7 Best Any Video Converter Alternatives in 2026 (Mac, Windows, Online)

By Hieu DinhPublished May 7, 2026

Why people are searching for an Any Video Converter alternative

Any Video Converter (AVC) from AnvSoft has been around since the mid-2000s, and it shows. The free version is functional — it will turn an MP4 into an AVI, rip a DVD, or pull audio from a clip — but the experience in 2026 feels stuck in 2014. The interface is dense and grey, the free tier ships with bundled offers and upsell prompts, and macOS support has slipped behind: there is no first-class Apple Silicon build, hardware acceleration on Mac is limited, and updates land slowly compared to the Windows version.

If you have landed on this page, you probably already know the symptoms: slow encodes on an M-series Mac, output that does not look as clean as you expect, ads in the free installer, or just a UI that is hard to look at for very long. The good news is that the video conversion landscape is healthier than ever. There are excellent free, paid, native, and online Any Video Converter alternatives that handle modern codecs (H.265, AV1), use your GPU properly, and respect your time.

This guide compares seven of the strongest any video converter alternatives for 2026 — covering Mac users, Windows users, command-line power users, and people who would rather not install anything at all. We start with a quick comparison table, then walk through each tool with honest pros and cons.

Quick comparison: 7 Any Video Converter alternatives

Tool	Platform	Price	Speed	Output formats	Ease of use
Compresto	macOS (Apple Silicon native)	Free trial / paid	Very fast (VideoToolbox)	MP4, MOV, WebM, GIF, HEVC	Drag and drop
HandBrake	macOS, Windows, Linux	Free, open source	Moderate	MP4, MKV, WebM	Steep
FFmpeg	macOS, Windows, Linux	Free, open source	Very fast	Virtually anything	Command line
Permute	macOS	Paid (Setapp or one-time)	Fast	MP4, MOV, MKV, MP3, AVI, WebM, GIF	Drag and drop
VLC	macOS, Windows, Linux	Free, open source	Slow (CPU only)	MP4, WebM, OGG, MKV	Hidden in menus
CloudConvert	Web (browser)	Free tier + paid credits	Depends on queue	200+ formats	Click and upload
Movavi Video Converter	macOS, Windows	Paid (subscription)	Fast	180+ formats	Polished GUI

1. Compresto — best Any Video Converter alternative for Mac

Compresto is a native macOS app built specifically for compressing and converting media on Apple Silicon. Where Any Video Converter feels like a Windows port awkwardly running on your Mac, Compresto is built from the ground up for M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips. It uses Apple's VideoToolbox framework for hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC encoding, which means a 4K clip that would take HandBrake (or AVC) several minutes to encode often finishes in under a minute on Compresto.

The interface is the opposite of AVC's: drop your files onto the dock icon or main window, choose a quality preset, and click compress. There are no nested menus, no upsell modals, no bundled "free trials" of unrelated software. It handles video, images, GIFs, and PDFs from a single app, which removes the need to keep multiple converters around.

Key features:

Apple Silicon native (universal binary, optimized for M-series GPUs)
Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC via VideoToolbox
Batch processing with drag-and-drop
Convert MP4, MOV, WebM, GIF, HEVC, AVI inputs to MP4, MOV, WebM, or GIF
Quality presets (Best, Strong, Light) and custom bitrate control
Also handles images (PNG, JPEG, HEIC) and PDFs

Pros:

Significantly faster than AVC on Apple Silicon
Clean, modern macOS interface
No ads, no bundleware, no nag screens
Single app for video, image, and PDF compression

Cons:

macOS only — no Windows or Linux build
Smaller list of obscure container formats than FFmpeg

Best for: Mac users who want a fast, no-nonsense AVC replacement that actually uses their hardware.

Pricing: Free to try, paid one-time license. See the full breakdown on the Compresto pricing page.

2. HandBrake — the open-source classic

HandBrake is the default recommendation when anyone asks for a free Any Video Converter alternative, and for good reason. It is open source, cross-platform, and has been actively maintained for 20+ years. Version 1.8 added AV1 encoding and improved Apple Silicon performance, and the project keeps pace with new codecs more reliably than AVC.

The trade-off is the interface. HandBrake exposes hundreds of encoding settings — anamorphic ratios, two-pass bitrate, decomb filters, x264 tunes — which is great if you know what you are doing and overwhelming if you do not. The presets help (Fast 1080p30, Apple 4K, Discord Tiny), but the learning curve is real.

Pros:

Completely free and open source, no ads or watermarks
Cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux)
Excellent x264 and x265 encoders with fine-grained control
Strong DVD and Blu-ray ripping support

Cons:

Dated, dense UI that overwhelms beginners
Output limited to MP4, MKV, and WebM containers
Slower than native VideoToolbox-based apps on Mac
No GIF or image support

Best for: Power users on any platform who want full control without paying.

If you specifically want to escape HandBrake's complexity, see our roundup of the best alternative to HandBrake.

3. FFmpeg — the command-line powerhouse

FFmpeg is the engine that powers most other converters on this list — including HandBrake, Permute, and a chunk of the cloud services. As a standalone tool, it is the most flexible any video converter alternative in existence. It supports virtually every codec and container ever shipped, and a single command can do things that take ten clicks in a GUI app.

The catch is that there is no GUI. You install it via Homebrew (brew install ffmpeg) or your package manager, then learn the flag syntax. A simple MP4 conversion looks like ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx265 -crf 28 output.mp4. That is either liberating or terrifying depending on your background.

Pros:

Most flexible format and codec support of anything on this list
Free, open source, no UI bloat
Scriptable for batch jobs and automated pipelines
Hardware acceleration via VideoToolbox, NVENC, QuickSync

Cons:

No GUI — terminal only
Steep learning curve for the flag syntax
No visual progress beyond text in the terminal

Best for: Developers, sysadmins, and anyone automating video workflows.

For practical examples, see HEVC vs H.264 and our deep-dive on HEVC codec explained, both of which include FFmpeg command snippets you can copy and paste.

4. Permute — drag-and-drop simplicity for Mac

Permute is another native Mac converter and one of the cleanest alternatives to AVC if you live inside the Apple ecosystem. It uses a simple queue-based interface: drop files in, pick a preset, hit start. It supports a wider range of containers than Compresto (MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, MP3, M4A, GIF, FLAC) and can also convert audio and images.

It is paid, available either as part of Setapp or as a one-time purchase. There is no free tier beyond a short trial.

Pros:

Native Mac app with a polished interface
Supports video, audio, and image conversion
Drag-and-drop batch queue
Available on Setapp if you already subscribe

Cons:

Mac only
No free tier (trial only)
Compression presets are less fine-grained than HandBrake or Compresto
Encoding is fast but typically slower than VideoToolbox-tuned apps on M-series chips

Best for: Mac users who want something simple, are happy to pay, and need broad container support including audio.

5. VLC — free conversion buried in a media player

Most people install VLC for playback, but it has a built-in conversion feature under File > Convert/Save (Mac) or Media > Convert/Save (Windows). It is free, cross-platform, and supports nearly every input format you can throw at it. For one-off conversions — turning an old AVI file into an MP4, for instance — it works fine.

The downside is that VLC's converter is a CPU-only path with no hardware acceleration. Encodes are noticeably slower than dedicated tools, and the UI for conversion is awkwardly stuck inside a media player. There is also no real batch processing.

Pros:

Already installed on most computers
Free, open source, no ads
Handles almost any input format
Quick remux operations (no re-encode) are near-instant

Cons:

No hardware acceleration for encoding
Slow on large files compared to HandBrake or Compresto
Conversion UI is hidden and unintuitive
No batch queue worth using

Best for: Occasional, one-off conversions when you do not want to install anything new.

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on converting with VLC to MP4.

6. CloudConvert — browser-based, no install

If you do not want to install anything, CloudConvert is the most reliable web-based any video converter alternative. Upload a file, pick an output format, and download the result. It supports over 200 formats and integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

The free tier gives you 25 conversion minutes per day, which is fine for a few clips. Larger jobs require credit packs or a subscription. Speed depends on the queue and the size of your file — small clips finish in seconds, multi-gigabyte files can take a while.

Pros:

Nothing to install — runs in any browser
Wide format support (200+ formats)
Cloud storage integrations
Predictable pricing for occasional users

Cons:

Upload bandwidth is the bottleneck for large files
Free tier is limited (25 minutes/day)
Privacy concern: files leave your machine
Slower than local hardware-accelerated tools

Best for: Quick, occasional conversions when you are on someone else's computer or do not want to install software.

7. Movavi Video Converter — polished UI, paid subscription

Movavi is the most direct commercial competitor to Any Video Converter Pro. It supports 180+ formats, includes batch processing, and adds a coat of polish over the encoding engine. The interface is clean and modern, with device-specific presets (iPhone, PS5, YouTube, Instagram) and basic editing tools (trim, crop, rotate, color adjust).

The catch is the pricing. Movavi sells a yearly subscription (around $39.95) plus a more expensive premium tier. The free download is a watermarked trial — actual usage requires a paid license.

Pros:

Clean, modern UI with helpful presets
180+ formats and device profiles
Built-in light editing (trim, crop, rotate)
Optional AI upscaling and other extras

Cons:

Subscription pricing instead of one-time
Free version watermarks output
Can feel bloated with upsells for adjacent Movavi products
Slower than Apple Silicon native apps on Mac

Best for: Windows or Mac users who want a polished, AVC-style UI and are happy to pay yearly.

How to pick the right Any Video Converter alternative

There is no single winner — the right choice depends on your platform, budget, and how often you convert video. Here is a quick decision framework:

You are on a Mac and want speed: Compresto. Native Apple Silicon, VideoToolbox acceleration, drop-in replacement for AVC.
You want completely free and open source on any OS: HandBrake.
You convert video as part of a script or pipeline: FFmpeg.
You want a paid Mac app with broader audio support: Permute.
You need a quick one-off conversion and have VLC installed: VLC.
You are on someone else's machine or do not want to install anything: CloudConvert.
You like the AVC-style polished GUI and do not mind paying yearly: Movavi.

If your real goal is to shrink files for sharing rather than to change their format, the better starting point is a comparison of dedicated compressors. See our roundup of the best video compressor for Mac and our list of the 6 best free any-format video converter software for more options. If you also want to understand which container and codec to target, our guide on the best video format walks through MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, and HEVC trade-offs.

FAQ

Is Any Video Converter safe?

The official AnvSoft download is not malware, but the free installer has historically bundled adware and offers for unrelated software. Install carefully, decline any "recommended" extras, and download only from the official site. If you are uncomfortable with bundled offers, an alternative like HandBrake, Compresto, or Permute will give you a cleaner install.

What replaced Any Video Converter?

Any Video Converter is still actively sold, but most users have moved to alternatives in 2026. On Mac, native apps like Compresto and Permute have largely replaced it. On Windows, HandBrake and Movavi cover the same ground with better UIs. For developers, FFmpeg has long been the default. For occasional online use, CloudConvert is the standard pick.

What is the best free alternative to Any Video Converter for Mac?

HandBrake is the best fully free any video converter alternative for Mac if you do not mind a steeper UI. If speed and simplicity matter more, Compresto offers a free trial and uses Apple Silicon hardware acceleration, which produces noticeably faster encodes than HandBrake or AVC on M-series Macs.

Does Any Video Converter work on Apple Silicon?

It runs on Apple Silicon Macs through Rosetta translation, but there is no native ARM build as of early 2026. That means encoding is slower and battery use is higher than with native apps. Compresto, Permute, HandBrake, and FFmpeg all ship native Apple Silicon builds and will outperform AVC on M1/M2/M3/M4 hardware.

Which video converter is the fastest?

For raw speed on Mac, hardware-accelerated apps using VideoToolbox win — Compresto and FFmpeg with the -c:v hevc_videotoolbox flag are typically fastest. On Windows, FFmpeg with NVENC (NVIDIA) or QuickSync (Intel) is hardest to beat, with Movavi a close second when hardware acceleration is enabled. CPU-only paths like VLC will always lag behind.

Can I batch convert with these alternatives?

Yes. Compresto, Permute, HandBrake, Movavi, and CloudConvert all support batch processing through a drag-and-drop queue. FFmpeg handles batches through shell scripts (a for loop over a directory). VLC technically supports it through the playlist trick, but the workflow is clunky enough that you should pick a different tool if batch is important to you.

Is there a free online Any Video Converter alternative?

CloudConvert is the most reliable browser-based option, with a free tier of 25 conversion minutes per day. Other online tools (Convertio, Online-Convert, Zamzar) work too, but watch for file size caps and upload bandwidth limits. Online converters are convenient, but for anything larger than a few hundred megabytes, a local app like Compresto or HandBrake will be faster.

Try Compresto for fast Mac video conversion

If you are reading this on a Mac and the AVC interface has been wearing you down, the easiest fix is to try a native app built for your hardware. Download Compresto free and see how much faster a 4K HEVC encode is when your GPU is actually being used. No bundleware, no ads, no nag screens — just drag, drop, done.