Adapter
A free desktop converter for video, audio and image files on Mac and Windows.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · macOS, Windows
Is Adapter free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from Adapter to
All 4
HandBrakeOpen source
- WoWondershare UniConverter
Starting price: US$45.99 a year (Yearly Plan, Windows)
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Adapter
Adapter is a free converter from Macroplant, the maker of iExplorer, for turning video, audio and image files into other formats. Under the hood it uses FFmpeg for conversion and VLC for previews, so it handles a wide range of formats, and it shows the original and converted output side by side along with an estimated file size before you start. You can batch convert folders of files, resize images, trim clips, make animated GIFs and ringtones, burn in subtitles, add watermarks or text overlays and pick resolution and frame rate. The interface keeps advanced settings hidden until you need them. It is freeware with no watermarks, limits or bundled toolbars, and runs on macOS and Windows. The downside is age: the current download is version 2.1.2, the listed system requirements are old, and it lacks newer conveniences such as hardware-accelerated presets you get in actively maintained converters.
Best for: People who want a simple free converter for occasional video, audio and image jobs..
Adapter pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Adapter's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Nov 8, 2026 | macroplant.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Completely free, with no watermarks or limits
- Side-by-side preview and file size estimate before converting
- Handles video, audio and images, including GIFs and ringtones
Why people leave
- Appears not to be actively updated; listed requirements are years old
- Fewer presets and tuning options than HandBrake
- Closed source, unlike the FFmpeg engine it wraps
Adapter vs HandBrake, Wondershare UniConverter and Movavi Video Converter
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Adapter | HandBrake | Wondershare UniConverter | Movavi Video Converter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Open source | Paid | Paid |
| Verified price | — | — | US$45.99 a year (Yearly Plan, Windows) | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | No | No |
| Open source | No | Yes | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
Top Adapter alternatives
See all 4- 1HandBrake83.8
Free, open source and actively maintained, with far more video presets and encoder options.
- 2WoWondershare UniConverter79.8
Paid all-in-one converter with GPU acceleration, compression and DVD tools.
- 3Movavi Video Converter61.8
Polished paid converter with fast hardware-accelerated conversion and device presets.
- 4
fre:ac59.4Free open-source choice if you mostly convert and rip audio files.
Why people left Adapter
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Adapter: common questions
What is Adapter?
Adapter: A free desktop converter for video, audio and image files on Mac and Windows. Best for people who want a simple free converter for occasional video, audio and image jobs. Available for macOS and Windows.
Is Adapter free?
Yes, Adapter is free to use.
How much does Adapter cost?
Adapter is free to use. Price: Free. Checked on Adapter's own site, November 2026.
Is Adapter open source?
No, Adapter is not open source. Open-source alternatives include HandBrake and fre:ac.
What platforms does Adapter run on?
Adapter is available for macOS and Windows.
What are the best alternatives to Adapter?
The highest-ranked Adapter alternatives right now are HandBrake, Wondershare UniConverter and Movavi Video Converter. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Adapter vs HandBrake: what's the difference?
Adapter is free to use; HandBrake is free and open source. HandBrake is open source and Adapter is not. Only HandBrake runs on Linux.