Permute alternative: how Macsential compares

Permute by Charlie Monroe Software is a dedicated media converter with a very long list of formats. Macsential's converter covers the everyday image and video conversions as one of several tools. Here's where each one fits.

The short answer

If you convert audio, MKV, AVI, WebM or camera RAW files, or merge videos and add subtitles, Permute is the better tool: it handles 100+ formats across video, audio, images, PDF and text. If your conversions are photos and screenshots between HEIC, JPEG, PNG and WebP, and movies to MP4 or MOV, Macsential does those, and you also get a screen recorder, a screenshot tool, a window manager and a disk cleaner.

Permute and Macsential compared

FeaturePermuteMacsential
Price$14.99, one-time, up to 3 of your own Macs for personal useUS$29.99 once for every tool, one Mac at a time; the first licenses are free
Where to get itIts own site, the Mac App Store and SetappMacsential.com
RequirementsPermute 4: macOS 26 or later on Apple Silicon; Permute 3 is still sold for macOS 11 to 15 and Intel MacsMacOS 15 Sequoia or later on Apple Silicon
VideoAVI, WMV, MKV, WebM, MOV and MP4, with H.264, HEVC, AV1 and ProResOpens what macOS can play, such as MOV and MP4, and writes MP4 or MOV with H.264 or HEVC; no MKV
AudioMP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Opus and Apple LosslessNo audio-only conversion; a video's sound is kept when it's converted
ImagesHEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF and camera RAW (ARW, CR2, CR3, NEF)Writes PNG, JPEG, HEIC, TIFF and WebP; resizes and keeps or drops metadata
Merge and subtitlesIt stitches several files into one and adds subtitles, and makes SRT files from speech on the deviceNo
Other toolsExports PDF pages as imagesScreen recorder, screenshots, window manager, disk cleaner

Who should stay with Permute

  • You convert audio. Permute handles MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Opus and Apple Lossless; Macsential doesn't convert audio on its own.
  • You work with MKV, AVI, WebM, AV1 or ProRes video. Permute lists AVI, WMV, MKV, WebM, MOV and MP4, with H.264, HEVC, AV1 and ProRes; Macsential can't open MKV.
  • You merge clips, add subtitles or use custom FFmpeg commands: Permute stitches several files into one and has a library of presets, plus custom FFmpeg commands.
  • You already have Setapp: Permute is included in a Setapp membership.

Why switch to Macsential

  • Your conversions are the common ones: iPhone HEIC photos to JPEG or PNG, screenshots to WebP, WebP downloads to JPEG, QuickTime movies to MP4. Each has a step-by-step page with measured results.
  • You're on macOS 15 Sequoia. Permute's requirements are Permute 4: macOS 26 or later on Apple Silicon; Permute 3 is still sold for macOS 11 to 15 and Intel Macs; Macsential's current version runs on macOS 15 and later.
  • You also want a screen recorder, a screenshot tool, a window manager and a disk cleaner, for one payment.

Sources

Everything this page says about Permute comes from its maker's own pages, checked on the date shown. Prices and features change; tell us at hello@macsential.com if something here is out of date.

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Questions

How much does Permute cost?

$14.99, one-time for up to 3 of your own Macs for personal use, with a free trial. It's also included in a Setapp membership.

Can Macsential convert MKV files?

No. Macsential can't open MKV files. Permute's format list includes MKV.

Can Macsential convert audio files like MP3 or FLAC?

No. Macsential converts images and videos; when a video is converted, its sound is kept.

Which image formats can Macsential write?

PNG, JPEG, HEIC, TIFF and WebP, in batches, with optional resizing and a switch to keep or remove metadata.

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