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FFmpeg

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Company health

Employee growth
65% increase in the last year
Web traffic
15% increase in the last quarter

Ratings

G2
4.6/5
(20)

FFmpeg description

FFmpeg is a free, open-source software project that provides tools for handling audio and video files. It's widely used for tasks like converting between different file formats (e.g., MP4 to AVI), compressing video files, and streaming media. FFmpeg is a collection of command-line tools rather than a user-friendly application with a graphical interface. It's known for its extensive format support, making it a versatile tool for developers and multimedia professionals.


What companies are using FFmpeg?

MediaHub is using FFmpeg
MediaHub
Zapier is used by MediaHub.

Who is FFmpeg best for

FFmpeg is ideal for developers and multimedia professionals. We find that users value its extensive format support and versatility in compression, conversion, and streaming. It's a powerful tool for optimizing video file sizes and performing video editing tasks. Keep in mind the command-line interface can present a steep learning curve, especially without coding experience.

  • Great for small to medium-sized businesses (1-1000 employees) seeking powerful audio and video handling.

  • Ideal for media, entertainment, software, IT, and telecommunications industries needing versatile multimedia tools.


FFmpeg features

Supported

VVC decoding: FFmpeg supports VVC (Versatile Video Coding) decoding, which is now stable. The codec is starting to gain traction with broadcast standardization bodies.

Supported

AAC USAC decoding: FFmpeg supports a native AAC USAC (part of the xHE-AAC coding system) decoder. The format is starting to be adopted by streaming websites, due to its extensive volume normalization metadata.

Supported

MV-HEVC decoding: FFmpeg supports MV-HEVC decoding, which is a stereoscopic coding tool that begun to be shipped and generated by recent phones and VR headsets.

Supported

LC-EVC decoding: FFmpeg supports LC-EVC decoding, an enhancement metadata layer to attempt to improve the quality of codecs, via an external library.

Supported

Vulkan encoding with H264 and HEVC: FFmpeg supports Vulkan encoding with H264 and HEVC. This allows fully Vulkan-based decode-filter-encode pipelines, by having a sink for Vulkan frames. The encoders have feature-parity with their VAAPI implementation counterparts. Khronos has announced that support for AV1 encoding is also coming soon to Vulkan, and FFmpeg is aiming to have day-one support.

Supported

Improvements for full-range images: FFmpeg has improvements made for full-range images. The new system fixes this, so now color range is forwarded correctly and consistently everywhere needed, and also laid the path for more advanced forms of negotiation.

Supported

Cropping metadata support for Matroska and MP4 formats: Cropping metadata is now supported with Matroska and MP4 formats. This metadata is important not only for archival, but also with AV1, as hardware encoders require its signalling due to the codec not natively supporting one.


FFmpeg pricing

The commentary is based on 2 reviews from FFmpeg G2 reviews.

FFmpeg is free and open-source, which is a huge plus. We find that users really appreciate its cost-effectiveness. It's a powerful tool without the hefty price tag.

See the FFmpeg pricing page.

  • FFmpeg has a free plan.


FFmpeg alternatives


FFmpeg FAQ

  • What is FFmpeg and what does FFmpeg do?

    FFmpeg is a free, open-source command-line tool collection for handling audio and video files. We find it's widely used for format conversion, video compression, and streaming, and it's known for its broad format support. It's a versatile tool, though it does have a learning curve.

  • How does FFmpeg integrate with other tools?

    FFmpeg is primarily used through its command-line interface, and it can be integrated into scripts and other programs. It also functions as a library, allowing developers to incorporate its functionality directly into their applications. We find this makes it quite versatile for various workflows.

  • What the main competitors of FFmpeg?

    We find that HandBrake, Movavi Video Converter, HitPaw Video Converter, Any Video Converter Freeware, Avidemux, and Movavi Video Suite are the main alternatives to FFmpeg. They offer similar video processing capabilities with varying levels of ease of use and features.

  • Is FFmpeg legit?

    Yes, FFmpeg is legitimate and safe. It's a widely used, free, and open-source software project trusted by developers and multimedia professionals. We find it particularly useful for its extensive format support and command-line tools.

  • How much does FFmpeg cost?

    FFmpeg is a free and open-source software. There are no costs associated with downloading or using it. We find it a valuable tool for multimedia processing.

  • Is FFmpeg customer service good?

    There are no customer service reviews available for FFmpeg. Therefore, we cannot determine the quality of their customer service.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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