Permute alternatives for Mac
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
If Permute 4 will not install because it needs macOS 26, or you also need PDF and document tools, FileDial is the closest Mac alternative: it trims, joins, converts, transcribes and makes ringtones from a dial in Finder, offline, on macOS 14 or later. If you only convert media, Permute 3 still covers macOS 11 to 15, and HandBrake is a strong free option.
Why people look for a Permute alternative
- System requirements: Permute 4 needs macOS 26 and Apple silicon, so anyone staying on macOS 14 or 15 is limited to Permute 3.
- Licenses do not carry over: Permute's site says Permute 4 needs a new license and its codes do not work with earlier versions.
- Scope: Permute is media first. Jobs like PDF redaction, compressing a PDF to an email limit or renaming a folder of files are outside it.
- Workflow: Permute is an app you drop files into. Some people prefer acting on files where they already are, in Finder.
About Permute: A media converter for macOS by Charlie Monroe Software that converts 100+ formats across video, audio, images, PDF and text, with editing and presets. Platforms: Mac only. Permute 4: macOS 26 or later, Apple silicon only. Permute 3: macOS 11 to 15, Intel supported.. Price: US$14.99 one-time (plus VAT or sales tax), up to 3 activations for personal use; US$14.99 on the Mac App Store; included in Setapp (US$14.99/month).. Where files are processed: A desktop app on your Mac. Its site says the Transcribe preset is processed entirely on your Mac; it does not describe processing location for other features.
Every Permute tool, and its FileDial equivalent
| Permute | FileDial (offline) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trim | Cut › Trim… | New copy beside the original |
| Crop | Frame › Crop to 9:16 (vertical) | Preset crops, also 16:9 and square |
| Rotate | Frame › Rotate 90° right | New copy, no re-encoding |
| Flip | Frame › Flip horizontally | New copy beside the original |
| Add subtitles | Combine › Add subtitle track | Switchable in players, no re-encoding |
| Adjust speed | Cut › Speed up 2× | New copy beside the original |
| Adjust volume | Audio › Volume up (+6 dB) | New copy beside the original |
| Target file size | Compress › Compress to size… | New copy beside the original |
| Combine files | Combine › Join clips | One new video in selection order |
| Split by time | Cut › Split every N minutes… | Parts beside the original, no re-encoding |
| Transcribe preset (SRT) | Convert › Transcribe to subtitles… | An SRT and a TXT, made on this Mac |
| Text-to-audio narration | Convert › Read aloud to audio… | M4A spoken with the system voice |
| iPhone ringtone creation | Convert › Make iPhone ringtone… | An .m4r with fades |
| Audio-backed slideshows | Combine › Make a slideshow video… | One new MP4 in selection order |
| Frame export at set intervals | Frame › Extract frames every… | A new folder of JPGs |
| OCR | OCR › Make searchable | Adds an invisible text layer to pages without text |
What FileDial does not replace:
- Advanced media features: Permute lists AV1 output, HLS manifests, IP-camera file repair, image filters and raw FFmpeg commands through its Advanced Custom preset. FileDial has none of these.
- Price and bundles: Permute is US$14.99 and is included in Setapp, which some people already pay for. FileDial is $20 once and is not in Setapp.
- Intel Macs: Permute 3 runs on Intel. FileDial needs Apple silicon.
Details about Permute come from its own website, checked 2026-11-09. FileDial tool names match the app exactly.
The best Permute alternatives for Mac
1. FileDial
FileDial has 134 video, 84 audio and 169 photo tools, but also 155 for PDFs and 55 for archives, all in one dial that opens over a file in Finder. A batch of 300 photos converted in 5 seconds on a MacBook. Recipes chain tools and watched folders run a recipe on new files.
- Runs on macOS 14 and 15 with Apple silicon
- PDF, document and rename tools alongside media
- Needs macOS 14 or later on an Apple silicon Mac
- No AV1, HLS or custom FFmpeg presets
2. Permute 3
Charlie Monroe still lists Permute 3 for macOS 11 to 15 and Intel Macs, with a free or discounted upgrade to Permute 4 when you move to macOS 26. It is the least disruptive option if Permute's workflow already suits you.
- Same app you know
- Intel support
- Not the current major version
- Permute 4 license codes do not work with it
3. HandBrake
HandBrake converts nearly any video to MP4, MKV or WebM, with presets, a queue and encoder control. Its documentation says it does not combine clips and always re-encodes video.
- Free on Mac, Windows and Linux
- Deep quality settings
- Video only
- No joining or audio-only conversion workflow
4. QuickTime Player (built in)
File › Export As offers 4K, 1080p, 720p and 480p. Apple's guide says 4K and 1080p can use H.264 or HEVC, while 720p and 480p use H.264, and exports are QuickTime movies.
- Already on every Mac
- HEVC option at 4K and 1080p
- Exports .mov, not MP4
- One file at a time, no bitrate or quality control
The macOS 26 question
Permute 4 is a good app, and if you are on macOS 26 with an Apple silicon Mac it is worth a look at US$14.99. The reason many people search for an alternative is simpler: Permute's site lists macOS 26 as the minimum for version 4, and its license codes are separate from Permute 3. If your Mac is staying on Sonoma or Sequoia for work reasons, your choices are Permute 3, or a different app.
FileDial needs macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon, so it runs on the systems Permute 4 skips.
How everyday Permute jobs look in FileDial
Most of Permute's popular jobs have a direct equivalent, listed in the table above. The difference is where you start: instead of dragging files into a window and picking a preset, you select files in Finder and pick the job from a dial. Results land beside the originals, with Undo.
A few FileDial tools go past media conversion: Audio › Loudness for podcasts (−16 LUFS) is two-pass with a true peak limit, Adjust › Blur faces follows faces on the Mac, and Convert › Convert HDR to SDR tone-maps for normal screens.
- Select the videos or audio files in Finder.
- Hold the right Option key.
- Choose Convert › Convert to MP4, or Convert › Convert to MP3 for audio.
- Check the result card for the size before and after.
- Save the steps as a recipe if you repeat them, for example Convert to MP4 then Remove location & metadata.
When to stay with Permute
Stay if you rely on AV1 output, HLS manifests, IP-camera file repair or custom FFmpeg presets, or if you already pay for Setapp and Permute comes with it. Stay with Permute 3 if you use an Intel Mac. These are real advantages, and FileDial does not match them.
Free options
HandBrake covers video transcoding for free, with more control than either paid app, though it does not join clips. QuickTime Player exports 1080p, 720p and 480p .mov files from File › Export As. Neither handles audio-only conversion as smoothly as a dedicated converter, which is the gap Permute and FileDial both fill.
Questions
Does Permute 4 work on macOS Sonoma or Sequoia?
No. Permute's site lists macOS 26 or later and Apple silicon for Permute 4. Permute 3 supports macOS 11 to 15 and Intel Macs. FileDial runs on macOS 14 Sonoma or later with Apple silicon, so it is an option for Macs that are not moving to macOS 26 yet.
Is there a free alternative to Permute?
For video, HandBrake is free and open source and converts nearly any video to MP4, MKV or WebM. For quick shrinking, QuickTime Player's File › Export As makes 1080p, 720p or 480p .mov files. Neither is a full media converter for audio and images in the way Permute is, so a paid app still makes sense for mixed jobs.
Can FileDial transcribe audio to subtitles like Permute?
Yes. Convert › Transcribe to subtitles… writes an SRT and a TXT, made on the Mac, and Adjust › Add auto-captions… burns captions into a new copy of a video, plus the SRT. Permute's Transcribe preset is also processed entirely on the Mac, according to its site.
Does my Permute 3 license work with Permute 4?
Not directly. Permute's site says Permute 4 needs a new license and its codes do not work with earlier versions, while Permute 3 owners can get a free or discounted upgrade, described as free when moving to macOS 26. Check the offer on the Permute page for your purchase date.
Does FileDial upload files to convert them?
No. Every FileDial tool runs on the Mac and works with Wi-Fi off. The only things that go online are the licence check and optional anonymous usage counts, which you can switch off in Settings › Privacy, and never file names, paths or contents.