How to Convert MP4 to ProRes Free on Mac and Windows in 2026

You will notice a significant improvement in system performance when you edit ProRes video files instead of MP4 video files. Converting MP4 to ProRes significantly improves video editing performance by reducing CPU and GPU workload, enabling smoother playback, faster timeline rendering, and better color grading. That is why it is instrumental to use Apple Prores video files for editing purposes, and you can export the files in MP4 format when you are done editing. There are different Apple ProRes Converters available for Mac and Windows users. In this article, we will illustrate how to convert MP4 to ProRes online as well as offline.

Recommended MP4 to ProRes Converter

Convert MP4 to ProRes to improve editing performance and quality, particularly for post-production, as ProRes is an intra-frame codec that is easier for CPUs to handle than compressed MP4 (H.264/H.265). HitPaw Univd (HitPaw Video Converter) is a trustworthy software to convert videos to over 1,000 formats, including converting MP4 to ProRes, MOV, etc.

Part 1. The Best MP4/MOV to ProRes Converters on Mac and Windows

If you have a video file and you want to convert MP4 to ProRes Windows or Mac, you need a dedicated ProRes converter application. You will come across several such ProRes Converter, but HitPaw Univd for Mac is undoubtedly the best among them. You can import any video file of any format and convert it to ProRes codec on your Mac as well as Windows PC. The video conversion speed is 120 times faster than any standard video converter, and most importantly, there is going to be any loss in video quality after the conversion. You can also convert multiple videos simultaneously without your computer lagging thanks to GPU and CPU acceleration.

Key Features of HitPaw Univd

• Convert MP4 to ProRes with ease, also support 1000+ formats excrpt MP4.
• The converted ProRes videos will have 100% original quality with GPU and CPU acceleration.
• Convert as many as 5000 videos files in batch when there are a lot of MP4 files to deal with.
• Additional video editing features includes cutting, merging, video compressor, auto reframe and more.

How To Convert MP4 to ProRes with HitPaw MP4 to ProRes converter?

Here are the steps you need to follow in order to convert your MP4 video files to ProRes format with HitPaw Univd.

• Step 1. Install HitPaw Univd

  Download and install the converter on your computer as per your operating system. HitPaw Univd is available for Windows and MacOS.

• Step 2. Drag or Add an MP4 File

  Launch HitPaw Univd and you will be under Convert tab on the home screen of the application. Drag and drop your MP4 video file on the application. You can add multiple files and they will line up in a queue.

  
• Step 3. Select ProRes Format

  Go to bottom-left corner and click on “Convert All To” option to select ProRes format.

  
• Step 4. Choose Output Settings

  Select output video settings from the presets or click the 'Pen' icon to customize them.

  
• Step 5. Converting MP4 to ProRes

  Finally, click on “Convert All” button located at the bottom-right corner. After the conversion gets over, you will see the converter files under Convert tab on the application.

  

Part 2. Other 3 MP4 to Prores Converters to Convert MP4 to ProRes

There is no doubt that HitPaw Univd is the best tool to convert to ProRes Windows and Mac from MP4 file format. There are some other MP4 to Prores converter available through which you can transcode MP4 to ProRes if you possess them.

1. Convert MP4 to Prores with Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is the most popular premium video editing software among Mac users. If you have already bought Final Cut Pro, you can use it to convert MP4 H.264 files to ProRes format. You need to import MP4 video files and export them in ProRes format. However, if MP4 video files have any codec other than H.264, the application fails to import and you will see an error message while importing such MP4 files. Therefore, you can convert only selected MP4 files to ProRes where HitPaw Univd supports all MP4 files as well as other video file formats. Here are the steps to follow.

• Step 1.Open Final Cut Pro and go to File> Import> Media. Select the MP4 files from your storage.

  

• Step 2.Now export the file in ProRes format by going to File> Share> Master File.

• Step 3.A Settings dialog box will open where you have to select video codec as Apple ProRes. There are different ProRes codecs available to choose from as per your requirements.

  

• Step 4.Click on Next button and select the destination folder and click on Save button.

2. Convert Video to Prores with Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is the most premium video editing software among Windows users. The application supports importing and exporting video files of different file formats. In fact, it supports almost all MP4 file formats with different codecs. You can easily convert to Prores instantly. Here are the steps to convert MP4 file to ProRes Files.

• Step 1.Open Adobe Premiere Pro and go to File> Import option. Select the MP4 video file from your hard drive.

  

• Step 2.Thereafter, go to File> Export> Media option.

  

• Step 3.On Export Settings window, go to Format and select QuickTime. In the Preset, ProRes 422 HQ will be selected by default. Check all other available parameters, and finally, click on Export button.

  

That is how MP4 files can convert to ProRes 422 Windows through Adobe Premiere Pro.

3. Convert to Prores Using iMovie

If you are looking for a free mp4 converter for Mac, iMovie can get the job done for you. iMovie comes pre-installed on Mac and Mac users use the application mostly for editing purposes. Here are the steps to follow in order to convert MP4 video file to ProRes with iMovie.

• Step 1.Launch iMovie on your Mac and drag and drop MP4 video file on the Project Media section.

• Step 2.Go to Share menu and click on Export using QuickTime option.

  

• Step 3.In Save Export File dialog box, select “Movie to QuickTime Movie” from Export drop-down list. Finally, click on Save button after naming the file and selecting the destination.

  

Part 3. Apple ProRes Converter FAQs

1. Is MP4 same as ProRes?

No, MP4 is a container format mainly using H.264 or H.265 codecs, while ProRes is a professional intraframe codec. ProRes compresses each frame independently, resulting in larger files but smoother playback and better performance for video editing workflows

2. Why should you convert MP4 to ProRes?

MP4 files use heavy compression that increases CPU and GPU load during editing. ProRes reduces system strain, improves timeline responsiveness, and provides 10-bit color depth, making it more suitable for color grading and complex post-production tasks.

3. Is ProRes higher quality than MP4?

ProRes is considered higher quality for editing because it uses less compression and higher bitrates than MP4. While MP4 is optimized for storage and streaming, ProRes preserves more visual data and reduces quality loss in post-production.

4. Can you convert MP4 to ProRes?

Yes, you can convert MP4 to ProRes using professional converters like HitPaw Univd, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie. These tools allow exporting MP4 videos into ProRes 422 or ProRes 4444 formats for editing.

5. Can HandBrake convert MP4 to ProRes?

No, HandBrake does not support exporting to Apple ProRes. It focuses on delivery formats like H.264 and H.265. To convert MP4 to ProRes, you need professional tools such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, or dedicated video converters.

Conclusion

If you are a regular video editor and you use premium video editing software, you can improve the performance of your system when you convert your video file from MP4 to ProRes. We have stated different ways of how to convert MP4 to ProRes free and why you should go for the conversion. Among of all the ways, HitPaw Univd for Mac is the best Apple ProRes converter to convert video to Prores faster without losing video quality.