6 Best HEVC (H.265) Converters: Convert Large HEVC Files to MP4

Summary: Solve All HEVC Compatibility Errors: Find the 6 best HEVC to MP4 converters (including VideoProc Converter AI, HandBrake, and VLC) for a fast, lossless conversion. We benchmark their speed, quality, and ease-of-use to show you the ultimate solution for converting large 4K/8K HEVC files with guaranteed quality.

Before diving into the conversion process, let's quickly understand why converting HEVC to MP4 is still essential.

HEVC (H.265) is booming. Referred to as the king of high-efficiency codecs, it's behind stunning High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 10-bit content captured by the latest iPhones, action cameras, and drones. Its efficiency is why Futuresource predicts nearly 9.4 billion HEVC-enabled consumer devices by 2027.

But there's a major catch: HEVC's high licensing fees are far more expensive than those for the older H.264 codec. This cost hurdle slows down industry-wide adoption, making its standardization uncertain. As a result, many major software and platforms are reluctant to fully support it natively.

This lack of native support creates a constant headache for users, leading to common errors like:

• Can't view GoPro footage
• iPhone HEVC video won't play on vlc.
• HEVC videos from Canon EOS R10/R7 won't play
• HEVC codec missing in Premiere Pro
• Sony TV won't play H265 HEVC videos
• HEVC is unsupported by Windows 11 and 10 out of the box
• ...

The Solution? The fastest, most reliable way to resolve these errors is with a solid HEVC to MP4 converter. This essential tool changes the incompatible HEVC files into the universally accepted MP4 (H.264) format, ensuring perfect playback on any device or software. If you're ready to fix compatibility issues and get back to working with your footage, you'll need the best tool for the job. Below, we review the 6 best HEVC converters you can rely on to convert HEVC to MP4 seamlessly across Windows, Mac, and online.

Top 6 Best HEVC Converters (Detailed Review)

#1. VideoProc Converter AI: Ultra-Fast HEVC Conversion (Best Quality)

After testing dozens of video converter software in the market, we realize the best HEVC to MP4 converter for both PC and Mac is VideoProc Converter AI. With it, users can convert HEVC to MP4, H.264, AVI, AV1, MOV, MKV, VP8, VP9, WebM, and another 420+ formats in a few clicks. Need also to transcode videos from other formats to HEVC? Things can be done in this HEVC to MP4 converter in seconds. Take a quick look at some of its killer features:

• Zero Learning Curve: 1-Click to convert HEVC files to MP4, MPEG-2/4, or 420+ other formats
• Optimized Presets: Built-in presets for popular platforms and devices for instant compatibility
• Top Quality: Retain 100% of source video quality or enhance with AI upscaling up to max quality
• Ultra Fast Conversion: Up to 47x fast 4K/8K HEVC conversion; Use as little as 2% CPU
• Time Saving Tools: Trim, crop, rotate, compress video files effortlessly - reduce file size by 90%+
• Download Online Videos: Paste the URL to download online videos from 1000+ sites

Download VideoProc Converter AI to your computer and follow the steps below to convert HEVC to MP4 with ease.

Step 1. Add HEVC File(s)

Free download and install VideoProc Converter AI on Windows or Mac. Run this amazing HEVC to MP4 converter and click the "Video" button on the main interface. Click the "+Video" button to import the source HEVC file(s) to this top video converter.

Step 2. Select Output Format as MP4

Click on "Target Format" and select MP4 H.264 which is supported by virtually all mainstream platforms, devices, and video editing software. Surely, you can also select MKV, MOV, WebM, AVI, or other formats listed in the "Target Format" section.

Tips:

• If you're converting a 4K HEVC file to MP4, then I suggest you pick 4K H.264 to retain full resolution of the original file.
• Some formats are labeled "HWAccel supported", which means converting HEVC files to these formats can activate Intel/NVidia/AMD hardware acceleration. In other words, it only takes a few minutes to convert large HEVC files to these HWAccel-tagged formats.
• If necessary, click on "Target Format" to get more output format options.

Step 3. Customize Output File Properties (Optional)

Some of you may want to adjust the properties of output for purposes like downgrading the resolution, getting a smaller file size, and optimizing the picture quality. To do so, click the "codec Option" button. On the pop-up Format settings panel, you can customize the output properties with ease. Once you're satisfied with your settings, hit "Done".

Tips:

• Move the quality slider left or right to get a smaller file size or better quality.
• Increase or decrease bite rate value to downgrade or enhance the quality.
• Choose the desired frame rate, resolution, aspect ratio, sample rate, and codec for the corresponding options.
• Check "2-pass Encoding" to enjoy better picture quality.

Step 4. Start the Conversion from HEVC to MP4

Hit the "RUN" button to start converting HEVC to MP4 on Windows or Mac.

Tips:

• Check "Use High Quality Engine" for better quality.
• Check "Nvidia/Intel/AMD" to activate level-3 GPU acceleration tech for boosting the conversion speed and lowering the CPU usage.

#2. HandBrake: Free, Open-Source HEVC Converter (Powerful and Custom)

HandBrake is a free and open-source video converter program that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It comes with the capability to convert HEVC files to MP4, H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Thera, VP8 and VP9, and vice versa.

It is a feature-rich HEVC converter. However, the plethora of difficult jargon, out-of-date interface, and limited output container options (MKV, MP4, AVI) are just a few of the things that have led me and many other beginners to oft-favor a certain other HEVC converter. Too many redundant steps are required by Handbrake to batch convert HEVC videos, and the extremely unstable performance is also a biggie.

How to convert HEVC to MP4 for free with HandBrake

Step 1. Import HEVC video into Handbrake.

Launch HandBrake on your PC or MAC. Drag the source HEVC video that you'd like to convert and drop it to this free HEVC to MP4 converter. The process is the same if you need to convert a video that comes with another format. You can also click on File and then select the original file to load it up to Handbrake.

Step 2. Select a target codec.

On the main interface, change the video container from MP4, MKV, and AVI if necessary. After that, click on "Video" to enter a new section. Unfold the drop-down box of "Video Codec", and you'll be given H.264, HEVC 8-bit/10bit, MPEG, and some other codec options.

Step 3. You can leave the "Framerate" value as the default or set a specified value. Drag the quality slider to decrease or increase the quality.

Step 4. HandBrake won't automatically change the audio codec to match the selected audio codec. Therefore, you sometimes need to adjust the audio codec manually to get avoid any no audio or a/v out of sync problems.

Step 5. Click on "Summary" to check the resolution, bitrate, sample rate, and other properties of your media tracks.

#3. FFmpeg: Powerful Free HEVC Converter for Expert Users

FFMPEG enables you to convert HEVC to MP4 H.264 and other prevalent codecs. You can also utilize it to turn H.264, VP8, or other videos to HEVC high-compressed format.

Unlike common software that comes with interface with well-designed guidance, FFmpeg offers you only a command window. This means you have to input the proper command line to apply any converting decisions. It usually takes a steep learning curve for those who don't know a command line environment to do even the most simple thing by using FFmpeg. Keep reading on the step-by-step guide on converting HEVC with FFmpeg on Windows, you'll know what I mean.

How to Convert HEVC to MP4 for Free with FFmpeg

Step 1. Go to the FFmpeg official download site. There you are given many versions correspond to Windows, Mac, and Linux respectively. After you choose which operating system you want to install in, you'll be led to the FFmpeg Builds Page which displays the version, architecture, linking, and license information of the installation package that you are going to acquire.

Step 2. Click on Download Build. In my case, I download Windows 64-bit static version.

For Mac and Linux computers, check the complete guide here to install FFmpeg.

Step 3. Once the installation package is successfully downloaded on your computer, you need to take 7zip to extract the ffpmeg.exe.

Step 4. Move over to your system directly (in most cases, the OS/C: folder), and create a new folder named FFmpeg.

Step 5. Paste the expanded files for the ffmpeg.exe to this newly created folder.

Step 6. Navigate to your computer, click on "System properties ", select "Advanced system settings", choose "Environment Variables", and tab New. There you set the variable name as Path, and set the "Variable value" as C:\FFmpeg\bin.

Step 7. Press Windows and R button on your keyboard, and input CMD to launch up the Command Prompt window in administrator mode.

Step 8. Copy the path of the source HEVC video.

Step 9. Press the blank button on your keyboard, input cd, and then press the space button again. There you paste the copied source video path and press Enter.

Step 10. Enter ffmpeg -i test.m4v -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a copy output.mp4, and then press "Enter".

test.m4v is the name of my file plus the extension. Suppose your source media is test.mkv, there you need to enter ffmpeg -i test.mkv -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a copy output.mp4. Assume you need to convert H.264 to HEVC MP4, you need to input: ffmpeg –i my_movie input.mp4 -c:v libx265 -vtag hvc1 output.mp4.

The given commands are just our recommendations that can deliver high-quality output. There are also lots of other available command lines, you can come over to FFmpeg Encoding Guide to get more information.

Step 11. FFmpeg now starts to transcode and encode the source HEVC file to MP4. This process may eat up your CPU and memory storage. I just took a screen capture during the processing process, and it shows that CPU usage rage blasts up to 94.9%, and the memory usage rate rises to 54%.

#4. VLC Media Player: Basic HEVC Converter (Limited Customization)

VLC Media Player is a versatile, open-source, and cross-platform multimedia player that has earned its popularity for its ability to play video and audio files in a wide range of formats without the need for installing additional codecs. Beyond that, it comes with the Convert/Save option, which allows you to convert HEVC to MP4 (H.264 + AAC), MP4 (H.264 + MP3), and dozens of more popular formats. The interface of this free HEVC converter may appear outdated and slightly challenging to navigate at first, but using it is relatively straightforward if you don't plan to customize any encoding settings.

How to Convert HEVC to MP4 for Free via VLC

Step 1. Go to the official site of VLC to download and install the latest version on your computer.

Step 2. Lauch up this free HEVC converter. Navigate to the top menu bar, click Media, and choose Convert/Save. The Open Media panel now pops up.

Step 3. Click Add and choose the source HEVC file that you want to convert to MP4 for adding to VLC.

Step 4. Click Convert/Save to open the Convert panel. Go to the Profile section. There you can find over 20 preset profiles to choose from. In most cases, we would want to choose Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4). Suppose you need to convert HEVC to MP4 for loading to iMovie or other apps that don't support the MP4 format with the MP3 audio codec, then you can click the tool icon and customize the encoding settings.

Note: VLC media player doesn't let you convert HEVC to MP4 format with a video stream encoded by ProRes, Cinepak, or other editing-friendly codecs.

Step 6. Hit Browse. Select a location and name the output MP4 file. Hit Start to start converting your HEVC file to MP4 on Windows or Mac.

#5. Convertio: Best Online HEVC Converter (> 100MB Files Only)

For those who want to convert small HEVC to MP4 online without installing the additional program, give Convertio a try. This online HEVC converter lets you convert HEVC files to MP4. You can keep the original HEVC as the codec or choose AV1, H.265, MPEG-1/2/4, VP9, or Xvid as the target codec. Plus, you can customize the encoding profile and the profile level to achieve the target output quality. However, it's worth noting that the free account has some limitations, such as only allowing for 2 concurrent conversions and a maximum file size of 100MB. If you need more permissions, you'll have to upgrade to one of their paid plans - Light, Basic, or Unlimited.

How to Convert HEVC to MP4 Online via Convertio

Step 1. Go to the video conversion page of this online HEVC converter.

Step 2. Click Choose Files and select the original HEVC file (under 100MB) for loading to the app.

Step 3. Choose MP4 as the target format. Click the Settings icon to access the settings options for audio/video codec, profile, level, frame rate, CRF (constant quality), etc. If necessary, you can also cut, rotate, or flip your HEVC file. Click OK to confirm your changes.

Step 4. Click the Convert button to start converting HEVC to MP4 online for free.

#6. FreeFileConvert: Basic Online Tool for HEVC Conversion

FreeFileConvert is a notable online HEVC converter to convert HEVC files MP4, AVI, SWF, MOV, etc. The platform serves as a comprehensive file conversion solution, allowing users to convert archive files, vectors, documents, audio, images, and more. However, it automatically handles the conversion process without providing options to adjust encoding settings like bitrate and frame rate. This can sometimes result in outputs that are either too large or of lower quality. Similar to Convertio, FreeFileConvert limits users to upload a maximum of 5 files per day, with a total size not exceeding 500MB.

How to Convert HEVC to MP4 Online for Free via FreeFileConvert

Step 1. Go to the video conversion page of FreeFileConvert.

Step 2. Click Choose File and select the source HEVC file for loading to this free online HEVC converter.

Step 3. Choose MP4 as the target format. Hit Convert to start converting HEVC to MP4.

HEVC Conversion: Optional Reading

1. Is HEVC Better Than MP4 H.264/AVC

HEVC is superior to H.264 with regard to storage, bandwidth saving, and picture quality. HEVC video looks more crispy and retains more details than H.264 when the given bitrate and other properties are the same. This owed a lot to the application of the more advanced compression algorithm which is featured with coding tree united based blocks, the optimized motion-vector prediction, 35 directional intra-prediction modes, and enhanced interpolation filter, etc.

1) HEVC VS MP4 H.264: Some Key Improvements

A. Block Size

The basic building units of H.264/AVC are the macroblocks^[3], which consist of 16 × 16 samples. However, many recent studies found the larger pixel block size is much more efficient to compress high-resolution videos. The small 16x16 blocks are insufficient to capture the increased spatial correlation from 1080P and other large videos. In HEVC, a slice is subdivided into multiple CTUs (coding tree units)^[4]. Depending on the complexity of the picture, these CTUs can have different size: 16 x 16, 32 x 32, 64 x 64. In this way, the efficiency and flexibility of compression can get improved.

B. lock Partitioning Structure

Unlike the macroblock of H.264, the CTUs of HEVC include CU (Coding Unit), PU (prediction Unit), and TU (Transform Unit). The separation of these 3 units makes the division of each portion better fits the texture features of motion pictures, brings up much flexibility in transformation, prediction and coding process, and is good for fulfilling the function of each unit.

C. Parallel Tool

The coding of HEVC is much more complicated than H.264. To facilitate coding efficiency, two high-level parallelization tools^[5] are introduced to HEVC: Title and WPP (Wavefront Parallel Processing). Tiles divide a picture into several groups of coding tree blocks. Each Tile can be regarded as an LCU (Large Coding Unit) that allows for being decoded separately. By using WPP, the consecutive rows of CTUs are decoded in parallel using multi threads. With the increasing demand for viewing high-resolution videos, these parallel tools allow the computer to make full use of multi-core processors to play these contents smoothly.

D. Frame Prediction

As for Intraframe prediction, HEVC supports 33 angular modes while H.264 only allows 8 different modes. More angular prediction mode brings HEVC higher coding efficiency and is also helpful for getting a smooth sample surface. As for internal Frame prediction, HEVC provides higher compression ratio and picture quality as well as removes redundancy in a video sequence by optimizing the motion prediction.

E. SAO (Sample Adaptive Offset)

HEVC introduces SAO^[6] with the intent to reduce sample distortion, increase the compression ratio, and decrease the bitrate. This new in-loop filtering technique classifies the reconstructed samples into various categories based on BO (Band offset) and Eo (Edge offset) to get an offset for each category, and then adds that offset to each sample of each category. The adoption of SAO receives 2% to 6% save in bitrate with only a 2% increase in the consumption of decode/encode resources.

2) Test Data: HEVC VS MP4 H.264

A. Save Storage Bits: HEVC > H.264

• One minute of 1080p HD, 60fps H.264 video takes up around 175MB of storage space on your iPhone.
• One minute of 1080p HD, 60fps HEVC video occupies 90MB of storage space on your iPhone.

B. Save Bandwidth: HEVC > H.264

• Around 32Mbps of bandwidth is required to stream 4K broadcasts.
• Approximately 15Mbps of bandwidth is needed to stream the same content.

C. Popularity: H.264 > HEVC

• Despite that many people use both H.264 and HEVC, overall H.264 users is twice that of HEVC users.
• The majority of editing software can't decode HEVC correctly.

D. Quality: HEVC > H.264

• HEVC delivers better picture quality when the given bitrate is the same as the MP4 H.264 clip.

2. What Devices and Browsers Support HEVC Natively?

1) Smartphones, TVs and computers:

• iOS 11 or later iPhone devices.
• Android 5.0 or higher smartphones.
• Almost all 4K UHD TV sets.
• Windows 10, macOS High Sierra, or later.

2) Hardware on Windows 10:

• 6th Generation Intel Skylake or newer.
• AMD's 6th Generation Carrizo APUs or newer.
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series or newer.
• AMD R9 Fury, R9 Fury X, or newer.

3) DSLR, action cameras, and drones:

• GoPro Hero 6, Hero7, and Hero8.
• PHANTOM 4 PRO, MAVIC 2 ZOOM, MAVIC 2 PRO, PHANTOM 4 PRO, PHANTOM 4 ADVANCED.
• The entire camera line of ZCam.
• Panasonic Lumix S1H, AU-EVA 1, AG-CX350, AJ-CX4000GJ.
• Canon XF-705, EOS-1D X Mark III, EOS R5.

4) Browsers:

• IE11; Edge12-18(Partially Supported); Safari 13, 13.1, 14-TP; iOS 11-13.3, 13.5, 14.0, and later.

Reference:

[1] Entropy encoding - High Throughput CABAC Entropy Coding in HEVC - IEEE
[2] Hardware acceleration - Allows decrease latency and increase throughput. - Wikipedia
[3] Macroblocks - A liner block transform based processing unit in video compression formats. - Wikipedia
[4] CTUs - Conceptually corresponds in structure to macroblock units. - Wikipedia
[5] SAO - Improved Sample Adaptive Offset for HEVC - Hong Kong University