Compare · free for Windows 10 and 11
The best free file converters for Windows
There’s no single “best” converter: it depends on what you convert. Here are the free tools for Windows that work offline, what each is best at, and where S Converter fits. (S Converter is made by the author of this page, so it’s included, but every tool here is worth knowing.)
The short list
S Converter: best all-in-one
Images, video, audio, documents, PDFs and archives in one app, with presets and a Quick Convert wheel in File Explorer. Free, no ads. Windows 10 and 11.
HandBrake: best for video in depth
An open-source video transcoder with very detailed encoding controls. Converts video to MP4, MKV and WebM. Windows, Mac and Linux.
Format Factory: a long-standing all-rounder
A free Windows converter for video, audio, images and documents that has been around for many years.
XnConvert: best for advanced image batches
A batch image converter with many editing actions you can chain together. Free for private use. Windows, Mac and Linux.
LibreOffice: best for editing documents
A full, free office suite. Open a document, edit it, then export it as PDF or another office format.
Which one for which job?
| Job | Good choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone HEIC photos to JPG | S Converter | Reads HEIC without extra codecs, keeps photos upright, works in batches |
| Shrink a video for WhatsApp | S Converter | One-click WhatsApp and Shrink presets, GPU accelerated |
| Fine-tune a video encode | HandBrake | Detailed control over codecs, filters and subtitles |
| Resize, rename and edit 1,000 images | XnConvert or S Converter | XnConvert for chains of edits; S Converter for quick resizes and presets |
| Word or PowerPoint to PDF | S Converter or LibreOffice | S Converter in batches without Office; LibreOffice when you also need to edit |
| Merge, split or compress PDFs | S Converter | Built-in PDF tools, offline |
| ZIP a folder with a password | S Converter | AES-256 ZIP from the right-click menu |
What to look for in a converter
Offline
Your files stay on your PC, and big files don’t need uploading.
No surprises in the installer
Install from a trusted place, such as the Microsoft Store, and read each installer screen.
Batches
Converting a folder at once saves hours.
Your hardware
GPU acceleration makes video several times faster.
Questions
What is the best free file converter for Windows 11?
For converting many kinds of files in one app, S Converter is free, offline and made for Windows 10 and 11. For detailed video encoding, HandBrake is excellent. The best choice depends on what you convert.
Is there a free converter without ads?
Yes. S Converter, HandBrake and LibreOffice have no ads.
Can one app convert video, images and PDFs?
Yes. S Converter and Format Factory both handle many file types in one app.
Read next
Try S Converter
Free, no ads, no account. Images, video, audio, documents, PDFs and archives, all converted on your own PC.