Best Free File Converter Tools in 2026: Online & Desktop

Finding the Right Free Converter in 2026

The file conversion landscape in 2026 is crowded. A quick search returns dozens of options, from browser-based tools to full desktop applications to command-line utilities that power professionals rely on daily. The challenge is not finding a converter -- it is finding one that is free, reliable, safe, and actually does what you need without hidden limitations.

Many "free" converters come with catches: aggressive ads, file size limits, watermarks on output, daily conversion caps, mandatory account creation, or unclear data handling practices. Some install bundled software. Others mine your uploaded files for data. The tools in this guide have been evaluated for genuine usefulness, transparent limitations, and trustworthy data handling.

This guide organizes the best free converters by category (online, desktop, command-line, mobile) and by file type (video, audio, image, document, ebook), so you can jump directly to what you need.

Best Online File Converters

Online converters require no installation and work on any device with a browser. They are the fastest way to convert a file when you do not want to install software.

ConvertIntoMP4

Our platform handles video, audio, image, document, and ebook conversions with a clean interface and no ads. The free tier supports files up to 50 MB with 5 conversions per day. Pro users get 500 MB file limits, unlimited conversions, batch processing, and API access.

Key converter pages:

• Video converter for MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM
• Audio converter for MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG
• Image converter for JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, SVG
• Document converter for PDF, DOCX, ODT, TXT, HTML
• Ebook converter for EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, FB2

Files are deleted immediately after conversion, and all transfers use HTTPS encryption. For more on our security practices, see our security and privacy guide.

CloudConvert

CloudConvert offers the widest format support of any online converter, covering 200+ formats across all file categories. The free tier is generous (25 conversions/day, 1 GB file size). It also offers a developer API for integration into automated workflows. The trade-off is that the interface is more complex than simpler tools, which can be intimidating for non-technical users.

Zamzar

Zamzar has been around since 2006 and focuses on simplicity. Upload, select format, convert, download. The free tier is restrictive (2 files per day, 50 MB limit), but the interface is the easiest to use. Good for occasional conversions when you do not want to think about settings.

Best Desktop File Converters

Desktop tools run locally, which means better performance, no file size limits (beyond your disk space), and no privacy concerns from uploading files.

Video Converters

HandBrake is the gold standard for free video conversion. It reads virtually any video format and outputs MP4 or MKV with H.264, H.265, or AV1 encoding. The preset system makes it easy to optimize for specific devices (iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV) or use cases (web, email, archival). It supports batch processing and offers fine-grained control over encoding settings.

VLC is primarily a media player, but its conversion feature (Media > Convert/Save) handles basic format changes without installing a dedicated converter. It is less flexible than HandBrake for advanced settings but works well for quick MP4 conversions.

For more on choosing video formats and settings, see our guides on MOV to MP4 conversion and video compression without quality loss.

Document Converters

LibreOffice is the most capable free document converter. It opens and saves DOCX, ODT, PDF, RTF, HTML, and many more formats. The command-line interface (libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf input.docx) makes it scriptable for batch conversions.

Pandoc is the universal document converter for technical users. It converts between Markdown, DOCX, PDF (via LaTeX), HTML, EPUB, LaTeX, RST, and dozens of other formats. See our guides on Markdown to PDF and Markdown to DOCX for specific workflows.

Image Converters

GIMP opens and saves virtually every image format. It is overkill for simple format conversion but useful when you need to edit and convert simultaneously.

XnConvert (free for personal use) specializes in batch image conversion with support for 500+ formats and 80+ image processing actions (resize, crop, rotate, watermark) that can be applied during conversion.

Ebook Converters

Calibre is the definitive free ebook tool. It converts between EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, PDF, FB2, and many other ebook formats. It also manages your ebook library, edits metadata, and connects to e-readers for direct transfer. See our best ebook format guide and EPUB to MOBI guide for detailed coverage.

Best Command-Line Converters

For developers, system administrators, and power users, command-line tools offer the highest performance, scripting capability, and format support.

FFmpeg (Video & Audio)

FFmpeg is the engine behind most video conversion tools (including many online converters). It handles virtually every video and audio format with precise control over encoding, resolution, bitrate, codec, and container.

# Basic MP4 conversion
ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 23 output.mp4

# Convert with specific quality
ffmpeg -i input.avi -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mp4

# Extract audio from video
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -c:a libmp3lame -b:a 320k output.mp3

ImageMagick (Images)

ImageMagick converts between 200+ image formats with command-line precision:

# Convert PNG to JPG
magick input.png -quality 90 output.jpg

# Batch convert all PNGs to WebP
magick mogrify -format webp *.png

# Resize and convert
magick input.tiff -resize 1920x1080 -quality 85 output.jpg

Pandoc (Documents)

# Markdown to DOCX
pandoc input.md -o output.docx

# DOCX to PDF
pandoc input.docx -o output.pdf --pdf-engine=xelatex

# HTML to EPUB
pandoc input.html -o output.epub --metadata title="My Book"

Ghostscript (PDF)

# Compress PDF
gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 \
   -dPDFSETTINGS=/ebook -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH \
   -sOutputFile=output.pdf input.pdf

# Convert PDF to images
gs -sDEVICE=png16m -r300 -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH \
   -sOutputFile=page-%d.png input.pdf

Best Mobile Converters

Mobile conversion options are more limited but improving rapidly.

iOS (iPhone & iPad)

• Files app: Supports basic PDF creation from images via share sheet
• Shortcuts app: Can automate conversions using built-in actions
• Safari: Access online converters like ConvertIntoMP4 directly in the browser
• Pages/Numbers/Keynote: Export to PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX

Android

• Files by Google: Basic file management but limited conversion
• Browser-based tools: Online converters work well on Android Chrome
• VLC for Android: Basic video/audio conversion
• Office apps: Google Docs, Microsoft Office export to various formats

For comprehensive mobile conversion guidance, see our guides on how to convert files on mobile, converting files for iPhone and iPad, and converting files for Android.

Comparison: Online vs Desktop vs Command-Line

How to Choose the Right Tool

For Everyday Users

Start with an online converter. If you convert files a few times a month and they are not sensitive, an online tool is the fastest path. ConvertIntoMP4's free tier handles most common conversions. For larger files or more frequent use, consider a desktop tool.

For Regular Converters

Install a desktop tool for your primary file type:

• Video: HandBrake
• Documents: LibreOffice
• Images: XnConvert
• Ebooks: Calibre

For Developers and Power Users

Learn the command-line tools:

• FFmpeg for video/audio
• ImageMagick for images
• Pandoc for documents
• Ghostscript for PDFs

For Teams and Businesses

Use an API-based service that integrates into your workflow. Our file conversion API provides programmatic access to all conversion types with SLA guarantees and priority processing.

Security Considerations for Free Tools

Free tools have varying security postures. Key points:

1. Desktop and command-line tools are inherently safer because files never leave your device
2. Open-source tools (HandBrake, FFmpeg, LibreOffice, Calibre, Pandoc) can be audited -- no hidden data collection
3. Online converters require trust -- choose services with clear privacy policies and file deletion commitments
4. Avoid tools that require excessive permissions or install bundled software

For a thorough security evaluation framework, see our data privacy in file conversion guide and our file conversion security guide.

Wrapping Up

The best file converter depends on your use case, file types, volume, and security requirements. For most people, a combination of an online converter (for quick, occasional use) and a desktop tool (for regular or sensitive conversions) covers all needs.

In 2026, the tools have matured significantly. HandBrake, FFmpeg, LibreOffice, Calibre, and Pandoc are all excellent, free, and open-source. Online services like ConvertIntoMP4, CloudConvert, and Zamzar provide convenient browser-based alternatives with clear limitations.

The important thing is to choose tools that match your actual needs rather than defaulting to the first search result. A file converter that handles your specific formats, respects your privacy, and fits your workflow is worth the few minutes it takes to evaluate your options.