HandBrake
FreeHandBrake is a free, open source video transcoder that converts video to modern formats such as H.264, H.265 and AV1.
About HandBrake
HandBrake is an open source tool, built by volunteers, for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. You feed it files you already have and it produces new ones that play on phones, tablets, TVs, game consoles and web browsers.
It comes with device and quality presets, so a first conversion takes only a few clicks, and it also has detailed controls for codecs, frame rate, filters, subtitles, chapters and audio tracks. Batch queues let you convert many files in one go. The 1.11.2 release notes mention fixes for 2-pass encodes and updated FFmpeg and SVT-AV1 libraries.
HandBrake suits anyone shrinking large videos, making files compatible with a specific device, or archiving footage in a more efficient codec. It converts files and does not edit them. It is free under the GPL, has no ads or account, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Start with one of the built-in presets, then adjust the quality slider if the size or look is not right.
Version history
1 release tracked- Windows: Fixed crash in 2-pass lossless x265 encode
- Updated FFmpeg 8.0.2 and SVT-AV1 4.1.0
- Improved handling of unsupported presets
Frequently asked
Is HandBrake free?
Yes. It is free and open source under the GPL.
Does it need an account?
No.
Can it edit video?
No. It converts video between formats, so use a video editor for cutting and effects.
Where does the download link go?
Directly to handbrake.fr or the official app store for your platform. PlanetSofts never rehosts installers or adds wrappers, and these links were last verified Oct 6, 2026.