FFmpeg
The command that converts, cuts, streams and inspects essentially any audio or video file in existence.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
4 more ways to get FFmpeg
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by FFmpeg.org. Prefer the official page above when it works.
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install ffmpeg - Homebrew
brew install ffmpeg - Snap Store
snap install ffmpeg
About FFmpeg
FFmpeg is the set of libraries almost every media program on your machine is built on, plus three command line tools: ffmpeg for converting and manipulating, ffplay for playing, and ffprobe for inspecting. If a video player, editor or streaming service handles a format, there is a good chance FFmpeg is doing the decoding.
Used directly it will re-encode, remux without re-encoding, trim, concatenate, resize, extract audio, burn in subtitles, apply filter graphs and stream to a server. The command syntax is notoriously particular, and the reward for learning it is that no other tool is needed.
Strengths
- Handles practically every container and codec there is
- Remuxes without re-encoding, so a container change is instant and lossless
- Filter graphs cover scaling, cropping, overlays, subtitles and audio mixing
- Scriptable, which makes batch jobs trivial
Limitations
- Command line only, with syntax that punishes guessing
- Argument order matters in ways that are not obvious
- Official builds are source; binaries come from third parties
- Licence depends on the build, and GPL components can matter commercially
Details
- Pricing
- Free · Free and open source. The codebase is mainly LGPL 2.1 with some components under the GPL, depending on which build you use.
- License
- LGPL-2.1
- Developer
- FFmpeg.org
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Any conversion, trim or inspection job that a graphical tool will not do properly
- Categories
- Video editing and conversion
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Video); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 2 sources on file.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
HandBrake
A video converter that turns files and unprotected discs into MP4, MKV or WebM with presets for common devices.
LosslessCut
Trims and joins video and audio without re-encoding, so a cut takes seconds instead of an hour.
MKVToolNix
Builds, inspects and edits MKV files: add subtitles, drop a track, fix chapters, all without re-encoding.
yt-dlp
A command line downloader that saves audio and video from thousands of sites, with precise control over formats.
