For most Mac users, you may have encountered such headache situations: QuickTime player can't play MKV files; MacBook Pro with Retina display not support MOV files, etc. In such situations, convert these videos to MP4 format could be the best choice, as MP4 is the widely used file format supported by almost all devices and media players. Here in this review, we will share you 9 professional yet reliable MP4 converters. Also, offering you a comprehensive and rigorous assessment so that you can choose the one that suits you most.
Part 1: Top 9 Free MP4 Converter Software
If you can't make decision after only one free MP4 converter Mac, carve out some time to check the following roundup of top 9 Mac free MP4 video converters, along with a detailed comparison, from which you can figure out their similarities and differences and more importantly find your favorite Mac free video converter for MP4.
1. MacX Video Converter
MacX Video Converter Free can be the #1 MP4 converter in our test. And below are it's outstanding features:
- Free convert any video to MP4 including SD MOV, AVI, FLV, WMV, HD MKV, AVCHD, MTS, Ultra HD 4K 8K video and convert MP4 to MP3, WMV, WebM, DVD, etc.
- High Quality Engine and De-interlacing tech to let you free convert videos on Mac with 98% quality reserved, no interlaced picture or disordered audio.
- User-friendly interface allows you (no matter what skill level) to easily convert MKV to MP4, QT MOV to MP4, MP4 to MP3, etc. with aplomb, no half crash case.
- Multi-core CPU (up to 8) utility and hyper-threading tech make full use of CPU cores to equal assign MP4 video conversion task to 8 cores, big relief for CPU.
- With 350+ preset profiles, you can free convert videot o iPhone 11/Pro/Max/Xs/XR/X/8/7/Plus, iPad iPod, iTunes, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Apple TV, Android, etc. for limitless enjoyment.
- As for the damaged/unplayable video files, you utilize the video editing feature to repair damaged MP4 file, cut the unplayable parts off video, remove ads from video, adjust video parameters to make video fitting in various players, devices and more.
How to Free Convert Video to MP4 on Mac [Tutorial]
Now, 
Free download MacX Video Converter on your Mac firstly, and then follow the detailed steps below to convert videos to MP4 on your Mac easily:
Step 1. Launch MacX Video Converter and click "Add File" button to load the video files.
Step 2. Choose "to MP4" as output video format.
Step 3. Press the "RUN" button to start converting video to MP4 files on your Mac free.
2. Handbrake
When it comes to free MP4 converter for Mac search, what will appear on your radar? I bet the world-renowned Handbrake is the most frequently-heard answer. Yes, how could we miss the all-round video converter for MP4? Its simplicity, fast speed and versatility help it win a place in this top free MP4 converter for Mac review. It enables you to free yet fast convert video to MP4 as well as MKV on Mac OS X with numerous parameter settings for you to adjust and customize your output MP4 video.
If you are disposed to know how to use Handbrake to convert video to MP4 free on Mac, you're encouraged to visit the cover-all handbrake tutorial to get everything about Handbrake. And here we won't give any encumbrance to burden you.
Handbrake errors listed on forums:
- Handbrake converts MKV to MP4 on Mac but crashes halfway.
- The output file after SWF to MP4 conversion is very bad, fuzzy in image.
- Can't figure out why the video is gone, only audio left after Handbrake converts WMV to MP4.
- DXVA activated, handbrake won't progress the encode.
- Spend several hours to rotate a video in Handbrake 1.0.3, but no luck.
- Handbrake produces output MP4 file but not complete, only 1/3 of the original file.
- Why the resulting file video audio out of sync? Can Handbrake fix this out?
- Anyone knows how to add subtitles to MP4 in Handbrake. I just find nowhere.
3. Any Video Converter
There's no gainsaying that Any Video Converter is powerful enough to handle almost any video file on Mac, whether to free convert AVI to MP4, MKV to MP4, M2TS to MP4 or convert MP4 to AVI WMV MP3, etc. You can free use it to convert any video to 13 video and 15 audio formats, along with 70 profiles for Apple Android game consoles. What this free MP4 converter Mac is special to users is that it can also allow you to free download video from YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, etc. hot websites. In short, you have nothing to complain about this software.
AVC Problems During MP4 Conversion:
- Problem in converting video to MP4 for iPhone 6s Plus: the picture size of the mp4 files all wrong;
tried 1920x1080 and specified 16:9 instead of Auto, but still stretched. - Unable to convert video to HD MKV AVCHD MTS TS formats. That's a pity.
- The audio track does not sync with moving video pictures perfectly.
4. VLC Player
Don't be surprised if someone tells you VLC player is a great free MP4 converter for Mac. VLC media player might be most known as a free video player for Mac, but seldom knows its another secret identity - free video converter for Mac. It can free fast convert video to MP4 as well as webm, ts, ogg, wmv. But if you plan to use VLC to free convert MP4 to MOV, MP4 to DVD, MP4 to AVI. You need to look somewhere else.
How to freely convert MP4 videos with VLC:
Step 1. Open Video File. Import video you wanna convert from "Open File" under "Media" category after free downloading and running this free MP4 converter on Mac.
Step 2: Choose Convert As shown on the below picture, select "Convert/Save.." from Media and then again choose "Convert".
Step 3: Opt for Output Format as MP4Select "H.264+MP3 (MP4)" as output video format. Here provides even more video formats for you to choose like WebM, TS, OGG, ASF, etc.
Step 4: Start to Free Convert Video to MP4 Now. After the destination folder selection via "Browse" button, you can finally go to the last step: hit on "Start" button to utilize this MP4 converter Mac freeware to convert video to MP4. And when the video to MP4 conversion is completed, you feel free to playback MP4 video using VLC media player.
General errors using VLC to convert MP4 video from forum:
- No Audio after Video Conversion: use VLC to convert video to MP4 on Mac; the pictures in most cases are great, but mp4 video no sound.
- Resort to my friends or google on Internet but no solutions work. I just wanna convert MP4 to MP3,
but after I change bit rate, frame rate or something, it can't save output file as mp3, only ts, wmv, etc. - It's seemingly weird. No reaction when i use VLC to convert some MP4 files.
- VLC won't play MP4 files after video codecs change.
5. Clipconverter
Good news for those who don't wanna download and install MP4 video converter Mac software on Mac. So you can just free convert MP4 video online on Clipconverter. It may not be the one supporting most files, but the most convenient solution. This top free MP4 video converter Mac service allows you to free convert SWF to MP4, FLV to MP4, H265 to H264 mp4, MKV to MP4, Instagram video to MP4, etc. That's not the whole story. It also provides you with another 14 video, 8 audio and 1 image formats as output formats. Thus, you can even convert MP4 to MP3, OGG, GIF, WMV, etc.
Steps to free convert video to MP4 online:
Step 1: Click "Upload and Convert file" button.
Step 2: Hit "Select Files" to load input video files.
Step 3: Select output format as mp4 and then click "Start Conversion" button.
6. FFmpeg
FFmpeg is a well-designed yet useful free MP4 converter for Mac users that performs MP4 video conversion just as it says on official website: cross-platform, free convert and stream video audio. It has a long list of compatible formats (time-consuming to count the number) for converting MP4 to MKV AVI WMV Webm, MP3 OGG, etc. But one feature it misses is to convert video to MP4. Plus, it lacks some extra features that you might look for, like compress lage-size MP4 video, add Special Effects to video, download online video, remove video watermark, etc.
Pros:
- Cross-platform, Mac/PC/Linux all supported.
- Support hundreds of formats as output formats.
- Also record and stream video/audio.
Cons:
- Can't convert MP4 to other formats on Mac.
- No video editing features, online video downloading ability, etc.
7. Wondershare Video Converter Free
The aforementioned free MP4 converter Mac software are not perfect. And this one from Wondershare is of no exception. This software is specialized in free converting MP4 video to iOS devices including iPhone (iPhone 11/Pro/Max/XS/XR/X/8/7), iPad (iPad Pro/mini/Air), Apple TV on Mac OS X 10.6 - 10.15. What's else, it also works well as a YouTube downloader to free download YouTube video. But if you wanna use it as a MP4 editor to merge, rotate, add subtitles, clip, or trim MP4 files, you just need to pay. After all, you get what you paid for.
Advantages:
- Free convert video to Apple device on Mac.
- Free download YouTube video on Mac.
Disadvantages:
- Not offer video to video, video to audio conversion features.
- Video editing features and parameters adjustment are not available.
8. Tipard Free Any MP4 Converter
As the name suggests, this is a free MP4 converter compatible with macOS. This free version program enables you to free convert YouTube video to MP4, torrent movie to MP4, FLV to MP4, MP4 to VOB, etc. with 120+ input formats and 100+ output formats supported. Another big bonus feature is that it even lets you free edit MP4 including add Effects, preview MP4, crop, trim MP4, etc.
Pros:
- A wide selection of input and output formats.
- Free edit video with common editing features.
Cons:
- Need to upgrade to Pro version to convert MP4 to 4K UHD video.
- No user guide or tech supports for free MP4 converter Mac version.
9. Aiseesoft MP4 Converter for Mac
If you just need the basic feature to convert video to MP4 free on Mac, then Aiseesoft MP4 Converter for Mac can satisfy your meets. This software is simple for you to free convert MKV to MP4, VHS to MP4, QuickTime mov to MP4, AVI to MP4, mpg to MP4 as well as convert video to AVI, WMV, MOV, 4 output formats in total. If you wanna extract audio from MP4, convert MP4 file or edit MP4 on Mac, sorry to inform you that this free MP4 converter Mac app is powerless to render you help. You need to upgrade to advanced version or just rely on the above stronger converters.
Advantages:
- Simple to use.
- Run fast on Mac.
Disadvantages:
- Not convert MP4 files on Mac.
- Unable to convert video to HD MKV AVCHD MTS or UHD 4K 8K video; only 4 output formats.
Part 2: Comparison of Top 9 Mac Free MP4 Converter Software
To reduce your workload of reading, here adopts a much more intuitive method to horizontally compare the top 9 Mac free MP4 converters and list on the table (omit the boring yet burdensome words). The specific comparison is made up with 5 sections: basic information, input formats, output formats, customization and performance comparison. Now let's start with basic info comparison.
1. Basic Information:
Converter |
Ease of Use |
License |
Batch Conversion |
Compatibility |
Download Online Video |
Help & Tech Support |
MacX Video Converter Free Edition |
90% |
Free |
Yes |
Mac OS X 10.5-10.12 |
X |
√ |
Handbrake |
88% |
Free |
No |
Mac OS X 10.7 to 10.12 |
X |
X |
Any Video Converter |
90% |
Free |
Yes |
Mac OS X 10.7 or higher |
√ |
√ |
VLC Player |
90% |
Free |
Yes |
Mac OS X 10.6 or later |
X |
X |
Clipconverter |
92% |
Free |
Yes |
Any Mac |
√ |
X |
FFmpeg |
80% |
Free |
Yes |
macOS |
X |
X |
Wondershare Video Converter Free |
85% |
Free |
No |
Mac OS X 10.6-10.10 |
Only YouTube |
X |
Tipard Free Any MP4 Converter |
90% |
Free |
No |
macOS |
X |
X |
Aiseesoft Free MP4 Converter for Mac |
90% |
Free |
No |
Mac OS X 10.5 or later |
X |
X |
2. Input Formats Supported:
Converter |
Standard Video |
HD Video |
UHD Video (4K, 5K, 8K) |
Online Video |
Audio |
MacX Video Converter Free Edition |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Handbrake |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Any Video Converter |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
VLC Player |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Clipconverter |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
FFmpeg |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Wondershare Video Converter Free |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Tipard Free Any MP4 Converter |
Limited |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Aiseesoft Free MP4 Converter for Mac |
Limited |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
3. Output Formats Supported:
Converter |
Standard Video |
HD Video |
DVD |
Audio |
Image |
Mobile Device |
MacX Video Converter Free Edition |
Yes (180+) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (14+) |
Yes |
Yes (350+) |
Handbrake |
Yes (MP4 only) |
Yes (MKV Only) |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Any Video Converter |
Yes (13) |
No |
No |
Yes (15) |
Yes |
Yes (70) |
VLC Player |
Yes (6) |
Yes （6） |
No |
Yes (4) |
No |
Yes (5) |
Clipconverter |
Yes (4) |
Yes (MKV Only) |
No |
Yes (3) |
No |
No |
FFmpeg |
Yes (MP4 not included) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Wondershare Video Converter Free |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Tipard Free Any MP4 Converter |
Yes (100+) |
No |
No |
Limited |
No |
No |
Aiseesoft Free MP4 Converter for Mac |
Only 4 (MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV) |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
4. Customization:
Converter |
Adjust Parameter Settings |
Trim |
Merge |
Crop |
Rotate |
Add Effects |
Add/Remove Subtitles |
Add Watermarks |
Ajust Conversion Quality |
MacX Video Converter Free Edition |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Handbrake |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Any Video Converter |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
VLC Player |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Clipconverter |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
FFmpeg |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Wondershare Video Converter Free |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Tipard Free Any MP4 Converter |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Aiseesoft Free MP4 Converter for Mac |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
5. Test Comparison:
Convert MKV 4K to MP4 1080p |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MacX |
Handbrake |
AVC |
VLC |
Clipconverter |
FFmpeg |
Wondershare |
Tipard |
Aiseesoft |
|||
Input video info |
4K MKV (AVC); 04:29, 497MB, 4320x2160 |
||||||||||
Output video info |
Video format |
MP4 (H264) 1920X1080 |
|||||||||
Size |
79.1MB |
74.2MB |
51.9MB |
88.9MB |
112MB |
83.3 MB |
90.1MB |
164MB |
69MB |
||
Video quality |
Excellent |
High |
Lossy |
High |
Excellent |
High |
High |
Excellent |
Lossy |
||
Conversion speed |
2min54s |
3min57s |
4min10s |
5min11s |
6m34s |
3min08s |
2m43s |
3min27s |
2min38s |
||
Convert MP4 720p to MOV 720p |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MacX |
Handbrake |
AVC |
VLC |
Clipconverter |
FFmpeg |
Wondershare |
Tipard |
Aiseesoft |
|||
Input video info |
MP4 (AVC); 77.6 MB; 04:28; 1280x720; 23 frame rate |
||||||||||
Input audio info |
Bit rate: 162 kbps; channels: 2; audio sample rate: 44 KHz |
||||||||||
Output video info |
Video format |
MOV (H264) 1280X720 |
|||||||||
Size |
94 MB |
/ |
56.1MB |
73MB |
72.5MB |
66.2 MB |
77MB |
103.5MB |
57.2MB |
||
Video quality |
Excellent |
/ |
Clear |
High |
High |
Good |
High |
Excellent |
Clear |
||
Conversion speed |
01:15.32 |
/ |
01:06.47 |
02:28.65 |
04:34.00 |
02:15.89 |
1:44 |
03:02.71 |
1:55.84 |
||
Bonus. Common Errors in MP4 Video Conversion
Honestly, I'm strongly shocked by the errors of video to MP4 conversion when I find hundreds of threads posted by users in forums including macrumors, videohelp, mac-forums, etc. Most of users choose Handbrake or Any Video Converter Free to free convert videos from MKV to MP4, AVI to MP4, MPEG to MP4, MP4 to DVD, and more, either on MacBook or iMac. However, different hardware configurations and input formats end up with the same result: failure, even when you choose the same output format MP4. Hard to imagine there are so many issues in video to MP4 conversion process. Here gathers the most common errors in video conversion to MP4. Check if they are familiar to you.
- Some free MP4 video converter for Mac programs would apply watermark to output MP4 files and even make the video bad quality when converted.
- DakotaPaul says he's using Handbrake to convert MKV to MP4, but Handbrake stops encoding halfway; only 40-min video being converted.
- When it comes to convert WMV to MP4 on Mac free with Handbrake, users encounter the problem of "Handbrake gets all videos stripped, only audio left".
- Any Video Converter Free generates an intact MP4 files, with subtitles missing in the middle of video.
- Feedback from tkmops indicates that there is a black rectangle super areas imposed over the bottom right corner of MP4 files after using Handbrake to convert.
- A user named javilionaire complains on the forums.macrumors that MP4Box converts 720p MKV to 720p MP4 with endless "demux", "remux" such stuff.
- Other issues cover video audio out of sync after AVI to MP4 conversion, the picture is interlaced after converting AVCHD to MP4, picture size of MP4 all wrong, etc.
- When it comes to convert MP4 to MP3 with VLC player, users change the bitrate or the sampling frequency and can't save file into mp3, but only into .raw, .ps, .ts.
Certainly, until now, you might be more interested in the reasons why these errors would happen rather than these phenomena. The reasons are complex. Perhaps it's the video file itself to be blame or the outside elements like free MP4 video converter Mac software, hardware configurations, improper operation, the plugin interference, etc. to shoulder the responsibility. So, if you encounter such errors next time, you can try to think the potential reasons from these sides and then figure out the solutions first by yourself. We can't render you a lot help in every side, but what we can provide you are some useful suggestions on free MP4 converter for Mac for your reference, which at least can help you solve certain video to MP4 and MP4 to video/audio conversion errors, if not all.
