The best video converter software on the market in 2022

Edited byNataly Bogorad

February 17, 2022

What’s the best video converter available today? With so many paid and free choices at your fingertips, selecting the right one for your needs can be a daunting task! Let’s take a look at a few of the options on the market in 2022 and how they measure up.

Quick summary

  • Editor’s choice: Movavi Video Converter
  • A video converter with pro editing tools – who could ask for more?

  • Best online 4K converter: Freemake Video Converter
  • Convert high-def videos online with no download required.

  • Most versatile option: WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe
  • Convert videos and create photo slideshows in the same program.

  • Easiest open-source converter: HandBrake
  • It’s user-friendly, has a live preview, and has some editing tools.

  • Top choice for GIF lovers: VideoProc Converter
  • Convert videos and create fun GIFs in the same program!

  • Best option for creators who need control: DivX Converter
  • Set your own bitrate, resolution, and file size.

  • Fastest video converter: MacX Video Converter Pro
  • Download, compress, and convert video files in a flash!

  • Most efficient batch conversions: Apowersoft Video Converter Studio
  • Save time with speedy, high-quality batch conversions.

  • High-ranked free video converter for Windows: MiniTool Video Converter
  • PC users will love the built-in screen recorder – plus, no watermarks!

  • Best open-source converter for Android: Miro Video Converter
  • It includes a ton of convenient device-based output presets.

  • Highest-ranked one-stop-shop online app: Convertio
  • Most online apps just convert videos. This one does it all!

  • Most convenient web app: FileZigZag
  • The Chrome plugin makes it easy to convert videos whenever you need.

  • Most convenient online converter: Zamzar
  • Perform multiple conversions online – all at the same time!

  • Fastest desktop converter: Leawo Video Converter
  • Trim and crop your videos, then sit back and watch everything fly!

  • Best for DVD backups: FonePaw Video Converter
  • Its built-in DVD ripper makes it easy to back up your library!

  • Easiest converter for beginners: iDealshare VideoGo
  • Making small edits and converting videos has never been easier!

  • Best no-frills online converter: Online-Convert.com
  • It doesn’t have a lot of extras, but it does its job exceptionally.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we receive commissions.

Best video-encoding software

Movavi Video Converter is a free-download video converter that supports more than 180 file formats and includes profiles for over 200 devices. If you’re converting a large video file to share on YouTube or Instagram, Movavi makes it easy with presets for the output you want, without the hassle of figuring out the optimal dimensions and resolution for your output file. Not only that, but Movavi Video Converter is an incredibly robust option, with a lot of video-editing tools that aren’t included in many other video converters.

Need to trim, rotate, or crop a video before converting it to a different format? No problem. You can also add effects, enhance video quality, and instantly merge multiple video clips without loss of quality. All that is available for $44.95 for a one-year subscription or $54.95 for a lifetime license. And, if you want even more video-editing capabilities, you can bundle Movavi Video Converter with Movavi Video Editor or opt for Movavi’s Video Suite. The only downside we could find to this software was that there isn’t a built-in Help option. However, because the online manual is so helpful, this really isn’t much of a problem, even for newer users. With all of its capabilities and functionalities, Movavi may offer the best video converter for Mac and Windows.

What are its best features?

  • Support for hundreds of file formats
  • Video-editing features like adding effects, trimming, rotating, and cropping
  • Instant file merging

What could be improved?

  • No onboard Help option
  • Advanced editing capabilities come only with Movavi Video Editor

Freemake Video Converter is an online or desktop-based video converter that supports several hundred video file formats. The online version of Freemake is OS-agnostic, making it possible for almost anyone to convert video files from one format to another. With that said, the desktop app is only compatible with Windows 7–11 and Vista; it doesn’t work with macOS at all. So, while Freemake might be a contender for the best free video converter for Windows, we can’t say the same for Mac or Linux.

Along with video conversions, Freemake also lets users extract audio from videos and convert audio files to video file formats. Output presets are available in Freemake to convert to the optimal format for specific devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android-based devices, and various consoles. It doesn’t have presets for specific video-sharing platforms, though, and its editing capabilities are lacking in comparison with some other options. It does, however, allow users to convert high-definition videos up to and including 4K online. The one big downside to Freemake, other than leaving Mac users out, is that some of the features in the desktop version are locked upon download. After three days, users receive a free “web pack” that unlocks those features. We’re not sure why you would withhold free features from your users, but you can eventually use them if you’re patient.

What are its best features?

  • An ability to do 4K video conversions in the online version
  • Converting DVDs to MP4
  • Embedding videos to websites online

What could be improved?

  • Few robust editing tools and features
  • No macOS-compatible desktop version
  • Not all features are available immediately in the desktop app

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe is a paid video converter with a free trial period. This converter is available for either macOS or Windows, and it offers three subscription options, starting at $24.95 for a three-month Lite License on one computer and ranging to $51.95 for a lifetime Ultimate License, single-computer license. Users can also opt to pay $34.95 for a one-year, three-computer license. There currently isn’t an option to purchase a lifetime license for more than one computer.

While WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe does include some basic video-editing capabilities, it really excels in the video-resizing category. If you need to compress a 4K video without losing much quality, WinX might be a good option for you. It’s also specifically designed to convert files created on smartphones, DSLR cameras, camcorders, surveillance cameras, and other devices to formats that are more easily shared online and to other devices. It also includes features that allow users to upload still images and create slideshows with music or other audio extracted from video files.

What are its best features?

  • An ability to create photo and video slideshows with music
  • Compressing 4K videos without a lot of quality loss
  • Basic video-editing capabilities

What could be improved?

  • Conversions could be faster
  • No access to more features in the demo version

HandBrake is one of the best free video converters. It’s an open-source program that’s compatible with macOS 10.13 or later, Windows 10 or later, and Linux. Because it’s open-source, the developers have also made older releases available for people running older operating systems. There isn’t a lot of support for previous releases, but users can usually find help in online communities and on forums.

While HandBrake is fairly simple to use, it doesn’t have the most modern user interface around. If you can get past the somewhat clunky-looking design, though, you can access a long list of built-in presets. Choose your output file format based on devices and resolutions (e.g., Android 1080p30 or PlayStation 720p30) or other settings. If you have specific needs for your conversion, you can also adjust the settings in your output file as needed. The controls include a video encoder, framerate, bitrate, and quality, among others. One of the app’s biggest strengths, in our opinion, is the ability to perform batch conversions, but it doesn’t do very well with longer videos. Also, while it boasts support for hundreds of file formats, users have run into some unexpected compatibility issues.

What are its best features?

  • A live preview that’s great for short videos
  • Batch conversions that make it easy to convert multiple video files
  • Some basic video-editing tools

What could be improved?

  • No support for some popular file formats
  • The live preview is shorter than four minutes
  • Slow conversion rates that make it almost impossible to convert longer videos

VideoProc Converter is a paid video converter for Windows 7–11 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard and later. With support for multiple devices, this converter is likely most useful for GoPro video creators who want to convert their videos to share on other devices and platforms. It includes features to help users remove extraneous noise, stabilize shots, and resize HDR and 4K videos. It also includes a specific toolkit for iPhone users with features like cutting, cropping, and merging 4K HEVC videos to share online. Basic editing tools enhance the convenience of VideoProc Converter, and it can act as a GIF creator, too.

After the free trial, users have three pricing tiers to choose from. You can opt for a one-year, one-computer license at $59.90, a lifetime one-computer license at $78.90, or a lifetime license for up to five computers at $119.90. Some users have reported that the stabilization feature may be glitchy or may stop working entirely, and others have experienced significant lag times when rendering video files. These issues would be less of a problem if VideoProc’s customer service were more reliable, but it can be difficult to get help from them.

What are its best features?

  • Stabilization makes it easier to create professional-looking output videos
  • Basic editing tools improve efficiency when converting videos that need some work
  • An ability to make GIFs is a bonus

What could be improved?

  • Serious lag times when rendering
  • No tutorials for less obvious functions
  • Customer service could be more responsive

DivX Converter is a free-download video converter for Windows or Mac. In the free version, users can drag and drop video files into the program to convert between most popular video formats. If you’re not ready to buy DivX Pro, though, that’s pretty much all you can do with this software. Users who opt for DivX Pro get premium features for all of DivX’s products, including DivX Player, DivX Converter, and DivX Media Server. The premium features include ad-free software, more support for popular video file formats, cloud storage, and audio enhancements. Most of the features that come with DivX Pro aren’t directly related to DivX Converter, which can be frustrating if you don’t need an enhanced media player or cloud storage. DivX does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with DivX Pro, and at $19.99 it’s pretty affordable, if not entirely useful.

What are its best features?

  • A lot of control over settings like bitrate, resolution, and file size
  • An audio-editing feature that lets you add up to 8 audio tracks
  • Batch conversions that make it easy to convert multiple files at once

What could be improved?

  • Few options to purchase premium features that apply specifically to the converter
  • Pushing DivX Player and Media Server to users who only want the converter

MacX Video Converter Pro is one of the more robust video converters for Mac. Along with video conversions, it also has multiple integrated tools, including an editor, downloader, compressor, screen recorder, and slideshow maker. While we’re impressed with the number of things that this software can do, we were curious about how well it can do them. Its conversion times were fairly fast, which was a plus. However, for a program that claims to be an all-in-one platform, its editor is just as basic as many of the others we reviewed. Further, the free trial does not include all of the premium features that come with MacX Video Converter Pro when you purchase a license. The 30-day money-back guarantee does ensure that users aren’t taking much of a risk with their purchase, but it would be nice to be able to test out all of the features before making a commitment.

What are its best features?

  • Faster conversion time
  • The video downloader and compressor features are useful and user-friendly

What could be improved?

  • No versions for Windows and Linux
  • Users can’t try premium features before purchasing
  • Few editing functionalities

Apowersoft Video Converter Studio is another video converter that claims to be an all-in-one tool. It includes a converter, editor, player, screen recorder, and downloader in a single program. It also claims to be a 100% lossless solution for compressing large videos into smaller files. While its output files are generally very good, users should know that Apowersoft uses a lot of processing power to convert videos. Conversions run fairly quickly, but if you’re trying to do anything else on your computer while you wait, you’ll likely encounter some lag.

Purchase options for Apowersoft include a monthly subscription at $29.95 per month, an annual subscription at $59.95 per year, or a lifetime subscription for $129.95. One thing that stands out here, in comparison with some other programs, is that the lifetime subscription comes with lifetime free updates and tech support. Many developers will not include these benefits in a one-time purchase.

What are its best features?

  • Quick HD conversions and batch conversions help users get more done with their videos
  • Audio- and video-editing tools are convenient
  • Videos retain a lot of quality after conversion

What could be improved?

  • The app uses a lot of processing power to convert files
  • Problems with the automated video detector

MiniTool Video Converter is a free converter for Windows 7–10. It’s not compatible with Mac or Linux, and it requires at least an Intel Core i3 processor to function. Further, MiniTool recommends that users have at least 4 GB of available RAM and 400 MB of free hard disk space to use the software. If you have all that, you might enjoy MiniTool’s ability to quickly convert audio and video files to more than a thousand popular formats. Batch video conversions are fast and easy with this program, and it includes screen-recording capabilities with no watermark, as well.

Unlike other options we’ve reviewed, MiniTool doesn’t include a video editor with its video converter. So, while it has fairly high technical requirements, it doesn’t seem like it actually does much with all that processing power. Output video and audio files tend to have high quality, though, and MiniTool’s conversion times are usually pretty fast. Like some of the other converters here, it also lets users drag and drop multiple video files into the program for batch conversions.

What are its best features?

  • A video downloader
  • A screen recorder that includes audio capabilities
  • No watermarks on screen recordings

What could be improved?

  • No editing features
  • The app uses a lot of processing power and memory
  • The video downloader doesn’t always work

Miro Video Converter is a free, open-source video converter with versions for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It supports video input files from multiple mobile devices, including Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and Sanyo phones, iOS devices, PSP, and Kindle Fire. Supported file formats include AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, XVID, FLV, MKV, and a few others. Miro doesn’t support the hundreds or thousands of formats that other video converters boast, but it covers most of the popular output formats that video creators find useful. With that in mind, while Miro is free, it’s not ad-free. Users can enjoy watermark-free exports in multiple formats at no cost, but many find the built-in advertisements to be intrusive and annoying.

What are its best features?

  • The video playback function is helpful and easy to use
  • Great quality in output videos

What could be improved?

  • No ad-free version
  • The meaning of icons is sometimes hard to decipher

Convertio is an option for users looking for the best online video converter instead of a desktop app. It has a simple interface with drag-and-drop capabilities, making it quick and easy to upload video clips for conversion. With that in mind, Convertio has three price tiers: Light, Basic, and Unlimited. The Light subscription is only $9.99 per month, but users are restricted to files smaller than 500 MB and 25 concurrent conversions. At $14.99 per month for the Basic subscription, files can be up to 1 GB, and users get 50 concurrent conversions. For an unlimited file size and concurrent conversions, you can pay $25.99 per month. It’s also useful to know that Convertio sets priorities for conversions based on which tier you pay for. If you opt for Light, you’ll wait longer for your conversions to complete than you would with Basic or Unlimited.

What are its best features?

  • Manual control over video quality, aspect ratios, and codecs
  • Rotate and flip capabilities help creators adjust videos made on phones and other mobile devices
  • The browser-based app works on any computer with a steady Internet connection

What could be improved?

  • No desktop version for users with a limited bandwidth
  • Not a lot of preset options for easy sharing to popular platforms

FileZigZag is a free online converter that supports multiple file formats, including video, images, archives, documents, eBooks, and audio files. While FileZigZag doesn’t include video-editing tools, it does provide a quick and easy way to convert files online without downloading any software. Its Chrome plugin offers further convenience for users who need to convert files on a regular basis. While its 180 supported file formats cover most popular formats, the list is by no means comprehensive. Users may want to make sure that their preferred formats are supported before opting for this app, especially as the program leans more toward audio formats than video.

What are its best features?

  • Easy drag-and-drop file uploads
  • A convenient Chrome plugin
  • Support for multiple media file formats

What could be improved?

  • A limited number of supported video formats
  • No batch conversions

Zamzar is an online or desktop video converter with a free version and three paid subscription options. The free version has a maximum upload file size of 50 MB, though, making it less useful for most video creators. At $9 per month, the Basic subscription isn’t much better at dealing with large files, with a maximum of 200 MB per file. It does, however, include 5 GB of online storage, and users may perform unlimited online conversions and up to 50 desktop conversions per day as well as 25 concurrent conversions. The Pro subscription is $16 per month and allows handling files up to 400 MB, but you’ll have to pay $25 per month for the Business subscription to convert files up to 1 GB. Like many other online video converters, Zamzar lacks editing functionalities, and it doesn’t support as many file formats as some other options. It does, however, support most of today’s popular formats, including MP4, AVI, WebM, MOV, MPG, and 3GP. Also, while its batch conversion capabilities are great, conversion speeds aren’t the best with this program.

What are its best features?

  • Convenient online batch conversions
  • Drag-and-drop file uploads are fast and easy

What could be improved?

  • Limited file sizes for free and Basic versions
  • The conversion speed is quite low

Leawo Video Converter is a desktop video converter app for Mac or Windows. It boasts more than 180 file formats, which means it supports most of today’s preferred formats but may lack some formats and codecs that some video makers may need. For example, it currently does not support SWF or FLV files. At the same time, Leawo claims to support all video and audio formats for iPhone, iPad, and mobile devices. Its biggest feature is probably its speedy conversions. It’s advertised as delivering conversion speeds six times higher than other converters with 100% quality retention. We can’t say that it was 600% faster than any of the other converters we reviewed, but it was pretty snappy.

Leawo also includes a built-in video editor with basic functionalities, and it allows users to adjust video and audio settings to meet their specific preferences and needs. As far as pricing goes, you can opt for an annual license at $29.95 per year or a lifetime license at a one-time price of $39.95. Both licenses are single-user subscriptions. If you want additional tools and features, like a video downloader or transfer, you’ll have to purchase other licenses at similar prices. So, while Leawo’s converter is fairly inexpensive, costs can add up quickly.

What are its best features?

  • Trim and crop tools are easy and convenient
  • Speedy conversions provide efficiency for creators with a lot of content

What could be improved?

  • Full license pricing for additional features
  • No support for FLV and SWF files

FonePaw offers an all-in-one video converter, editor, and player for Windows or Mac. It includes a free trial, after which pricing starts at $49.95 per year. You can also opt for a single-user lifetime license at $69.95 or a family lifetime license (up to 5 computers) for $114.95. The annual subscription includes a year of free upgrades, and the lifetime licenses include unlimited upgrades.

For some users, this program’s biggest differentiator will be its array of functionalities. It enables video creators to convert both video and audio files, merge and edit videos, rip DVDs, and compress videos. It also includes a video player, though this feature is becoming more and more extraneous as most devices and browsers have native players and don’t require this functionality.

What are its best features?

  • Batch conversions are speedy and easy
  • A built-in DVD ripper
  • Editing tools help with minor adjustments before converting

What could be improved?

  • Users can’t convert videos longer than five minutes in the free version
  • The video player feature is not very useful

iDealshare VideoGo is an audio and video converter with versions available for Mac and Windows. It includes very basic editing tools to trim, crop, and add visual effects to videos before you convert them, but all other editing needs to be done in a separate program. Converting files with iDealshare is pretty easy, even for beginners. Essentially, after you add your video and make any edits, you just need to select your output file format from a dropdown menu. Then you can make any changes to settings and select where you want to save your file.

iDealshare’s features are spare, which could be a consideration for some users, especially as the pricing is equivalent to other programs. Users may choose between a yearly subscription at $39.99, paid annually, or a one-time payment of $59.99 for a lifetime license.

What are its best features?

  • SD and HD for almost all of its supported file formats
  • Some basic video-editing functionalities
  • Presets for popular devices

What could be improved?

  • A limited number of editing tools to avoid the need for another program
  • Users can’t convert longer videos in a free trial version

Online-Convert is a free online conversion service with browser-based conversion apps for multiple forms of media. It doesn’t include any video-editing features, and its output formats are very limited, especially when compared with other options we’ve reviewed. With that said, the user interface is easy to use and straightforward, and it supports popular output formats like AVI, FLV, MP4, MPG, MOV, and WMV. It doesn’t support WAV and several other popular formats, though.

If you’re not sure which output format is best for your purposes, you can also use Online-Convert’s device converter to convert files to work with a list of devices, including iPhone, PSP, PlayStation, and Android devices. However, some settings may be out of date for your selected devices as Online-Convert doesn’t differentiate between newer and older models for its outputs.

What are its best features?

  • Fast, easy conversion to popular output formats
  • The device converter feature makes it easier for users who don’t know the video settings on their devices

What could be improved?

  • No support for some output formats, such as WAV
  • No advanced controls and settings for output files

Summary: Choosing the best video converter in 2022

Now that you’ve read through our reviews of all the top video converters on the market today, what do you think? Are you ready to choose the one that will meet all your video conversion needs? Before you make your choice, you might want to consider a few factors that could impact your experience:

  • What features and tools do you need?
  • What is your budget?
  • Files of what size do you need to convert?
  • How many videos will you need to convert at a time?

Answering these questions and comparing your answers with the details in our reviews will help you make an informed decision on the best option for your needs. In addition to these, though, you should also consider how much editing your videos will need before or after you convert them. If you need to make a few edits to a video before you convert it, for example, you might want to consider Movavi Video Converter. If you know that your videos will need more significant edits and/or you want to add a few really cool effects, you might need a more robust editing tool. For those kinds of edits, we recommend trying out Movavi Video Editor for Mac or Windows, or you could try Fastreel if you’re looking for an online editing app. These solutions will do more for your final video than even the most comprehensive video converter. Try them out and let us know what you think!

Nataly Bogorad

Nataly Bogorad is a content creator and a chief editor. With qualifications in English and American studies and art criticism, she specializes in writing SEO-optimized and user-friendly content. Nataly graduated from Universität Kassel with a bachelor of arts degree and worked as a project assistant for Regionalmanagement Nordhessen GmbH.