Top 10 4K Converter Programs to Try [List for 2021]

In this day and age, everyone wants to record, watch, and stream content in 4K UHD resolution. With four times the pixels of Full HD video, 4K videos offer more detail and clarity, making them look fantastic. As 4K displays become more common, the popularity of 4K videos isn't slowing down. However, better quality means that 4K videos take up more space than Full HD videos. Their massive size can also be an issue when you try to upload 4K videos to any social media platform. If you want to save space and bandwidth, you must use a 4K converter to reduce the resolution of your 4K videos.

There are many free video converters for Windows 10 available online that you can use to convert videos to 4K. A 4K video converter will downscale a 4K video to a lower resolution, such as 720p or 1080p, to reduce the file size. Almost all of these editors let you specify the final output resolution and change other aspects during the conversion process. Here's a list of some simple and free 4K video converters that you can use to scale down a 4K video to a lower resolution.

Top 10 4K Converter Programs to Try

1. Video Editor

If you're looking for a feature-packed 4K video converter that also comes with some professional video editing features, Video Editor is the best choice. It integrates many powerful tools and attributes in an easy-to-use interface. With this GoPro video editor, you can convert 4K videos shot from your GoPro or iPhone into the desired format (like MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, etc.) and lower resolutions for easy sharing. Additionally, it offers conversion presets tailored for platforms like iPhone, YouTube, Facebook, and more. The Video Editor provides over 300+ visual and transition effects, and you can even add music to your video without any watermarks. You can even speed up or slow down parts of the video before converting. However, this application is only available for Windows systems.

How to Use a Video Editing Tool to Convert 4K Videos

Step 1: Go to the Video Editor website and download the application to your computer.

Step 2: Open the app on your computer. You'll be prompted to choose an aspect ratio. Select the one that matches your video, then proceed.

Choose the video aspect ratio

Step 3: Now you need to add your video file to the application. You can do this by clicking on the "Import" option and selecting "Import File," or by simply dragging the file into the application.

4. After you locate the video within the application, right-click on it and select “Add to Project” to include it in your current project.

Step 5: Once you've added the video to your project, click "Export" from the top menu bar.

Step 6. The next screen lets you convert the video to several different file formats. Click on the “Video” tab, and you'll see a list of all the available formats. Choose one, then click “Export” at the bottom.

Step 7. If you want to configure some advanced options, click on the icon next to Output Settings to configure them.

2. Handbrake

Handbrake is a popular open-source video converter that's free and available on all major platforms – Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers a host of detailed video conversion options, including support for chapter markers, video filters, frame rates, and more. The converter can also shrink your existing 4K videos to smaller file sizes while maintaining the same resolution. It even has presets for various devices, so you don't have to fiddle with conversion settings. However, Handbrake can be incredibly complicated and overwhelming for the average user. Its myriad of options might confuse casual users.

3. Converter

You don't need to install an app on your computer to convert 4K videos. You can use an online tool like Convertio to convert 4K videos for free. It's a simple and easy service that only requires you to upload the 4K video, choose the output format, and you're done. Despite being web-based, Convertio supports all kinds of video formats, including converting videos to MP4. However, it has a major limitation in that it can only convert videos up to 100MB in size. Additionally, it doesn't offer presets for iPhone or PC like the other video converters on this list.

4. Zamzar is an online file conversion tool that supports various file formats, including documents, images, videos, and audio files.

Zamzar is a free online file conversion service that also does 4K video conversions. It supports almost all popular video formats and resolutions, although the output options are quite limited. While Zamzar lets you convert unlimited videos per day, your file size is capped at 200MB. One plus with Zamzar is that you can paste a video URL directly, and it will automatically convert the file for you to download, although this feature doesn't work with YouTube videos. You can also have the download link for your final media file sent to your email for later downloading.

5. HDConvert

HDConvert is a simple, no-frills online 4K video converter that lets you change the resolution of your 4K videos to 720p or 1080p without having to tinker with video encoders and other transcoding settings. The free version of the service puts a watermark on all converted videos, and its conversion speeds are a little slower than those of the other apps on this list.

6. VLC

VLC is an open-source media player, but you can also use it for free to convert 4K videos. It's available for both Windows and macOS. The media player supports transcoding almost any codec and resolution. However, the feature is hidden in the “Settings” menu, and it's not very user-friendly. It offers so many options that it might confuse average users.

（Image: VLC - Top 4K Converter）

7. Prism Video Converter

Prism Video Converter is a video converter with some video editing features. It supports converting 4K videos in almost any format to the one you need. It can also compress 4K videos to reduce file size and save storage space. Other notable features of Prism Video Converter include adding color filters, watermarks, or subtitles to your videos, adjusting brightness and contrast, and trimming or splitting videos before conversion. You can also use this app to convert video files to MP4 format. Prism Video Converter is great for users who need more than just a 4K video converter; it can also cater to their basic video editing needs.

Caption: Prism - The Top 4K Converter

8. Movavi Video Converter

Movavi Video Converter is a feature-rich 4K video converter that also offers some basic video editing features, including the ability to stabilize shaky footage. It's available on all platforms, including Windows and macOS. Like the other video converters on this list, Movavi supports virtually all video formats. It can also compress 4K videos to take up less space. One unique feature of Movavi Video Converter is its ability to search for subtitles online and then use those subtitles in your video.

9. Video to Video Converter

This is a free 4K converter that supports over 200 video formats. The Video to Video Converter also has a portable version, meaning you can use it without installing it on your PC first. It also comes with an in-built DVD burner, a handy commercial remover tool, video to image tool, and more. You can even add watermarks to your converted 4K videos.

10. FFmpeg

FFmpeg is an open-source developer-oriented converter that you can use to transcode your 4K videos into any format of your choice. If you're interested in knowing which libraries and dependencies the converter uses, then you'll love FFmpeg. Unlike the other apps on this list, FFmpeg doesn't have a traditional user interface. Instead, it has a command-line driven interface, which means that you have to use it through the Terminal on a Mac or Linux or the Command Prompt on Windows.

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Which 4K Converter to Use?

While there are many 4K video converters out there, not all of them will suit your needs. A 4K video converter should be easy to use and offer plenty of options and presets to make the task at hand seem less daunting. Taking all these features into account, it's clear that Video Editor is one of the best tools out there. It allows users to easily convert 4K videos and comes with many other useful options, such as trimming and cropping videos, adding video effects, and more. Even if you're looking for a free MP4 video converter, this one is a quick pick. With that said, here are answers to some frequently asked questions by readers.

Can I upscale 1080p to 4K? How do I convert 2K to 4K?

While all the converters above can upscale 1080p to 4K, it is not recommended that you do so, as technically, it's not possible to convert a video with lower resolution to higher resolution. Likewise, you cannot upscale 2K to 4K but can do the opposite.

Can you upgrade your TV to 4K?

If you want to convert 4K video for TV playback, make sure you have a 4K TV first. There's no point in playing 4K content on a non-4K TV.

How to Convert 4K Video to Lower Resolution?

While you can use any of the above tools to downscale 4K resolution, we recommend using a video editor to convert the video file to mp4 with a lower resolution.