How to Make a WebM File from Videos, Images, and Online Sources

VLC is a free, open-source, and cross-platform media player that can also handle basic multimedia processing tasks, including video conversion. It supports many popular video and audio inputs and provides a WebM profile, so you can use it to make a WebM video from common source files without installing a dedicated converter. VLC also allows you to customize simple settings like bitrate, frame rate, and resolution. Apart from making WebM from local videos, VLC can even help you save online videos for later conversion.

However, VLC is first a media player, not a professional video converter. The conversion interface is less intuitive, batch work is not as smooth, and the default WebM profile is limited compared with tools that let you easily choose VP9, AV1, Opus, bitrate mode, and other output details.

FFmpeg is an open-source and cross-platform program that can make WebM videos with command lines. It supports a wide range of video, audio, and image formats as input and output, which makes it flexible for converting regular videos, creating WebM from image sequences, recording a screen, or processing files in scripts. With proper commands, FFmpeg can encode WebM with VP8, VP9, or AV1 video and Vorbis or Opus audio.
Other features like extracting audio from video, resizing, cropping, merging, adding effects, changing bitrate, and more are also supported.

However, FFmpeg is command-line-based. It is powerful, but it can be confusing for inexperienced users who only want a quick WebM file without learning encoder options.

Also being a free, open-source, and cross-platform program, HandBrake is a popular video transcoder for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can open many common video files as well as unprotected DVD/Blu-ray sources and export videos to WebM, MP4, and MKV. For WebM output, it supports VP8, VP9, and AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio. HandBrake also offers the batch conversion mode to help users make many WebM videos at the same time. Some simple processing features like trimming a range, cropping, rotating, filtering, and burning subtitles are also supported.

HandBrake is a good free choice if you do not mind a few technical settings. But like most transcoders, it normally re-encodes the video, so conversion can take time for large HD or 4K files.

With the above desktop WebM makers, you can create a WebM file from local media files, online downloads, screen recordings, and even photo slideshows. Additionally, some online tools can also help with making a WebM file. Without downloading any software or plug-ins, online video makers are convenient for occasional conversion.

FreeConvert is a popular online converter that can convert video, audio, image, document, and more files. With it, you can make a WebM video from many regular videos and choose WebM output with VP8 or VP9. It offers advanced options that allow you to modify the video codec, resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, audio codec, volume, and more. You can also trim, rotate, flip the video, and add subtitles before starting conversion.

It allows you to add source media files from the local drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or a URL. The trade-off is that online services usually have file size, conversion time, queue, and privacy limitations, and their free-plan limits may change over time. For large videos or private files, desktop software is usually safer and more stable.

Online-Convert is also an online media file converter that supports audio, document, video, ebook, image, archive, and other conversions. For video conversion, it supports making WebM from many source formats and also offers other output options. You can upload a video from a local drive, cloud services, or a video link, then create WebM with VP8 or VP9. This online tool also allows you to customize video and audio settings including resolution, aspect ratio, video bitrate, frame rate, audio codec, quality, and more. You can also crop, rotate, mirror, and cut videos.

Online-Convert is handy when you only need to process one or two small videos. Still, upload limits, conversion minutes, and account requirements can vary by plan, so it is not always ideal for big batches or sensitive files.

Now you have learned 6 practical WebM makers. Next, we will demonstrate how to create a WebM with WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro. The method works for most regular videos, whether the source comes from a phone, camera, browser download, editing program, screen recorder, or an old media folder. You do not need separate steps for each input container. Just add the file, choose WebM, adjust settings if needed, and export.

Step 1. Launch HD Video Converter Factory Pro after the installation and open the “Converter” program.

Step 2. Press “+ Add Files” to import the source media files. You can also drag and drop your MP4, AVI, MKV, MPEG, and WMV videos into the program or use “Add Video Folder” to import multiple files at once.

Step 3. Go to the right side of the interface and click the format image to open the output profile library. Select WebM under the “Video” category as the output format. Alternatively, go to the "Web" category and choose the WebM VP8 or WebM VP9 for YouTube.

Optional. Before starting conversion, you can edit the videos with the tools on the toolbar. You can also open the “Parameter settings” window to change the encoder (VP8, VP9, or AV1), bitrate, resolution, frame rate, aspect ratio, audio codec, channels, and volume. VP9 + Opus is a safe choice for most modern WebM files. If your source already uses WebM-compatible codecs, keep the same encoder when possible to avoid unnecessary re-encoding.

Step 4. Click the bottom ▼ button to specify an output path for the exported WebM files. Finally, press “Run” to start making your new WebM files.

HD Video Converter Factory Pro also allows you to get videos from various platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and more. If a WebM option is available, you can download it directly. If not, download the available version first and convert it to WebM in the Converter module.

Disclaimer: It is illegal to download copyrighted materials without the copyright holder’s permission. WonderFox does not approve of copyright infringement in any way. Please check the copyright law in your country/region before downloading.

Step 1. InstallInstall and launch HD Video Converter Factory Pro. Then open the “Downloader” module.
Step 2. Click “+ New Download” to open the download window. Go to YouTube or other sites to get the video link. Then click “Paste and Analyze” and wait for the analyzing process.
Step 3. Select the download option with a different format, resolution, and size. Then click “OK” to save the download option.
Step 4. Press “Download All” to start the downloading process.

If you can’t see the WebM download option or want to edit the downloaded file, open the “Converter” module, add the downloaded video, and export it as WebM with your preferred settings.

As stated previously, HD Video Converter Factory Pro can also help you make videos from photos. The Photo to Video Maker exports an MP4 slideshow first. To make a WebM file, add the slideshow to Converter and convert it to WebM. If needed, the following is a simple guide for making photo slideshows.

Step 1. Run HD Video Converter Factory Pro and select “Toolbox” on the initial interface. Then, choose “Photo to Video Maker”.
Step 2. Click “+ Add Images” and select all the needed images. Put the pictures in the correct order before adding them to the program.
Step 3. Customize the video width and height, quality, and display duration for each picture. Before exporting the video, you can press the small image to preview the created video.
Step 4. Choose an output path for the exported video. Finally, click “Create Video” to make images into a video immediately. When the process is over, you can find and rename the resulting MP4 file.
Step 5. Exit the “Toolbox” and select “Converter” on the home interface. Add the created photo slideshow to the workspace. Then you can add background music and make this video in WebM format. Once done, click “Run” to export the created WebM file.

WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro can help you convert one or multiple images to WebM by making a slideshow first and then converting the slideshow to WebM.

1. Launch WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro.

2. Open the "Toolbox" module and choose "Photo to Video Maker".

3. Click "Add Images" to select one or more images.

4. Adjust the video width & height, quality, and display duration for each picture.

5. Click "Create Video", then you can export an MP4 file.

6. Add the MP4 video into the "Converter" and select "WebM" as the output format to convert the image video to WebM.

VLC can make a WebM from almost any video file.

1. Launch VLC and click "Media" > "Convert/Save".

2. Add the video you want to make a WebM file.

3. Click "Convert/Save" at the bottom of the window.

4. Select "Video - VP80 + Vorbis (Webm)" from the "Profile" drop-down list.

5. Click "Browse" to choose an output path and click "Start" to export the WebM file.

Whether WebM or MP4 is better depends on where you will use the video. WebM is a good choice for HTML5 videos, browser playback, website embedding, and open web delivery. MP4 is still better for broader compatibility with phones, TVs, editors, media players, and social platforms. For a website, WebM can be useful; for general playback and sharing, MP4 is usually safer.

No. Renaming only changes the file name, not the container, video codec, or audio codec inside. A real WebM file should use WebM-compatible streams, such as VP8, VP9, or AV1 video with Vorbis or Opus audio. Use a converter when the source file uses other codecs.

For most users, VP9 video with Opus audio is a good balance between quality, size, and browser compatibility. Keep the original resolution and frame rate if the source already looks good. Lower the bitrate, resolution, or frame rate only when you need a smaller file. For YouTube or newer web delivery, AV1 can also be used, but it may take longer to encode.

That is all about how to make a WebM file. In short, WebM is best used for web delivery, HTML5 embedding, and online sharing. If you only need a quick conversion, VLC, HandBrake, FFmpeg, or an online converter can help. If you want an easier Windows workflow with batch conversion, editing, downloading, recording, and flexible WebM settings, WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro is a more complete choice. Choose the tool that matches your source file, file size, privacy needs, and output quality requirement.