When comparing VLC vs Freemake Video Converter, the Slant community recommends VLC for most people. In the question“What are the best free video converters?” VLC is ranked 4th while Freemake Video Converter is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose VLC is:
VLC is licensed under the CC-SA v3.0+ and available on Windows, OSX, and Linux with source code available [here](http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-sources.html).
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Free, open source, and cross-platform
VLC is licensed under the CC-SA v3.0+ and available on Windows, OSX, and Linux with source code available here.
Pro Simple to setup and use
VLC is an incredibly robust application but very simple on the surface. It makes playing music simple, yet still manages to give the user all the tools he/she wants in a music player.
Pro Very versatile and easy to use
Pro Doesn't require additional codecs
Everything VLC needs to play media files is contained within which means no outside codecs are needed. This makes it one of the most hassle-free music players as it can play virtually anything as soon as it's installed.
Pro Tons of advanced settings
Besides basic configurations, video player has an extensive amount of adjustable settings.
Pro Doesn't manage your music library for you
You organize your music into folders any way you want. Want to play an album? Drag and drop. No tags, no confusion, no fluff. Easy.
Pro Can be almost completely keyboard-driven
VLC includes keyboard shortcuts for most actions. The video player can be controlled with simple and customizable keyboard commands.
Pro Surprisingly Lightest on Resources
Yes. Lightest. Even better than the ones known to be light. Both when playing music, only a single song or when playing a video. Either in terms of Ram and Cpu. Compared with almost all, including the ones from Windows like mpc-hc .. or light ones from Linux like Alsa Player, Audacious, SmPlayer .
Pro Can play every format video available (as of 2017)
Pro Supports a GUI interface and an ncurses terminal interface
Pro Can easily stream music across your home network from any device on the network
Using sftp/ssh music (and videos) can be streamed from any server on the network to any device running VLC. VLC can also be used as a webcam for streaming and snapshots. Amazing all in one package
Pro Large amount of extensions
VLC has a large amount of extensions.
Cons
Con Not really meant to be a music player
VLC is made to be a video player. Therefore, it won't carry out actions such as managing your music library.
Con Lacks libraries and advanced music player features
VLC is a media player first and foremost. There is no library management (aside from playlists), limited usage of tags, and no rating system. VLC is best at playing a file directly from a folder, but falls behind when it comes to helping you manage or find good songs in your music library.
Con Absence of personalization
VLC Player has only one basic interface in white or black, and overall personalization opportunities are quite narrow. Unfortunately, you're pretty much stuck to the default look.
Con Contains some insignificant but irritating flaws
Despite all keyboard shortcuts, the width of the picture can't be controlled by trackpad. Besides that, the VLC start-up window doesn’t open at the same place or the same width at which it was previously closed.
Con Installer includes adware
MyPCBackup option is included during install, but you can skip it.
Con Video and Audio Out of Sync
Cause sync messed up.
Con Some video format not supported
Doesn’t Support MKV Format.
Con The free version adds it's own branding to videos
The Freemake Video Converter logo is watermarked on the video and also adds a splash screen to the start and ending of a video. Any IAP will remove the branding at $20 for a one-time fee or a $9 monthly subscription. Look under menu > help to find the IAP options and to purchase if you are so inclined.
Con Expensive considering IAPs
Currently there are three in app purchase ( IAP) options. All three offer a choice to subscribe monthly at $9 /mo or a one-time unlimited purchase at $19. All IAPs remove the freemake branding and splash screen at beginning end of outputted videos, but the other features that are unlocked differ.
Remove branding features: faster video conversion; automatic video backup; exclusive dvd menus; black bars removal.
Gold pack features: faster video conversion: black bars removal; video projects auto-save; videos branding removed.
Subtitles pack: add subtitles to movies; change subtitles font; edit subtitles size; remove freemake branding.
So, if you wanted ALL features of the app and opt for single pay rather than the subscription model, you would need to pony up $60.
Look under "help" to find the IAP options and to purchase if you are so inclined.
Con No queue feature
Once you hit convert, you can't work on something else, you have to wait for the conversion to finish before the software is available to use again.