MOV to MP4 Converter for Mac: 7 Best Free Methods in 2026

Complete guide to converting MOV files to MP4 on Mac using free built-in tools, desktop apps, and online converters.

February 24, 2026

MOV is Apple's native video container, and it's everywhere on Mac. QuickTime records in it, Screen Recording saves to it, iPhone videos default to it. The problem shows up the moment you try to share that MOV file with someone on Windows, upload it to a platform that chokes on it, or attach it to an email that bounces back oversized.

The solution is converting MOV to MP4 — a universal container that plays on virtually every device, app, and platform without issues. On Mac in 2026, you have seven solid methods to do this, from a simple filename rename to professional-grade command-line tools. This guide covers all of them, with specific steps and honest trade-offs for each.

Why Convert MOV to MP4?

MOV and MP4 are both container formats — they're wrappers that hold video, audio, and metadata. The confusion is that they often contain identical video data inside. A MOV file shot on iPhone with H.264 encoding contains essentially the same video stream as the MP4 you'd export from editing software.

So why does the format matter at all?

Compatibility is the main reason. MOV is an Apple-native format with best support on macOS and iOS. MP4 is a universal standard (MPEG-4 Part 14) supported on every operating system, video player, streaming platform, and social media site. When you send a MOV to a Windows user, they may need additional codecs to play it. When you upload a MOV to certain platforms, they reject or poorly handle it.

File size is the second reason. MOV files often carry extra metadata, multiple audio tracks, and Apple-specific data that inflates file size without benefiting video quality. Converting to MP4 and recompressing simultaneously can shrink a MOV file significantly. See our guide on how to reduce file size of MOV for size-specific techniques.

Sharing and upload compatibility. Most social platforms, video hosting services, and messaging apps handle MP4 better than MOV. WhatsApp, Discord, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok all have stronger native support for MP4. For example, compress video for WhatsApp almost always means converting to MP4 as part of the process.

Factor	MOV	MP4
Developer	Apple	ISO / MPEG group
Platform support	Excellent on macOS/iOS	Universal
Windows compatibility	Requires codec	Native
Streaming support	Limited	Universal
Typical file size	Larger	Smaller (same quality)
Best for	Apple ecosystem editing	Sharing, uploading, archiving

Method 1: Rename the File Extension

Best for: Quick testing; H.264 MOV files only

This is the fastest method and it costs nothing — but it only works under specific conditions.

If your MOV file uses H.264 video encoding (which most iPhone and screen recordings do), you can sometimes simply rename the file from video.mov to video.mp4. The container changes on the outside; the video data inside stays identical.

How to do it:

Right-click the MOV file in Finder
Select Rename
Change .mov to .mp4
macOS will warn you about changing the extension — click Use .mp4
Try playing the file in your target app or uploading it

When it works: H.264 or H.265 video with AAC audio inside a MOV container — common for iPhone videos and QuickTime recordings.

When it fails: If the MOV uses Apple ProRes, MJPEG, or other codecs not supported in MP4 containers, the renamed file won't play correctly or won't be accepted by upload tools.

Test by opening the renamed file in VLC or QuickTime. If it plays, the rename worked. If not, proceed to one of the re-encoding methods below.

Method 2: Convert MOV to MP4 with QuickTime Player

Best for: Quick conversion with no extra software

QuickTime Player, built into every Mac, can export MOV files to MP4 with a few clicks. No download required.

How to convert:

Open your MOV file in QuickTime Player
Go to File > Export As
Choose your target resolution:
- 4K — maintains original 4K quality (large file)
- 1080p — Full HD (recommended for most uses)
- 720p — smaller file size, still good quality
- 480p — smallest file, for sharing over limited connections
Choose a save location
Click Save

QuickTime exports to M4V format by default, but you can rename the extension to .mp4 — M4V is an MP4 variant that plays identically in most apps. Alternatively, after saving, the file is already compatible with most platforms that accept MP4.

Trade-offs: QuickTime gives you resolution choices but no bitrate control. You can't set a target file size, choose between constant quality or average bitrate encoding, or customize audio settings. For basic MOV to MP4 conversion, it's perfect. For anything more precise, use HandBrake or Compresto.

Method 3: Use iMovie to Convert MOV to MP4

Best for: Users already editing in iMovie who want an export-quality MP4

iMovie is a free Apple app that most Macs already have installed. Its export function produces clean MP4 files compatible with virtually everything.

How to convert:

Open iMovie and create a New Movie project
Click Import Media and select your MOV file
Drag the clip to the timeline
Go to File > Share > File
In the export dialog, configure:
- Resolution: 1080p (or lower for smaller files)
- Quality: High (for best quality) or Medium (for smaller size)
- Compress: Faster (lower quality) or Better Quality (recommended)
Click Next, name the file, choose a location, click Save

iMovie exports as MP4 with H.264 encoding, which is universally compatible.

Trade-offs: iMovie adds some time overhead — you need to create a project and import your clip even if you're not editing it. For a pure conversion with no editing, QuickTime or Compresto is faster. iMovie shines when you're already editing and want to export the final result as MP4.

Method 4: Convert with Compresto (Batch Conversion + Compression)

Best for: Mac users who want speed, batch processing, and size reduction in one step

Compresto is a native macOS app that converts MOV to MP4 while simultaneously compressing the output — so you get a universally compatible file that's also significantly smaller than the original. It uses Apple Silicon hardware acceleration on M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs, making it dramatically faster than software-based encoders.

How to convert MOV to MP4 with Compresto:

Download and install Compresto
Drag your MOV file (or multiple MOV files) into the app window
Set output format to MP4
Choose H.264 as the codec (or H.265 for even smaller files with slightly less compatibility)
Set resolution and quality to match your use case
Click Compress — output is a properly formatted MP4 file

What makes Compresto different from the other methods: it combines conversion and compression into a single step. QuickTime and iMovie convert but don't reduce file size aggressively. Compresto can take a 500MB MOV file and produce a 50–80MB MP4 without visible quality loss. For Mac users who regularly convert and share video — especially content creators, marketers, and anyone sending videos to non-Apple users — this workflow saves significant time.

Compresto's batch processing also handles entire folders of MOV files at once, which is essential when you have hours of footage to convert.

Download Compresto to compress videos and images on your Mac with one click.

Method 5: HandBrake MOV to MP4 Conversion

Best for: Precise bitrate control, free, and cross-platform

HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder with the most granular encoding options of any free tool. It's the go-to for users who want exact control over output bitrate, codec settings, and quality parameters.

How to convert MOV to MP4 with HandBrake:

Download HandBrake from handbrake.fr and install it
Click Open Source and select your MOV file
In the Presets panel on the right, choose Fast 1080p30 as a starting point
In the Summary tab, ensure Format is set to MP4
In the Video tab:
- Set Video Encoder to H.264 (x264)
- Choose Constant Quality (RF) at RF 22 for excellent quality, or RF 26 for smaller files
- Or switch to Avg Bitrate for precise file size control
In the Audio tab, set codec to AAC at 192 kbps
Click Start Encode

HandBrake's Constant Rate Factor (CRF) mode is particularly useful: RF 18 is near-lossless, RF 22 is excellent quality at reasonable size, RF 26 is good quality with aggressive compression. Start at RF 22 and adjust based on the output size and quality you need.

For a full HandBrake walkthrough, see our guide on how to use HandBrake software.

Trade-offs: HandBrake requires more setup than QuickTime and its interface isn't as intuitive as Compresto. But for free software with professional-grade control, nothing else comes close.

Method 6: FFmpeg Command Line

Best for: Developers, power users, and automation workflows

FFmpeg is the backbone of most video tools you've ever used — HandBrake, VLC, and even online converters all rely on it. Running FFmpeg directly gives you maximum control and is essential for scripting automated conversion workflows.

Install FFmpeg via Homebrew:

brew install ffmpeg

Basic MOV to MP4 conversion (no re-encoding):

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy output.mp4

The -c copy flag copies the video and audio streams without re-encoding. This is the fastest possible conversion — it completes in seconds regardless of file size — and produces no quality loss. It works when the MOV already contains H.264/AAC streams (most iPhone and QuickTime recordings).

Full re-encode with quality control:

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -preset slow -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4

Breaking this down:

-i input.mov — input file
-c:v libx264 — encode video with H.264
-crf 22 — quality level (18 = near-lossless, 28 = aggressive compression)
-preset slow — slower encoding for better compression efficiency
-c:a aac -b:a 192k — AAC audio at 192 kbps
output.mp4 — output file

Batch convert an entire folder:

for f in *.mov; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c copy "${f%.mov}.mp4"; done

This converts every MOV file in the current directory to MP4 using stream copy (no re-encoding). For re-encoding, replace -c copy with your preferred encoding flags.

For a detailed FFmpeg guide covering compression and advanced options, see FFmpeg compress video.

Method 7: Online MOV to MP4 Converters

Best for: One-off conversions on any device, no software installation

Online converters work from any browser and don't require installing anything. The trade-off is upload time, file size limits, and privacy considerations — your video travels to a third-party server.

CloudConvert

CloudConvert (cloudconvert.com) is one of the most reliable online conversion tools, supporting over 200 file formats.

Go to cloudconvert.com/mov-to-mp4
Click Select File and upload your MOV
Choose MP4 as the output format
Click Convert — CloudConvert processes on its servers
Download the converted MP4

The free plan allows 25 conversions per day with a maximum file size of 1GB per conversion. Results are generally good quality.

Adobe Express (Free)

Adobe Express (express.adobe.com) offers a free video converter that handles MOV to MP4 conversions cleanly.

Visit express.adobe.com and sign in (free Adobe account required)
Navigate to the video converter tool
Upload your MOV file
Select MP4 as the output format
Download the result

Adobe's conversion quality is consistently good, and the tool handles larger files well. The requirement to create an Adobe account is the main friction point.

Privacy note for online tools: If your MOV contains sensitive content — business meetings, personal footage, confidential material — use a local tool like Compresto, QuickTime, or HandBrake instead of uploading to an online service.

MOV vs. MP4: What's the Difference?

Understanding the technical difference helps you choose the right conversion method.

Property	MOV	MP4
Full name	QuickTime Movie	MPEG-4 Part 14
Developed by	Apple	ISO / MPEG group
File extensions	.mov	.mp4, .m4v
Container type	Apple QuickTime	ISO Base Media
Common codecs	H.264, H.265, ProRes, MJPEG	H.264, H.265, AV1
Audio codecs	AAC, PCM, ALAC	AAC, MP3, AC-3
Max compatibility	Apple devices natively	Universal
Streaming support	Limited	Built-in (faststart)
Editing quality	Excellent (ProRes)	Good (H.264/H.265)

The most important takeaway: MOV and MP4 are containers, not codecs. Two files can contain identical H.264 video data but have different extensions — one .mov, one .mp4. In that case, renaming or re-muxing (method 1 or FFmpeg's -c copy) is instantaneous and lossless. If the codec inside the MOV isn't MP4-compatible (like ProRes or AVCHD), you need to re-encode, which takes more time and involves some quality trade-off.

For working with AVCHD footage specifically, see our guide on AVCHD to MP4 conversion.

Which Method Should You Use?

Here's a quick decision tree:

Want zero software and maximum speed? → Method 1 (rename) if your MOV is H.264; Method 2 (QuickTime) otherwise.

Need small file size + conversion in one step? → Method 4 (Compresto).

Want free with full bitrate control? → Method 5 (HandBrake).

Building an automated workflow or script? → Method 6 (FFmpeg).

On a device without software access? → Method 7 (online tools).

Already editing in iMovie? → Method 3 (iMovie export).

For content creators who regularly convert and share video — compressing for social platforms, Google Drive, or email — Compresto's combination of conversion, compression, and batch processing in one drag-and-drop interface saves the most time overall. See our related guides on compress video for Google Drive and compress video online free for platform-specific workflows.

FAQ: MOV to MP4 Converter for Mac

Does converting MOV to MP4 reduce quality?

It depends on the method. If you use stream copy (FFmpeg's -c copy flag, or renaming the extension for H.264 MOV files), there is zero quality loss — you're just repackaging the video data without re-encoding. If you use a re-encoding method (HandBrake, Compresto, QuickTime export, iMovie), there is technically some quality reduction, but at high quality settings (CRF 22 in HandBrake, or high quality in Compresto), the difference is imperceptible to the human eye on typical screens.

What's the fastest way to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac?

The fastest method is stream copy with FFmpeg (ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy output.mp4) or simply renaming the file extension — both complete in seconds regardless of file size. For users who want a graphical interface without the command line, Compresto is the next fastest option thanks to Apple Silicon hardware acceleration. QuickTime's export function is also fast for individual files.

Can I convert multiple MOV files to MP4 at once on Mac?

Yes. Compresto supports batch conversion — drag a folder of MOV files into the app and it processes them all. FFmpeg handles batches via a simple shell loop: for f in *.mov; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c copy "${f%.mov}.mp4"; done. HandBrake has a built-in queue for adding multiple source files. QuickTime and iMovie don't support batch conversion natively.

Will converting MOV to MP4 make the file smaller?

If you use stream copy (no re-encoding), the file size stays nearly identical — MOV and MP4 containers have similar overhead. If you re-encode during conversion (using HandBrake, Compresto, or FFmpeg with encoding flags), you can significantly reduce file size — typically 40–70% smaller with no visible quality loss at standard viewing sizes. The compression happens during the re-encoding step, not from the container change itself.

MP4 is better for uploading to almost all social platforms. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter all officially recommend or exclusively support MP4 with H.264 encoding. MOV files may upload successfully on some platforms (especially those with Apple integration), but MP4 is the universally safe choice. It also produces smaller files than MOV at equivalent quality, which matters for platforms with file size limits. See our guides on compress video for Instagram and compress video for LinkedIn for platform-specific settings.

Convert Your MOV Files Today

Converting MOV to MP4 on Mac doesn't need to be complicated. For a quick one-off conversion, QuickTime Player handles it in three clicks. For regular workflows where you need the output file to also be small and share-ready, Compresto combines conversion and compression into one step — saving time compared to converting then compressing separately.