaxy S2/S3, T-Mobile G1, YouTube HD.
Note: This free video conversion software can't edit videos before converting.
5. Avidemux
Avidemux is a free and open-source video editing program designed for editing and transcoding video into various formats. Avidemux also supports to insert audio streams into a video file or extract audio streams from video files.
- Operating System supported: Windows 8.
- Input video formats: 3GP, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, MPEG-4, MPG, and OGM.
- Output video formats: AVI, FLV, MKV, MP4, MPEG, MPG, TS, OGM.
Note: The main interface of Avidemux is a little complicated to understand. And users might be confused during conversion.
Conclusion: Video converter programs introduced above are five most popular freeware nowadays. Maybe they are not as powerful as paid video converters. But if you only need to do some basic operations, it is really worthy of a try.
