How to Convert MOV to MP4 in 6 Easy Ways [Online Free]

How do I convert MOV files to MP4? --- A question from Quora.

Sometimes you probably can't play MOV videos on Blackberry, PDA, smartphone, or PSP. Sometimes MOV files can't be played on your QuickTime, or there is only the sound without the picture. No worries! We've got you covered. As we all know, MP4 is the most popular video format for phones, tablets, and other devices. Hence, we'll introduce six easy ways to convert MOV to MP4 or convert Quicktime MOV files to mp4 so that you can play QuickTime videos anywhere and anytime. After saving, you'll also be able to play MP4 videos on Windows Media Player without the need of MOV transcoders.

• Part 1. Best QuickTime MOV to MP4 Video Converter for Windows and Mac
• Part 2. 3 Ways to Convert MOV to MP4 Online and Free
• Part 3. How to Convert Large MOV Videos to MP4 Free on Desktop
• Part 4. How to Convert MOV Files to MP4 with VLC
• Part 5. MOV VS. MP4

Part 1. Best QuickTime MOV to MP4 Video Converter for Windows and Mac

>Watch Video Tutorial to Convert MOV Videos to MP4 on Windows, Similar Steps on Mac

Steps on How to Convert MOV Videos to MP4 on Mac and Windows 10:

1. Install Wondershare MOV Converter and Add MOV files.
2. Select the MP4 Format.
3. Convert MOV files to MP4.

Step 1 Add MOV Files to the Best MOV Converter.

Launch Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) and then click the Add Files button to add the files you want to convert. Alternatively, you can add these files by simply dragging and dropping. Please note that you can add several files in one go as the converter supports batch conversion here.

Step 2 Select the Output Format and Compress MOV Videos.

Click the down-arrow icon beside Output Format: and enter the output formats list, then select the Video tab to choose MP4 in the left sidebar and select the video resolution from the right section. You're optional to click Create here to set a new format with customized frame rate, bitrate, encoder, resolution, through which you can compress the MOV video per your needs.

Also, this application has an optimized preset for different devices or video editings tools like iMovie or Final Cut Pro. You can click the Device tab to choose your device as the output format. Besides, you can enable Merge All Videos before the conversion if you want to merge these videos into one.

Step 3 Start Converting MOV Files to MP4 in Batch.

Hit the Start All button when everything is ready, and the conversions will be completed automatically. Now all you have to do is to wait and hit the Output icon at the bottom of the main interface to enjoy the videos!

Optional Edit MOV Videos Before Conversion.

Select the video you want to edit and hit one of the editing icons under the video thumbnail. This converter provides you with clipping, cropping, merging, adding subtitles, and other functions. After editing the video, you can have an instant preview of your edited video. Just play your talents to make a video masterpiece.

This MOV video converter for Windows can convert almost all popular multimedia formats with the steps above. Feel free to download the software.

Part 2. 3 Ways to Convert MOV to MP4 Online and Free

If you don't want to add any extra software, you can apply online video converters instead. Here, we have three recommended online converters to help you convert a file to MP4 free online.

1. Cloudconvert

It is an online program that is free to use and takes care of your conversion needs in a simple manner. The program allows adding MOV files from your PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, through URL, or by simply dragging and dropping. Once added, the MOV file is converted to MP4 format and can be downloaded from the program interface. But this converter will take much longer time to load data comparing with Online UniConverter (originally Media.io).

Step 1: Launch Cloudconvert on your PC/Mac browser.

Step 2: Click Select Files to browse and add the MOV file to be converted.

Step 3: Once the file is added, it will automatically start uploading and convert to MP4 format. After a successful conversion, the file can be downloaded from the link at the program interface.

2. Zamzar

Zamzar is yet another online tool that is capable of converting not only the media files but also formats like Word to PDF, JPG to Word, ePub to Mobi, PDF to PPT, etc. With the intuitive and straightforward interface, Zamzar enables you to change MOV files to MP4 in merely a couple of mouse-clicks. However, the free limit of the file size is 150MB, and it usually takes a long time to process the video file.

Step 1: Upload the MOV File. Use the link given above to get to the Zamzar’s convert page, click Add Files, and use the box that comes up next to upload the target MOV file to Zamzar.

Step 2: Convert to MP4. Ensure that mp4 is selected in the Convert To drop-down list, and click Convert to convert files to MP4.

Step 3: Download Converted File. On the All Done page that you are redirected to post successful conversion, click Download to download the converted MP4 file on your computer.

3. Online UniConverter (originally Media.io)

Online UniConverter (originally Media.io) is an online video converter that supports the most popular video and audio formats conversion. You can convert MOV videos to MP4, AVI, WMV, MKV, and other formats within three steps. What's more, you can even convert video to audio files such as MP3, WAV, M4A, etc. It has a super-fast converting speed among online tools and without any ads or watermark. It also provides you with basic video editing features and allows compressing video size online free. The only disadvantage is that it has a limitation on total file size like most free online tools.

How to Convert a MOV File to MP4 Online and Free with Online UniConverter?

Step 1: Open Online UniConverter (originally Media.io) (https://www.media.io/) website from your browser on Windows or Mac.

Step 2: Click the Drag & Drop or Hit to Add File button to select the MOV video you want to convert, and then choose MP4 as the output format from the Convert all files to or to > Video tab.

Step 3: Click the CONVERT button to convert the MOV video to MP4 online and free. After conversion, tap the DOWNLOAD button to download your converted MP4 file or save it to Dropbox.

Pros and Cons of these online MOV converters:

No matter Cloudconvert or Zamzar or Online UniConverter (originally Media.io), online converters need no download or installation. The conversion process is straightforward, where you just need to add the desired file, and it will get converted in some time. Also, they are always free to use.

The speed of converting files online is dependent on the availability and Internet connection, and almost all online tools have file size limitations no more than 200MB. What's more, if you are looking for options like batch conversion, fast speed, and editing tools, switch to more advanced software (Wondershare UniConverter).

Part 3. How to Convert Large MOV Videos to MP4 Free on Desktop

Paying for software can be pinching at times and especially when you have basic conversion needs with a few numbers of files. In such situations, you can opt for free software like Wondershare Free Video Converter. This free-to-use MOV converter installed on your PC or Mac allows converting your files to various formats. The program works at a fast speed (thanks to the latest APEXTRANS technology), features in-program editing functions, and delivers quality-output. Free Video Converter also allows downloading YouTube videos for conversion or offline playback.

Steps to convert MOV(QuickTime Movie) to MP4 (MPEG-4 Video File) for free using Wondershare Free Video Converter:

Step 1: Launch Free Converter and add the MOV file to change MOV video files to MP4.

Download, install and open Wondershare software on your PC/Mac. Under the Convert tab on the primary software interface, click Add Files to browse and upload MOV files.

Step 2: Select MP4 as output format.

Click the drop-down icon beside the Convert all files to option. Select Video > MP4 > the resolution.

Step 3: Convert the MOV Video File to MP4 free.

Hit Convert All to start the process of converting video to MP4 format. At the Output option, you can select the destination on your PC where you wish to save the converted file.

Pros and Cons of the free method:

Wondershare Free Video Converter is an excellent alternative to paid software as it supports an array of useful features. The program works well with Windows as well as Mac system and supports conversion between all popular formats. With batch processing, multiple files can be converted at a time with 30 times faster speed. YouTube Download and editing of files add to the pros associated with the software.

As compared to professional paid software, it will have a watermark for conversion files. If your files are small and don't have a high request about the conversion speed, it will be a better choice to use online converters.

Part 4. How to Convert MOV Files to MP4 with VLC

Do you wonder, "Can VLC convert MOV format to MP4 format"? The answer is yes. VLC Player, known as an open-source video player, can not only play videos in different formats but also convert videos between popular formats MP4 to MOV. VLC can meet the basic conversion needs if you don't use conversion features very often.

Step 1: You can download and install VLC first, and Open it on your computer.

Step 2: Add the MOV file by clicking the Add button or drag and drop. After that, you can click the Convert/Save button to enter the Convert window.

Step 3: Choose the target format Video - H.265 + (MP3) MP4, and you're optional to make the settings. Then, you can browse the target folder to save the converted formats. Finally, click the Start button to switch to MP4 with VLC.

Pros and Cons of the free VLC:

Although the VLC player can convert video to MP4 easily, it has its disadvantages too. It may occur some inexplicable errors when you're converting videos. Also, it can't customize your video before conversion. And the supported conversion formats are limited.

Part 5. MOV VS. MP4

File Extension	MOV	MP4
Category	Video File Format	Video File Format
Description	MOV is a filename extension for the QuickTime multimedia file format. It enables a combination of different types of multimedia data (video, audio, and text).	MP4 is a container format used to store video, audio, and subtitles data. Since stores like iTunes uses this container format, and it is used with iPod and PlayStation (PSP). It becomes an accessible format.
Associated Programs	QuickTime VLC	Apple QuickTime Player Apple iTunes Windows Media Player
Developed by	Apple Inc	Moving Picture Experts Group
MIME Type	Video	Video
Pros	It offers a decent picture quality when opened in QuickTime Player. The performance improves further when used on a Mac PC. MOV files support multichannel audio.	It is widely used and is compatible with almost all media players across nearly all platforms. It offers a decent compression ratio when created using the H.264 codec. The ratio is even higher when H.265 is used.
Cons	Many players or post-production tools do not support MOV files, and therefore they must be converted to a different format to make them compatible.	Sometimes it is a bit challenging to edit MP4 files due to high compression.

Conclusion

With all the tutorials available today, it is easy to learn how to convert MOV videos to MP4. Several efficient online tools can help you with video conversions, although these web portals prove to be useful when you save media files occasionally. If you are in a profession where frequent conversions are needed, installing a dedicated program like Wondershare UniConverter would be a wise approach. The software is lightweight, and it works 30x faster than others. Still, it also has several post-production gears like video editor, video compressor, audio manager, etc. that make the app one-stop-shop for all media manipulation needs.