Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Web
  4. Evergreens

The best free video converters

By
Add as a preferred source on Google
Best Product Promotional Image
Best Products
Get straight to the top tech—no junk, just the best.

It seems like there are as many video file formats as there are devices to play them on. Flash Video, MKV, MOV, AVI, MPEG. And even if your desktop can read them, chances are, your mobile device cannot. But regardless of how obsolete the file format might be, there’s still a way that you can convert it into a more versatile and usable format. 

The best video converters, like Prism Video Converter, can handle various file formats and make the conversion process seamless and quick for users rather than frustrating and time-consuming. We’ve rounded them up below. 

Any Video Converter (Windows/MacOS)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Any Video Converter (AVC) is a fantastic piece of freeware that can handle conversions to everything from DivX and MPEG4 to VOB and more than 60 other input formats (including 4K) — all within an attractive and minimalist interface. The software also features user-defined video outputs and batch processing for converting multiple files simultaneously. It saves all converted video files to a pre-designated folder for quick access and organization.

Recommended Videos

AVC can directly extract and convert audio from any given video into a limited number of formats, including MP3, AAC, WAVE, etc. Plus, the program allows you to download and convert YouTube and Google videos — though these are our preferred methods.

HandBrake (Windows/MacOS)

2016-05-06
Image used with permission by copyright holder

HandBrake seemed to be on its last legs back in 2006 when the software’s initial creator, Eric Petit, dropped off the face of the Earth. However, its software development carried on with the help of a few ambitious folks driven to update and revise the existing software for a changing world.

The open-source video converter now boasts one of the most comprehensive software packages for ripping and converting video files for playback on several popular devices, including iPhones, smart TVs, and tablets. The interface is sleek and well-designed, with plenty of menu tabs for advanced features, all housed within a traditional UI that anyone familiar with Windows or MacOS will understand.

HandBrake can’t be topped when it comes to converting files to MP4 or MKV format, but, unfortunately, it also isn’t for those unwilling to learn the software.

Prism Video Converter (Windows/MacOS)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Prism is a converter and video editor that’s a great choice if you don’t really have a video editor at the moment, but still need to make changes to the video clip that you’re converting. The interface isn’t exceedingly simple, but it follows a familiar formula and is easy to pick up quickly, with large buttons for the various functions: Add your video file, and you can get to work. The converter works with all standard video formats and any format that uses the DirectShow codec, plus device-specific formats for smartphones and other devices. Extra capabilities include adjustable filters, brightness, contrast, rotation, creating text overlays, watermarks, and other essential features that you might need.

Note that the free download for Prism includes all features, but the more advanced video editing features will stop after a few days unless you buy the full edition. The converter abilities, however, are free forever.

DivX Video Converter (Windows/MacOS)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

DivX video converter has many useful, built-in options for inputs and outputs, along with editing tools for tweaking the videos you’re looking to convert. Although the software is a little pushy in driving you toward upgrading to the premium version, the free one works rather well. The interface is clean and gives you deep options for outputs.

When adding files, you can do so from a local drive, or import them directly from Blu-ray discs. The software also supports Google Drive and Dropbox, for those looking to edit files that are stored remotely. An assortment of output profiles provides several pre-defined options, and you can further customize the resulting file if you prefer. There are options for selecting the resolution, altering the aspect ratio, and changing the bit rate.

CloudConvert (web-based)

Cloud Convert
Chrome Images

Not everyone wants to go through the hassle of downloading an app for converting, especially if they aren’t frequently converting files. Web-based platform CloudConvert can convert video files into 218 formats. Batch converting and folder monitoring come included.And while it has a diverse offering, the site simply converts multiple files at once. You can also use the application as a plugin on other video or audio software hubs. 

CloudConvert processes files in the cloud. To change specific output settings, you can do so from the app’s web interface. Once done, you’ll receive an email that your converted file is in Dropbox or Google Drive.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale
Former Evergreen writer
Jon Martindale covers how to guides, best-of lists, and explainers to help everyone understand the hottest new hardware and…
Topics
Microsoft has begun rolling out Copilot Code for building apps with natural language
The workplace-focused vibe coding tool can pull context from emails, documents, meetings, and chats.
Microsoft Copilot code logo

Microsoft introduced Code last month as one of the three core parts of its revamped Copilot app. The app was pitched as an easy-to-use coding agent that lets users describe what they want to build in natural language, like an app, a tracker, a dashboard, an automation, or a workflow, and Copilot would build it for them.

Essentially, it's a workplace-focused vibe-coding app that turns existing work into a functional app, and Microsoft has begun rolling it out through the Frontier program.

Read more
AI agents are acting like rogues and causing a huge headache for US banks
US banks block AI agents over fears they could make unauthorised financial moves
Banking

US banks are facing a new kind of digital headache: artificial intelligence agents attempting to access customer accounts and perform actions that may go beyond what users intended. As AI tools become more capable of navigating websites and carrying out tasks independently, financial institutions are scrambling to prevent them from crossing security boundaries.

According to a report published by Axios on October 22, major US banks have detected third-party AI agents operating inside customer accounts without authorisation. Some agents reportedly appeared to attempt actions independently of user instructions. The banks involved have not publicly detailed every incident, and there is no evidence that the reported activity resulted in widespread theft of customer funds.

Read more
Canva enters the AI image generation race with Craft, and it’s thinking beyond pretty pictures
The new model plans layouts before generating images, with precise editing and support for 30 aspect ratios.
Canva Craft Featured Image

AI can generate all kinds of pretty pictures, but getting it to spell a headline correctly or keep a poster's layout intact can be another story. Canva wants to fix that with Canva Craft, its first in-house image generation model. Rather than focusing primarily on photographs, Craft is designed around the posters, presentations, social media graphics, and other visual content people actually create. The goal is simple: spend less time fixing AI's mistakes and more time making something useful.

Canva Craft plans before it generates

Read more