video converter · PCFreetime

Format Factory

Free Windows converter for video, audio, pictures and discs, with hardware encoders for NVIDIA, Intel and AMD listed in its release notes.

63/100

#5 of 11 video converters
Facts checked 9 Oct 2026

In short

The vendor describes Format Factory as free; no paid plan is listed. Version 5.22.0.0 dates from 11 March 2026¹.
It runs on Windows only; the vendor's page lists no other system¹.
Release notes list hardware encoders for NVIDIA (nvenc), Intel (qsv) and AMD (amf), including AV1².
It rips DVD and Blu-ray discs to video files¹.
The licence text offers premium features in return for joining the Bright Data network; you can opt out in Options³.

Format Factory suits people who want a free Windows converter that also rips discs and writes HEVC and AV1^1,2. Release notes list GPU encoders for all three makers². The catch: the vendor's pages say little about automation or target file size, and the licence text includes an optional Bright Data network offer^1,2,3.

Best for: People who want a free all-purpose converter and accept an optional bandwidth-sharing offer.

Where the points come from

Systems0 of 6

Formats16 of 23

Speed12 of 12

Batch and tools11 of 23

Price and licence24 of 36

Systems 0 of 6 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Also runs on	NoneThe vendor's download page lists Windows as the only system¹.	0 / 6

Formats 16 of 23 points

Rule	What is published	Points
H.265 (HEVC) output	YesRelease notes: HEVC (H265) codec added in MP4 and MKV; H.265 encoders added to FLV in 2024².	4 / 4
AV1 output	YesRelease notes: AV1 encoder support added for MP4 and MKV (V5.2.0)².	6 / 6
Editing codecs	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's download page or release notes^1,2.	0 / 3
HDR kept or tone-mapped	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's download page or release notes^1,2.	0 / 4
Audio-only conversion	YesDownload page lists an audio converter and music CD ripping to audio files; release notes list All to MP3, OGG and FLAC^1,2.	3 / 3
Subtitles	YesRelease notes: convert video with an SRT subtitle file added (V1.55); external subtitle file fixes later².	3 / 3

Speed 12 of 12 points

Rule	What is published	Points
GPU encoding	NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, AMD AMF/VCNRelease notes list av1_nvenc, av1_qsv, av1_amf hardware encoders and tuned h26X_nvenc, h26X_qsv, h26X_amf².	12 / 12

Batch and tools 11 of 23 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Batch queue	YesRelease notes list an Add Folder button, adding large numbers of files, a saved task list and adjustable task threads².	5 / 5
Device presets	YesRelease notes list profiles for PSP, iPhone and other mobile devices (V1.13, V1.90, V2.40); home page lists iPhone and iPod formats^1,2.	3 / 3
Command line or watch folder	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's download page, FAQ or release notes^1,2.	0 / 5
Compress to a set file size	Not publishedNot published; release notes mention only a Size Limit option from 2017, without a description².	0 / 4
Trim, crop and rotate	Not publishedDownload page lists clipper and crop for video; video rotate appears only in bug-fix notes, so all three are not listed^1,2,4.	0 / 3
Reads DVD or Blu-ray	YesThe download page says it rips BD and DVD to video files¹.	3 / 3

Price and licence 24 of 36 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free version without a watermark	YesVendor calls it free; no page lists a watermark, length or file cap. The licence text mentions an optional Bright Data offer^1,3.	12 / 12
Open source	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's pages; the licence text names only LGPL third-party parts (ffmpeg, Qt, QtAV)³.	0 / 6
Pay once, keep it	NoEntirely free and no paid licence is listed, so there is no one-time licence to count^1,3.	0 / 6
Cheapest full version	$0Free; the vendor lists no paid plan^1,3.	12 / 12

The rule behind each line: how we score video converters.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Free1 person	Free^1,3	$0	Windows only; optional Bright Data network offer for premium features

The vendor's pages list no paid plan^1,3.

Strengths

Free, with no price, watermark or length limit listed on the vendor's pages¹.
Release notes list AV1 and HEVC encoders and hardware encoders for NVIDIA, Intel and AMD².
Rips DVD and Blu-ray discs and music CDs¹.
Converts audio as well as video, and adds SRT subtitle files to video^1,2.

Limits

Windows only; no macOS or Linux download is listed¹.
The licence text ties some premium features to joining the Bright Data network, which can be opted out of³.
The vendor's pages do not describe a command line or a target file size^1,2.
Features are described mostly in release notes, not a feature page, so details such as HDR are not published^1,2.