Converts nearly every format
MOV to MP4, WAV to MP3, HEIC to JPEG, WebP and SVG to PNG. Device presets cover iPhone, iPad and Apple TV so you never guess at settings.
Free trial / Permute 4 v4.0.11
Permute for MacConvert Any File in One Drop
Drag in a video, song or photo and pick a preset. Permute turns it into MP4, HEVC, MP3, HEIC, PDF or SRT subtitles in seconds, right on your Mac.
$14.99One-time license
4.0.11Latest Permute 4
53 MBDownload size
26+Minimum macOS
Everything Permute 4 does for your media
Permute is the Mac converter people reach for when a file just needs to work somewhere else. Version 4 keeps the drag and drop simplicity and adds pro tools for video, audio, images and PDFs.
Full control when you want it
Set bitrate, CQ quality, resolution and audio channels per preset. The Advanced Custom preset accepts raw FFmpeg arguments for anything the menus skip.
Drop Zones
Save a conversion as a drop target. Drag files onto it and Permute converts them automatically with the presets you picked. New in Permute 4.
On-device transcription
The Transcribe preset turns interviews and lectures into text or SRT subtitle files. Audio never leaves your Mac.
Fast on Apple Silicon
HEVC, H.264 and ProRes use hardware acceleration. Low Power mode runs long jobs quietly in the background while you work.
Safe with your originals
Preview any preset before you commit. Then decide what happens to source files: keep them, move them to Trash or send them to a folder you choose.
Permute 4 or Permute 3: which one fits your Mac?
Permute 4 needs Apple Silicon and macOS 26. Older and Intel Macs still run Permute 3 without trouble.
| Detail | Permute 4 | Permute 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Latest version | 4.0.11 | 3.14.8 (final) |
| macOS | 26 or later | 11 to 15 |
| Processor | Apple Silicon | Intel and Apple Silicon |
| Drop Zones | Yes | No |
| On-device Transcribe | Yes | No |
| Advanced Custom (FFmpeg) | Yes | No |
| DVD preset | Removed | Yes |
| Future updates | Active | None planned |
Bought Permute 3 in 2026? Your upgrade to Permute 4 is free. A Permute 4 license code does not activate Permute 3.
Terminal installation
Advanced users can install Permute on Mac with a single Homebrew command.
brew install --cask permute
How to open Terminal on Mac
- Press ⌘ + Space to open Spotlight.
- Type Terminal into the search field.
- Hit Return and a new shell window appears.
Installation via Terminal command
- Click Copy above to grab the brew command.
- Paste it with ⌘ + V and press Return.
- Permute 4 lands in Applications. Intel Macs get Permute 3 from the same cask.
No Homebrew? Install it from brew.sh or grab the DMG straight from the developer. Intel users can get Permute 3.14.8.
Download DMGHow Permute works
Three moves take a file from wrong format to ready to share.
Drop your files in
Drag videos, songs, photos or PDFs into the Permute window. Mixed batches are fine, and Permute groups them for you.
Pick a preset
Choose Small File, High Quality or any format preset. Trim, crop and check the preview while the estimated size updates.
Convert and move on
Hit Start and watch the queue. New files appear next to the originals, which stay put, go to Trash or move to a folder.
Set it once. Then just drop.
Drop Zones are the reason people upgrade to Permute 4. Build a zone for each job you repeat, like reels for social or MP3s for a podcast feed.
Advanced Custom preset arguments
-c:v libx265 -crf 24 -preset slow -tag:v hvc1 -c:a aac -b:a 160k
Mix presets and custom groups inside one zone.
Copy-only jobs run in a serial queue so disk speed stays high.
Right-click in Finder and convert through the Services menu.
Social Reels
HEVC 1080p / AAC 160k
IMG_4821.MOVHEVC
interview_ep12.wavMP3
lecture_week3.m4aSRT
What Mac users say about Permute
Editors, podcasters and shop owners use Permute daily to fix files that refuse to open.
I set up a Drop Zone for Instagram reels and now I just drag clips onto it. Permute 4 handles the rest while I keep editing. It changed how I batch my phone footage.
Laura B.
Bought the Permute Lizenz straight from the developer and activated it on my MacBook and my studio Mac. The license screen took ten seconds. No account and no subscription.
Tobias K.
The Transcribe preset gave me clean SRT files for a whole lecture series. Everything stayed on my Mac, which mattered for client audio.
Priya S.
Permute on Mac is quick and the HEVC preset shrinks my drone clips a lot. One star off because I still miss the DVD preset from Permute 3.
Marco D.
I convert WebP and HEIC images every week for my store. Permute turns forty product shots into JPEGs in one drop and lets me resize them on the way.
Hannah W.
The Advanced Custom preset is a gift. I paste my usual FFmpeg arguments and get a friendly queue with progress and estimated file size. Best of both worlds.
James O.
My podcast workflow is one Drop Zone now. Raw WAV goes in and a tagged MP3 comes out with the cover art I set in the metadata editor.
Elena R.
Footage from our office IP camera never played anywhere. Permute repaired the files the moment I opened them. I had tried three other tools first.
Daniel F.
Scanned twelve receipts, dropped the JPEGs in and got one tidy PDF for my accountant. Small thing, but Permute 4 does it without extra apps.
Sana M.
Permute FAQ
Straight answers about the trial, the license and system support.
Is Permute free?
You get a free trial of the full app. After that, a permanent license costs $14.99 from the developer. Permute also ships on the Mac App Store and inside the Setapp subscription.
How does the Permute Lizenz work on multiple Macs?
One license covers all your personal Macs, with up to 3 activations. Deactivate it from the Permute menu before you reinstall macOS or sell a machine. Lost the code? Choose Permute > Forgot License Code in the menu bar.
What does Permute 4 require?
Permute 4 needs macOS 26 or later on an Apple Silicon Mac. Intel Macs and systems on macOS 11 to 15 should run Permute 3, which ended at version 3.14.8.
Is the upgrade from Permute 3 to Permute 4 free?
Yes, if you bought Permute 3 in 2026. Follow the upgrade steps on the developer site to get your new code. Keep in mind a Permute 4 license does not activate Permute 3.
How do I install Permute via Terminal?
With Homebrew set up, run brew install --cask permute. Apple Silicon Macs on macOS 26 receive Permute 4, while supported Intel Macs get Permute 3.
What file types can Permute convert?
Nearly every common video, audio and image format, including MP4, HEVC, ProRes, MKV, MP3, AAC, WAV, HEIC, WebP, AVIF and SVG. It also stitches images into a PDF and handles text files with encoding and speech presets.
Is the App Store version of Permute different?
Yes. Apple sandbox rules block a few features in the App Store build. Open Help > Permute Help > App Store Limitations inside the app for the full list.
Does Permute send my audio to the cloud for transcription?
No. The Transcribe preset uses on-device AI, so your recordings become text or SRT files without leaving your Mac.
Try Permute 4 on your Mac today
Download the full version, test every preset during the trial and buy a license only if it earns a spot in your Dock.