10 Best Ways Convert MOV to MP4 Without Losing Quality

Karen Nelson
December 21, 2022

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Normally, MOV (QuickTime File Format) is compatible with most the media players, but sometimes it may occur to you that some MOV files still fail to play on Windows or Mac computer. The problem can be resolved by converting MOV files to a common MP4.

Generally, the MOV not playing issue can be caused by that the MOV file is so large (which includes much data) that your machine cannot handle the video properly. As a result, the MOV playback will become choppy or laggy, which is somehow related to your device compatibility.

On the other side, MP4 is universally acceptable by almost all devices and media players. Therefore, an urgent task should be finding a way to convert your MOV files to MP4 without losing quality. And a reliable MOV to MP4 converter to help you avoid trouble.

In this guide, we’ll collected 4 feasible methods (10 viable options in total) to help you change MOV to MP4. Both desktop converters and online tools that supports MOV file conversion are included. Also, they can perform smoothly on either Windows or Mac Systems. Just read on and choose the one that suits your needs.

Method 1. Convert MOV to MP4 Without Losing Quality (Windows & Mac Compatible)

The most efficient way to convert MOV to MP4 losslessly is to using a reliable MOV to MP4 converter: VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate. In the following part, we’ll introduce it to you in details.

Optional: Compress Large MOV Files to MP4

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate is one of the best video converters that you can find on the internet. It supports converting media files in different formats to 300+ video/audio formats. That includes converting MOV to MP4.

Before we start, let me describe what this converter can do a favor when converting MOV to MP4. You are able to import all your MOV files into the converter, no matter it comes from QuickTime or other platforms, and then batch convert all of them to MP4 with one simple click. In addition, MP4 is a container which can package different codecs. VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate allows you to convert MOV to H.264 MP4, H.265 MP4, etc. You can also adjust the detailed parameters of the output settings.

There will be mostly zero quality loss during the MOV to MP4 conversion and the conversion normally takes only moments because the software supports 6X faster speed with Intel and NVIDIA hardware acceleration. This software is perfectly compatible with Windows XP/7/8/10/11 and Mac OS 10.7-10.14 (or above).

How to Convert MOV to MP4 Without Losing Quality Using VideoSolo

Here we officially start to guide you on how to convert MOV to MP4 with VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate on Mac. The converting processes are the same on the Windows version.

Step 1. Download and Install the MOV to MP4 Converter

You can download and install VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate for Windows or for Mac then get into the main interface. Here we downloaded the Mac version.

Step 2. Add MOV File(s) to the Program

Click the “Add File” button to open the file browser then choose the MOV file you desire to convert to MP4. You can select multiple targets at once for batch conversion.

Step 3. Choose MP4 as the Output Format

After you make sure all MOV files added, you can click the “Profile” bar to open the format list and then choose MP4 as the output format.

Step 4. Start Converting MOV to MP4

After you make sure the output format is chosen properly, you can now click the “Convert” button to start the MOV to MP4 conversion. The automatic conversion will finish in moments while you take a short break.

After the MOV to MP4 conversion is complete, you can open the output file folder and then transfer the converted MP4 files to your device for freely playback. Almost all the devices, platforms, and media players will accept MP4 files.

Optional: Compress Large MOV Files to MP4

We’ve mentioned that MOV files are too large to save and play conveniently. Therefore, you can compress the QuickTime movie and convert it to MP4 at the same time with VideoSolo Video Converter.

Choose “Toolbox”, and open “Video Compressor”. Select the MOV file you want to compress and convert. Select output format as MP4, and you can compress and change MOV to MP4 at the same time.

Note:

After compressing, the resolution will remain original, but the bitrate will be lower in different levels according to the reduced size.

Method 2. Try Free Software to Convert MOV to MP4 on Windows & Mac

If you don’t want to pay for other programs to convert MOV to MP4 and don’t mind slight quality loss, you can try the 2 methods. They are both free.

Convert MOV to MP4 via Handbrake

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Free to use and Open Source; Supports the fluent conversion performance to convert videos, audios easily; Offers different video filters to adjust the video effects in one click	The software will crash when running large files; The conversion speed is relatively slower than professional converters.

Handbrake is a free tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. You can easily convert MOV to MP4 in platforms including Windows, Mac and Linux. You can set the video output resolution, as well as the target device where you want to play the output video. And you can also add subtitles and chapters to your output video.

Step1. Free download HandBrake and open it on your computer.

Step2. Simply drag and drop your MOV video to it, and under the “Summary” tab, choose “MP4” from the “Format” list.

Step3. Click “Browse” option to rename your file with an .mp4 file extension and choose an output folder.

Step4. Click “Start Encode” button to begin the MOV to MP4 conversion.

Convert MOV to MP4 Using VLC

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Compatible with more device systems to bring flexible playback on any devices; High resolutions and audio quality guaranteed; Hidden functions such as recorder, DVD ripper, etc. Provided	Converting a large file will take quite a long time; The operation is a little complicated.

As an open-source video player, VLC can not only play videos in different formats but also convert videos between MP4 to MOV and other more popular formats. It is absolutely free and runs on all platforms: macOS, Windows, UNIX, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can also stream or optimize audio/video on your device with this all-in-one multimedia software. It also contains no spyware, ads, or any form of user tracking.

Tutorials for converting MOV to MP4 free with VLC Media Player:

Step1. Launch VLC Media Player on your computer and click the “Media” menu to choose the “Convert/Save” option.

Step2. Click the “Add” button to import the MOV file you want to convert.

Step3.Tap on the “Convert/Save” button and choose “Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4)” from the “Profile” menu.

Step4. Click “Save”, and then click “Start” to begin converting MOV to MP4.

Method 3. Use Video Converter to Change MOV to MP4 (4 Best Alternatives)

There are many MOV to MP4 converters in the market, and VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate is not the only one. If you want to know other useful converters that convert MOV to MP4, you can check this part.

Movavi Video Converter

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
New AI-powered feature to upscale the quality of your videos; Offers the built-in editing and compressing tools to enhance media files; Fast video converting speed; Allows to batch convert media files to save time.	The free version only provides for 7 days and there are limitations in using all its features; Doesn’t download online videos.

Movavi is an efficient application for converting MOV files to MP4 without loss of quality. The program uses SuperSpeed technology, which allows it to convert even large files in a matter of minutes. Apart from converting, the app also lets you edit your files the way you want, such as crop, rotate, and trim your videos, adjust the color parameters, change the video resolution and bitrate, or add subtitles. You can transfer your films, music, and pictures in any format to any platform or device.

Steps on converting MOV files to MP4 via Movavi Video Converter:

Step1. Download Movavi Video Converter on your computer and launch it.

Step2. Tap on the “Add Media” button on the main user interface and choose “Add Video” option.

Step3. Select the MOV video that you want to change format to MP4 and click “Open” to add it.

Step4. Tap on “Video” at the bottom of the user interface to select MP4 as the target format.

Step5. Now, click “Convert” to start changing the MOV video to MP4. After the conversion is finished, the folder containing the converted video will open automatically.

Wondershare Uniconverter

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Convert multiple MOV video files to MP4 in batch; Convert MOV files to optimized preset for almost all devices, like iPhone, iPad, Huawei phone, etc.; Support 90X faster conversion speed than standard converters with unique APEXTRANS technology.	While running the software, the CPU of the program would be higher, especially using the editing function; Free version comes with a watermark.

Wondershare UniConverter has the excellent conversion speed of over 90 times for over 1000 video formats. It can convert MOV to various video formats, one of them being MP4. The converted file can be used with different devices like Apple, Samsung, etc. There is no loss of quality and additional enhancement for the converted file. Also, this converter has other functions like video compressor, image converter, GIF maker, VR converter, and more.

Follow the steps to convert MOV video to MP4 format with Wondershare Uniconverter:

Step1. Download Wondershare Uniconverter and run it on your computer.

Step2. Click “Add Files” to add the MOV file you want to convert.

Step3. Tap on “Output Format” option and select MP4 as the output format.

Step4. Click “File Location” to choose a destination folder, then hit “Start All” button to start converting MOV file to MP4 format.

Vidmore Video Converter

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Processing software offers over 100 presets for all popular devices; Convert 4K UHD videos to any video format for any device; Offers a lot of editing tools to create videos inside the software easily.	Not easy-to-use for the beginners; Limited time period when trying free version.

Vidmore Video Converter is a versatile converter that allows users to convert MOV to MP4 or other different video and audio formats with high quality; after conversion, it will retain the ID3 information of the original audio file. Vidmore also supports custom settings, there are many presets to choose from, so users can easily convert videos to device-compatible formats and can also adjust detailed parameters of each profile.

How to convert MOV files to MP4 via Vidmore Video Converter:

Step1. Click “Add Files” to select the files you want to convert, and click “Open” to import the files.

Step2. Click the “Format” button to choose MP4 as the output format and then click the drop-down icon to select the output folder.

Step3. Click the button “Convert All” to start converting the files.

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Customize video parameters and frame number to adjust video quality; Provides helpful tools such as compressing, merging, resizing, etc. to customize media files; Supports to convert high-quality videos that are even up to 4K.	5 minutes converting time limited in free trial; Limited demo version.

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe is a powerful high-definition video conversion tool launched by WinX. You can easily convert your MOV file to MP4 with this tool. With powerful video editing and conversion functions, the software provides more than 370 video and audio codecs and 50 kinds of audio codecs. At the same time, the software has a built-in multi-function video editor, which can meet many video editing needs, including video cutting, merging, cropping, subtitle addition, quality and size customization, etc.

How to change MOV files to MP4 using WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe:

Step1. Download WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe and launch it on your computer.

Step2. Click “+ Video” button to add your MOV file to WinX HD.

Step3. Go to the “Output Profile” to choose “General Profiles” and choose “MP4 Video (Codec: h264 + aac, Resolution: keep origin)”.

Step4. Click “OK” button to close the window and begin converting MOV to MP4.

Method 4. Change MOV to MP4 Conveniently with Online Converter (3 Quick Tools)

Convert MOV to MP4 Online with Zamzar

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Safeguard users’ files with privacy; File qualities are well contained in conversion; No requirement to download any software or do a registration.	The file size is limited to 50MB; Conversion speed is 5 times slower in the free version. The price is higher than its rivals.

How to convert MOV to MP4 using Zamzar:

Step1. Go to the official website of Zamzar, and click “Add Files” to choose the MOV file that you want to convert.

Step2. Select MP4 as the output format.

Step3. Click “Convert” to change your MOV file to MP4.

Change MOV into MP4 Online via Convertio

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
Make customize settings of video; High quality video processing algorithms; Batch Scan and Queueing of encodes.	100MB maximum file size only; The conversion process is unstable due to the network.

Convertio is a powerful online video converter that supports more than 25600 different conversions between more than 300 different file formats. It allows you to convert MOV to MP4 for free and you can choose quality, aspect ratio, codec and other settings, rotate and flip. Convertio is browser-based and works for all platforms. There is no need to download and install any software.

Follow the step-by-step guide to convert MOV to MP4 with Convertio:

Step1. Drag or drop the MOV video that you want to convert to Convertio from your computer.

Step2. Click “Convert” to start the MOV to MP4 conversion.

Step3. Save your converted video to your computer if you are satisfied with it.

Convert MOV to MP4 with CloudConvert

Supported OS: Windows/Mac

Pros	Cons
No time & file size limit; Compatible with devices across operating systems; Provides good support for audios, videos in addition to images and documents conversion.	Privacy may be leaked in the browser; 25 free conversions limited in a day; The number of conversions per day is limited.

CloudConvert is an online program that is free to use and supports nearly all audio, video, document, eBook, archive, image, spreadsheet, and presentation formats. You can convert your MOV file to MP4 easily within your browser. There are also customized setting available, like selecting the video and audio codec and choosing the resolution of the output video. Plus, you can use the online tool without downloading any software.

How to convert MOV to MP4 with CloudConvert:

Step1. Go to the webpage of CloudConver and click the “Select File” button.

Step2. Click “Convert” button to start converting your MOV file.

Step3. After converting, you can download the converted MP4 file.

Table Comparison Among 10 Best MOV to MP4 Converters

Now you’ve known much about the 10 best tools to convert MOV to MP4 on Mac/Windows. Before you go to the comparison chart, you can view the short verdict we provide for each MOV to MP4 converter:

VideoSolo: Best tool for everyone to convert MOV to MP4 without quality loss.
Movavi: Best for people who have few waiting time with its fast MOV to MP4 converting speed.
Wondershare: Best for converting MOV to MP4 on particular devices.
Vidmore: Best for video creators with various built-in editing features.
WinX HD: Best for people who need to adjust parameter settings for different needs.
Handbrake: Best for users who want to use free software.
VLC: Best for people who want to convert MOV to MP4 and play MP4 on one single program.
Zamzar, Convertio & CloudConvert: Best for people who don’t want to download ang third-party tool.

Product	Batch Conversion	Output Quality	Editing Tool	ID3 Tag Editor	Remove/Add Watermark	Overall Score
VideoSolo	√	Lossless	√	√	√	4.9
Movavi	√	High	√	×	√	4.7
Wondershare	√	High	√	×	√	4.7
Vidmore	√	High	√	×	×	4.6
WinX HD	√	High	√	×	×	4.6
Handbrake	√	Good	√	×	×	4.5
VLC	√	Good	√	×	×	4.5
Zamzar	×	General	×	×	×	4.3
Convertio	√	General	×	×	×	4.4
CloudConvert	×	General	×	×	×	4.3

Extra Tips – MOV to MP4, Which is Better?

MOV and MP4 are both video formats. Normally, you may only know that MOV is the one produced by QuickTime Player, and MP4 is a widely used one. To choose the appropriate one for different needs, you can check the following details about MOV and MP4 formats.

MOV

Use .mov & .qt as file extension
Video encoding formats: MPEG-2 (OS X Lion or later), MPEG-4 Part 2, H.264, H.263, H.261, etc.
Audio encoding formats: AAC, Apple Lossless, MP3, etc.
Only support macOS and iOS, and a few systems
Played on QuickTime Player, iTunes, VLC, etc.

MP4

Use .mp4 as file extension
Video encoding formats: H.264, H.265, MPEG-2 Part 2, MPEG-4 ASP, H.263, etc.
Audio encoding formats: AAC, MP3, AC-3, Apple Lossless, etc.
Support almost all systems
Played on almost any media players

FAQs about Converting MOV to MP4

Can QuickTime convert MOV to MP4?

You may have ever noticed that some QuickTime users claim that they can change MOV to MP4 in QuickTime player, but don’t know how to make it yourself. Actually, the answer is YES with QuickTime Pro. Some of you ignore the difference between QuickTime and QuickTime Pro.

QuickTime Pro is the paid version of QuickTime Pro. It allows you to save QuickTime movies on web and author the content. What’s more, it boasts some basic editing features to improve your video quality. You can use the paid version to change MOV file to MP4. The simple guide is presented here:

Step 1: Open QuickTime Pro, move to “File” drop-down menu and click the “Open File…” option to load your .mov files that you want to convert to MP4.

Step 2: Then, the “Export…” option in the menu will be available, and click it. In the “Export” list, select “Movie to MPEG-4”.

Step 3: Click the “Save” button to convert MOV to MP4 easily.

That’s it. If you are just using QuickTime, it won’t act as MOV to MP4 converter. Therefore, when you want to convert MOV to MP4, a reliable video converter like VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate is still a good choice. It can help you convert QuickTime movie to MP4 in one click.

Tip:

Some of you may also need to convert MP4 to QuickTime movie. Luckily, VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate can also do it for you. Simply follow the guide in the first part, but add the MP4 file to VideoSolo, and change the output format as MOV.

Can I play my MOV files in Windows?

Yes, you can. You need to make sure that your MOV files are encoded with the right codec. Any problems you encounter may be with the specific codec used to encode your MOV files. In this situation, you can try to download a media player like VLC.

How to choose the best MOV to MP4 converter?

If you only need to convert small size video, using online converter is a convenient way to convert MOV to MP4, such as CloudConvert. But if you need to convert large file size video, you may need to wait for hours for your converted videos to download. Moreover, some sites take a long time to upload the videos you want to convert. The quality of video you get from online converters is never great.

If you pay great attention to the output quality and the effectiveness, then VideoSolo Video Converter Ultimate can be the most effective and best method to convert MOV to MP4. It can convert lager MOV file to any format you want at 50X faster speed without losing video quality. The output quality of VideoSolo supports HD, 4K, 5K, and even up to 8K Ultra HD.