13 Best Free MKV to MP4 Converters [Windows/Mac]

To convert MKV to MP4, follow these steps:

  1. Download and launch the converter.
  2. Add files to the program.
  3. Choose MP4 as the output format.
  4. Convert your files.
Edited by Ben Jacklin
10 007

MKV is a popular format that is quite easy to convert when it comes to videos. We will discuss the best MKV-to-MP4 converters in this article that can make your task of conversion easier.

Comparing the best MKV to MP4 converters

Program

Platform

Operating system

Download

Desktop

Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.2 or higher

Desktop

Windows 7/8/10/11

Show more

Here’s what Movavi Content Team does to provide you with only verified information:

  • When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.

  • All the products covered in this article have been tested by our team.

  • When testing, we compare key characteristics, including supported input and output formats, quality loss when converting, and other significant features.

  • We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.

  • We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.

Best MKV converters for desktop

1. Movavi Video Converter

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac OS X 10.13 or higher

The first option on our list is Movavi Video Converter. The program supports all popular media formats and is very easy to use. Along with converting videos, you'll also have access to top-notch editing capabilities. Its main features are a comprehensive library of programmed conversion and optimization features, and speed of conversion. You can even edit videos with subtitles.

If you want a reliable converter with a wide range of features, download Movavi today for free.

Pros:

  • Available for both Windows and Mac users

  • Fast conversions with no limits

  • Wide range of optimization features

  • One of the easiest apps

Cons:

  • It does not have an online video download feature

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.2 or higher

If you do not have prior experience converting videos, MPEG Streamclip is the perfect tool to start with. Though it's simple to use, it offers a wide range of features. Along with being a reliable MKV converter freeware, it's also a video player and editor. One of the standout features is its capacity to handle large files, which can be split into segments during conversion.

Pros:

  • Free to use

  • You can convert files of up to 4 GB

  • Versatile file importing

  • User-friendly and interactive interface

Cons:

  • Somewhat limited features compared to high-end tools

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows 7/8/10/11

For top-notch video conversion capabilities, MediaCoder is undoubtedly one of the best free MKV-to-MP4 converters. During conversion, this software will compress the videos. However, even after doing so, the output quality will be unaffected. If your video is not complete or slightly corrupted, MediaCoder will repair the damage, allowing you to watch the video.

Pros:

  • Cutting-edge video and sound management features

  • Compresses videos while preserving quality

Cons:

  • Not suitable for beginners

Platforms: Desktop

Operating system: Windows 7 and later, MacOS X 10.6 and later

VideoProc Converter excels as an all-in-one MKV converter. VideoProc Converter has assisted millions of users in enhancing their videos because of its compatibility with a broad variety of video formats, quick video conversion, high-quality video output, and a range of editing features. VideoProc Converter quickly and accurately converts your video and audio files using its exclusive GPU acceleration engine.

VideoProc Converter is a fantastic option if you're seeking a reliable video converter that can handle all of your video converting requirements.

Pros:

  • Support for a wide range of video formats:

  • High-Quality and fast video conversion

  • DVD ripping and online video downloader

  • Editing Tools to trim, crop, merge, and add effects

Cons:

  • Limited free trial

5. VLC

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows XP or higher, Mac OS X 10.7 or higher

Other than being a video player, VLC is also a reliable MKV-to-MP4 program. Whether you are using Windows or MAC, you can use VLC. It's easy to use and supports a wide range of video and audio formats, hence its popularity.

Pros:

  • Free to use

  • Expandable via plugins

Cons:

  • Limited features compared to other MKV converters

  • Doesn’t download videos by URL

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows Vista/7/8/10/11

As the name implies, Freemake Video Converter is a free conversion tool. With over 93 million users, it's undoubtedly one of the best MKV converters for Windows. Though it offers a wide range of video conversion options and supports many formats, you do not require any specialist knowledge to change the format of your videos.

Pros:

  • Supports multiple output options

  • Beginner-friendly

Cons:

  • Not available on Mac

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe is a video conversion program made for users of all skill levels. It allows you to convert a wide range of video formats and comes with GPU acceleration tools to allow for fast conversions. The free version only allows you to convert up to five minutes and one video at a time, but it’s a great tool for converting short videos.

Pros:

  • Support for 9 high-definition formats and 24 other video formats

  • Download and encode videos directly from the web

  • Very fast installation

  • Also converts audio and photo files

Cons:

  • Not many editing features

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher

MacX Video Converter Pro is an excellent media encoder for Mac users who want conversions for professional use. Along with converting, you'll be able to record, compress, and edit videos. Designed for professional use, MacX Video Converter Pro can handle HD, Full HD (1080p), and 4K Ultra HD videos without losing quality.

Pros:

  • Can transcode high-quality videos

  • Quickly convert your files

Cons:

  • Only accessible on macOS

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows 10 or higher, Mac OS X 10.13 or higher

As one of the fastest free MKV converters, HandBrake received a warm welcome from Windows users after initially only being available on a Mac. This tool has a wide range of features and makes little effort to explain some of the terminologies. As such, it is suitable for users with some experience.

Pros:

  • Customizable presets

  • Fast conversions

Cons:

  • Not beginner-friendly

  • Doesn’t support download by URL

Platform: Desktop

Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/7/8/10

Format Factory is a free multimedia transcoding software that you can run on any Windows platform. The application covers a vast range of format options that can help you turn anything to a format of your choice. The UI is easy to use, allowing users to use the application without hassle. In fact, with the help of this application, you can transfer CDs and DVDs into various formats. The conversion speed is superfast, and you will not feel any kind of lag. If you want hardware acceleration, it is available for this application during conversion. Users can repair any kind of video file, decrease file size, and convert necessary files to PDF.

Pros:

  • Free app

  • Superfast conversion

  • Comes with the option of disc-ripping

  • Supports hardware acceleration

Cons:

  • Offers to install unwanted applications

  • Only available for Windows

Free MKV converters: Online tools

Platform: Online

Operating system: Any

FreeConvert.com is a completely and totally free online video conversion tool. It’s a simple and fast way to convert your files. Plus videos delete from their servers after 2 hours and are protected by SSL encryption at 256 bits, so it’s completely secure.

Supporting over 60 popular file formats for import – including MKV – FreeConvert.com can help you convert some of the more obscure file types. Changing the format with this bulk file converter is a simple process.

If you want to customize your conversions, there are also some tools available. Just know that the program limits your file size to 1 GB.

Pros:

  • Batch conversion feature for up to 20 videos

  • Allows you to compress videos

  • Offers more security than most online converters

Cons:

  • Can only convert files up to 1 GB

Platform: Online

Operating system: Any

Whether you want to convert videos, audios, documents, images, e-books, and spreadsheets, CloudConvert is the ideal tool. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you can access the platform as it is cloud-based. Using this tool is easy, making it suitable for first-time users.

Pros:

  • Easy to use

  • You can synchronize with Google

  • You can also convert images, documents, and presentations

  • Free trial period

  • Has a website capturing feature

Cons:

  • You have to pay a subscription fee after the trial version

  • Relatively little support

13. Zamzar

Platform: Online

Operating system: Any

When you need an MKV converter to use on the internet, Zamzar is an ideal option. This online tool supports a lot of formats and is easy to use, making it suitable for beginners. Once you load the website, you can begin converting files even if you do not have a user account. When your conversion is complete, you'll receive an email notification. Since it's an online converter, you can access it via Windows, Linux, or Mac. All you'll need is a web browser and internet connection. You can use this online MKV converter for free.

Pros:

  • Free to use

  • You can upload files from your computer or the internet via an URL

  • Can be used to convert files through email

Cons:

  • You can only convert a maximum of two files each day

  • To increase files size capacity, you'll need to upgrade to the premium version

  • Slow in comparison to other tools

  • Delays of up to an hour for conversions when the website has high traffic

Summary: How to choose MKV to MP4 сonverter

If you are looking out for some great MKV-to-MP4 converters, the above list can surely help you. One of the options that are getting famous among users every day is Movavi Video Converter. The best aspect of this application is that it comes with editing options that you cannot find in any other application.

There are many different converters to choose from if you want to transform MKV into MP4. It is best to check the following criteria:

Ease of use: How familiar are you with video editing? Make sure that the software is up to your expertise level. Too many functions can quickly overwhelm a beginner.

Features: Before downloading or paying for a program, you should always make sure it has all the features you need. If there’s an opportunity, check the free trial version of a program first.

Supported formats: It's best to choose a program that supports a wide range of file formats so you can use the software more flexibly (and more frequently).

Customer reviews: Before buying any software, it is worth taking a look at the reviews from previous customers. This way you can see all pros and cons the program has.

Customer service: Check what customer support the software developer provides. Is there a live chat, a help forum, a contact email address, or even a customer hotline? Instructions for the program are also very useful.

Here’s our top picks of desktop MKV to MP4 converters for your convenience. Each one of them is perfect for specific purposes.

User-friendly conversions

HandBrake
Editor's choice

Ready-to-use MP4 presets, fast conversions

Movavi Video Converter

Advanced conversions

VLC

Frequently asked questions

▶️ What is the best MKV video converter?

There are several choices when it comes to MKV video converters. You can have a look at the list above to make your choice. You can opt for Movavi Video Converter if you are willing to have every feature in a video converter. It is well known for its speed of conversion and ease of use. The application is available for both Windows and macOS. The only disadvantage of the application is that there is no feature of online video conversion.

▶️ How can I convert MKV to MP4 for free?

If you want to know how to convert your files for free, there are plenty of MKV converters (freeware) that you can use. Some, such as FreeConvert.com and CloudConvert, are web-based tools that you can use if you have an internet connection. With others, such as Freemake Video Converter, MPEG Streamclip, and WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe, you'll need to download software on your device.

▶️ Why is MKV not supported?

For a video to play in your video player, it must have the codecs supported by the media player. If MKV files are not playing, you might be missing a codec.

▶️ What can play an MKV file?

There are many media players that support MKV files. They include Windows Media Player, VLC, and DivX Player, among others.

▶️ Does MKV work on TVs?

If your TV is compatible with MKV, or you can download the codecs, you'll be able to watch MKV videos. However, if the MKV files contain other incompatible formats, the video may not play. For instance, MKV files that contain Dolby Audio do not play on Samsung TVs.

▶️ Can you put MKV on an iPhone?

If you want to play MKV files on your iPhone, you'll need to download an external media player such as VLC for iOS as the built-in media player in Apple devices does not support MKV files.

▶️ Is MKV better than MP4?

Both MKV and MP4 come with their own set of features. One of the differences between the formats is that MP4 files are a lot smaller in size in comparison to MKV. Also, the media players that you will get with today’s mobile devices are more likely to support MP4. MP4 files can provide great quality videos in small file sizes with H.264 encoding. If you want a file format that is small in size without any compromise on quality, MP4 is the option for you.

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