Online video converter

• VLC, Movavi Video Converter, and Fastreel are the three main tools you can use to convert VLC videos to MP4. The VLC video converter gets the job done for free but can be slow and clunky; Movavi feels like the grown-up version – fast, polished, and surprisingly lightweight. Fastreel sits somewhere in between, handy when you just need a quick online fix.
• Online converters like Fastreel by Movavi are convenient if you prefer not to install software, though they depend on internet speed and file-size limits.
• Choose your tool based on how often you convert videos and the size or quality of your files. Frequent users benefit most from a dedicated converter.
• To keep your videos looking sharp, always choose an MP4 preset with H.264 or H.265 and, if your computer allows it, switch on hardware acceleration for a serious speed boost.

With thousands of formats out there, there is a possibility you will come across files that won't play at some point. That is often because some brands prefer to support unique formats and codecs. Converting such files to other formats supported by your media player is recommended if you want to play them. Thankfully, with the right converter, you will need a little time to get it done.

In this article, we explore three ways to transcode videos from the VLC library to MP4. But before jumping right in, let's take a look at the key reasons why people convert videos.

I tested VLC Media Player on both Windows 10 and macOS to see how to use VLC to convert to MP4. The app remains a free, open-source, cross-platform tool developed by the VideoLAN project. Although it’s best known as a media player, you can also convert with VLC quite easily. During my test, I used it to turn several MKV and AVI clips into MP4 files without any extra software.

After spending some time with Movavi Video Converter, I can safely say it’s the smoother, smarter cousin of VLC. Both can handle video conversion, sure, but Movavi actually feels built to answer the question about how to convert to MP4. When I tested it, it easily managed large 4K files and even supported batch conversions without slowing down my PC.

Simplicity: The interface is clean and thoughtfully arranged, making it easy to drag and drop your files without a second thought. It’s the kind of app you can use straight out of the box and feel like a pro in ten minutes.

Speed: Hardware acceleration is where Movavi really shines. My 4K test clip converted to MP4 in under five minutes. A clear win over VLC’s slow-and-steady pace.

Format flexibility: With support for over 180 formats (video, audio, even images) it handled everything I threw at it: MP4, MOV, WMV. The quality held up beautifully across the board.

To turn your own videos into MP4s, here’s what to do:

If you don't like the idea of downloading and installing converter tools like VLC Media Player or Movavi’s converter, you are better off doing the conversion online. Online services allow converting video files into manageable files that will best fit your needs.

Technology keeps changing. The phone, laptop, or tablet you used two years may likely not support the new formats. Similarly, if you are an Android person and decide to switch to BlackBerry or iPhone, you may notice some support issues.

That constant change in technology and the need to play videos across different devices is a major reason why people constantly convert videos.

Social media use different file formats. That creates a necessity to convert the file into suitable versions for them to work.

Some make it easier to maintain quality or compatibility across platforms, others don’t. For instance, when you use VLC to convert MOV to MP4, you’ll notice that MP4 tends to preserve video quality even after compression. Likewise, if you need to convert AVI to MP4 in VLC, the MP4 format will give you a smaller, more web-friendly file that uploads easily to platforms like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox. That’s why so many websites and cloud services specifically prefer MP4 over older formats like FLV.

As you can see, Movavi Video Converter and VLC Media Player have a lot in common. Both are easy to use, packed with useful features, and make VLC Media Player convert to MP4 without much hassle – just to name a few advantages.

That said, Movavi Video Converter stands out if you need a tool that can handle multiple conversions quickly and efficiently. It performs faster than the VLC to MP4 converter feature built into VLC and offers a smoother, more intuitive interface that even beginners can navigate easily.

Essentially, while both tools deliver, the Movavi Video Converter has a lot to offer, and that makes it the best alternative to the VLC Media player. Don't think so? Give it a shot today, and remember to share your experience.