Best File Converter Apps for Mac (2026)
Most lists mix in web tools that upload your files. These are real Mac apps that run on your computer, and we've said where each one wins, including over our own.
Quick Answer
- ✓Fastest from Finder: Tangerine, on Apple silicon. Deepest media controls: Permute.
- ✓Best free all-in-one: FileHop, which we make. It covers media, documents and data, and runs on Intel Macs and Windows.
- ✓Best free for video: HandBrake. For one image, macOS Quick Actions are already built in.
Does Mac have a built-in file converter?
Partly. Right-click an image in Finder and choose Quick Actions > Convert Image for JPEG, PNG or HEIF. Preview exports images and PDFs to other formats, and Finder can encode video through Services. That's enough for occasional images, but there's no built-in way to batch convert formats like MKV, or to convert spreadsheets.
When you choose an app, four things matter: whether files stay on your computer, whether it runs on your Mac, what it costs, and how it fits your day. Requirements have changed quickly lately. Permute 4 and Tangerine both leave out Intel Macs, so check before buying. We checked prices in October 2026, and they can change.
How to choose
Start with what you convert most often.
Only images, now and then
Use macOS Quick Actions. There's nothing to install.
Mostly video and audio
Use Permute on a recent Mac, HandBrake for free video, or FileHop for free video and audio on older Macs.
Many file types, from Finder
Use Tangerine on Apple silicon. Its Shift-drag wheel is hard to beat for speed.
Mixed files and editing
Use FileHop, which also opens, edits and organizes files in one free app.
FileHop runs in its own window and has no Finder extension, saved presets or watch folders.
The apps, briefly
Each of these runs locally on your Mac.
Permute 4
$14.99. Over 100 formats with strong media controls, OCR and transcription. Needs macOS 26 and Apple silicon. Permute 3 serves older Macs.
Tangerine
$24.99 in the US after 20 free files. 275 conversion options from a Finder gesture. Needs Apple silicon and macOS 13.
HandBrake
Free and open source. The trusted choice for video, with many encoding options, but it doesn't handle other file types.
File converters for Mac, compared
Price and best use, as of October 2026.
| App | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| FileHop | Free all-in-one, Intel and Windows | Free |
| Permute 4 | Media controls, recent Macs | $14.99 |
| Permute 3 | Media on older Macs | $14.99 |
| Tangerine | Speed from Finder | $24.99 |
| HandBrake | Free video encoding | Free |
| macOS Quick Actions | Occasional images | Built in |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best free file converter for Mac?
FileHop for mixed files, and HandBrake for video only.
Does Mac have a built-in file converter?
For images, yes. Use Quick Actions in Finder or export from Preview.
Which converters work on Intel Macs?
FileHop, HandBrake and Permute 3. Permute 4 and Tangerine don't.
Are online converters safe?
They upload your files to someone else's server. Avoid them for private documents and use a local app.
Which is best for batch conversion?
Permute and FileHop both handle batches well. HandBrake has a queue for video.
Can I convert a spreadsheet to PDF?
Yes. FileHop exports Excel sheets to PDF, and Tangerine also lists spreadsheet conversions.
Is FileHop the best choice for everyone?
No. We make it, and if you want Finder speed or presets, Tangerine and Permute are better.
Why aren't web tools on this list?
They need an upload and a connection. This list covers apps that run on your Mac.
Try FileHop on your Mac
Free for Intel and Apple silicon, with no upload.
Download FileHop Free