FFmpeg
by FFmpeg
FFmpeg is a set of command-line tools and code libraries for converting, editing, streaming and inspecting audio and video files. It is used to change formats, resize or trim media and prepare files for the web.
- Stars
- 65.9k
- Licence
- Unclear
- Runs on
- Your computer
- Setup
- Moderate
- Language
- C
- Age
- 5676 days
What you can do with it
- Convert videos and audio between formats such as MP4, WebM and MP3
- Trim, resize, compress or extract audio from video files in bulk using scripts
- Stream or record live video using protocols such as RTMP, RTSP and HLS
Make money with it
An individual could offer a video clean-up and reformatting service for creators, such as cutting, compressing and resizing clips for different social platforms.
An idea, not financial advice. Check the licence before charging for anything built on it.
Ways a business could use it
- Batch-compress and convert marketing videos and podcasts to save on paid conversion software and storage
- Build automated media processing into a website or app, such as generating thumbnails or web-ready video
Can you use it commercially?
No standard licence detected. Read the licence before using it commercially.
Not legal advice. Read the project's licence file before building a product on it.
Getting it running
The README covers the source code only; most people install ready-made builds from the FFmpeg website or a package manager, then use it from the command line.
Follow the official instructions in the project README.
Things to check
- Command-line only, so there is a learning curve for non-technical users
- Licence is mainly LGPL but some optional parts are GPL, so check terms before building it into a commercial product
- This is a mirror; contributions are not accepted through GitHub pull requests
- Some codecs may carry patent licensing considerations
Who's talking about it
Checked 28 Oct 2026. Summary drafted by AI from the project's README.
