The Best Way to Convert .mov Videos to MP4 on Mac

These days there are a lot of concerns about file types and compatibility. With video files in particular, people are concerned about both the ability to play their videos in different formats, as well as things like quality and specific editing features.

Two of the main formats that people use are .mov and MP4. While both of these formats remain popular, using MP4 is generally considered preferable for reasons that we will describe below.

What are .mov and MP4?

We should start out by defining what exactly .mov and MP4 are and what makes them different. Both of these formats can produce a high-quality product, but there are differences between them.

Files that are .mov are generally considered acceptable for professional-level videos, and they include multi-track capabilities like, as well as lossless editing. IHowever, cross-device compatibility can be limited, and you might need to add codecs to enable playback. Also, .mov files tend to be ten times larger than MP4 files.

MP4 has firmly established itself as the current standard bearer in video formats. It works on pretty much all device types and can be shared universally. It’s only drawback is that MP4 files can occasionally lose some of their quality in the compression process. But this is something that most people are willing to tolerate.

Ways to convert .mov to MP4

In the sections below, we will look at some of the best programs out there for converting .mov to MP4.

Movavi Video Converter

The Movavi Video Converter makes the conversion process easy, and it can do so in relatively little time. The steps to convert MOV video on Mac with Movavi are as follows:

1. Download the converter from the website and install it.
2. Open the program and click on Add Media to upload the files you want. Then choose Add Video. You can convert more than one video at a time if you want.
3. Choose a preset. To do this, go to Video and choose the option MP4. You also have the option of uploading directly onto the web, in which case you can go to Web-Compatible Video and select from there.
4. Click Convert to start the conversion process. You will also need to specify the folder where you want your file saved.

Freeconvert

FreeConvert is a program that will allow you to perform the conversion process entirely online, so you don’t have to worry about downloading any software. It is widely compatible with different media formats.

To use FreeConvert, simply go to the website and complete the following steps:

1. Go to the box that appears on your screen. This is where you will add your files to be converted.
2. You can either choose files from your hard drive, from a cloud, or even a URL. To do this, click on Choose Files.
3. There will be a drop-down list from which you can choose the files you want to convert. Choose MP4.
4. Click on Convert to MP4, and when the process is complete, click on Download MP4.

The primary disadvantage of FreeConvert is that it can take longer to complete the conversion process than other programs take, and you will be limited in terms of the number and size of your files.

VLC

VLC’ s converter works well with multi-functional software and is compatible with different systems. It is also free and open-sourced. When you are finished converting your videos, you will be able to play them, as well.

The process of converting files from .mov to MP4 on VLC is the following:

1. Download the program onto your computer.
2. Go to the File tab and click on Convert/Stream.
3. To select your videos to convert, click on Open Media. You can choose more than one video if you wish.
4. Go to Choose Profile and choose the option Video-H.264+MP3.
5. To save the video, click on Save as File and give your file a name. Then click on Save.

While VLC is a very convenient program with interesting features, it is potentially problematic at times and can be subject to bugs. If you are very particular about the quality of your videos, you might choose a different program.

Aiseesoft Video Converter

Aiseesoft offers a reliable converter that allows you to convert files while preserving quality. It offers different audio and video formats to choose from, as well. And you can edit your videos when you convert them for enhancement.

The process of converting .mov to MP4 on Aiseesoft is the following:

1. Download the converter from the website.
2. Launch the converter and add the files that you want to convert in the upper-left part of the screen.
3. Click on the file that you want to convert and then click on Open. You can also adjust your bitrate or resolution as you wish.
4. To begin the conversion process, click on Convert All. When it is complete, click in Open Folder and you will be able to open your new file.

iMovie

You can also convert .mov to MP4 simply by using Apple’s own iMovie function. To do this, take the following steps:

1. Open iMovie and click on the “+” sign.
2. Click on “Import” to import the video file that you will convert.
3. Click on the video to be converted, and then click on Share to save the file.
4. Click on Export File to send the file to a new location.

While iMovie is somewhat limited in the number of functions that it can fulfill, Mac owners can use it easily without having to worry about looking for an external program.

Conclusion

Converting .mov to MP4 is a very common process these days. Indeed, MP4 has established itself as the most popular format in the world. Having video files in MP4 increases their compatibility and reduces the load that you will have to bear on your system. Depending on your priorities, there are several different Mac-based programs that can help you complete the process.