HandBrake vs Kdenlive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Kdenlive grades higher than HandBrake: 3.0 against 2.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Kdenlive grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Kdenlive
Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community
Free
Which one is for you
Pick HandBrake if
- Fits if you need to shrink or convert video files and don't want to pay
- Works for people who run batches of files overnight
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want to edit, as it doesn't combine clips
- Skip it if your video is copy-protected, because it doesn't work with DRM
- Watch out: supported hardware starts at 16 GB of memory for 1080p and 32 GB for 4K
- Tight if you want a phone or browser version, since it's desktop only
Pick Kdenlive if
- Fits if you want a free editor for projects with several tracks
- Works for people who edit on Linux
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need a phone or browser editor, since it's desktop only
- Watch out: daily builds can be unstable and can corrupt existing projects
- Tight if your computer is old, because Windows needs 10 and macOS needs 13
- Not for you if you want templates and a quick result, since it's a full editor with a learning curve
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAHandBrakeGood | 3.0GPAKdenliveVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree and open source, with no account, and anyone can download and run it. | AFree to download and use, and anyone can run it. The project asks for optional donations. |
| Free plan and trial | ANothing to pay for at any point, with no caps or watermark mentioned. | AThe full editor is free on all three systems, with no caps or watermark. |
| Features | CConverts most formats with AV1, H.265 and H.264, presets, filters, subtitles and a queue. It does that job fully, but it's a smaller job than a video editor, and it can't combine clips. | BMulti-track timeline, proxies, hundreds of effects with keyframes, color tools, audio mixing and subtitles. Nothing in the listing is missing from the core editing job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Encoder and quality settings have a learning curve beyond the presets. | CNo store rating on record, and a timeline editor has a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | CDesktop only: Windows, Mac and Linux, plus a command-line version. | CDesktop only: Windows, Mac and Linux, with no mobile or browser version. |
| Best for | converting video files for free | free multi-track video editing |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: HandBrake and Kdenlive. How we grade
Price against what you get
HandBrake has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Kdenlive has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Kdenlive scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other screen recording and video tools on the chart, none scores higher than HandBrake for less, and none scores higher than Kdenlive for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- HandBrake also covers file compression.
- Kdenlive also covers transcription.
In commonFree planmacOSWindowsLinuxOpen sourceVideo editing
At a glance
| HandBrake | Kdenlive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free to download and use on Windows, macOS and Linux; the site asks for optional donations. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | The HandBrake Team | KDE |
| Price read from | handbrake.fr | kdenlive.org |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
HandBrake
- It converts video only; the project says it does not combine clips, so editing needs other software.
- It does not work with DRM-protected video or copy-protected discs.
- Officially supported hardware starts at 16 GB of memory for 1080p and 32 GB for 4K.
Kdenlive
- Desktop only: the download page lists Windows, Linux and macOS builds, with no mobile or browser version.
- Windows needs version 10 or newer, and macOS needs 13 (Ventura) or newer.
- Daily builds are offered for testing, and the site warns they can be unstable and can corrupt existing projects.
Key features
HandBrake
- Format conversion
- Converts most common video files, plus DVD and Blu-ray sources without copy protection, to MP4, MKV or WebM.
- Wide encoder choice
- Video encoders include AV1, H.265, H.264, VP8 and VP9, with optional hardware-accelerated encoding.
- Device presets
- Built-in presets for phones, tablets, TVs and consoles, with basic and advanced settings to adjust them.
- Quality and filters
- Constant quality or average bitrate encoding, plus deinterlacing, denoise, cropping and scaling filters.
- Subtitles, chapters and audio
- Handles VobSub, closed captions, SSA and SRT subtitles, chapter markers and audio passthrough for several formats.
- Queue and command line
- Batch scan and queue several encodes, and a separate command-line version is offered for download.
Kdenlive
- Multi-track timeline
- A non-linear workflow with multicam and 3-point editing, nested sequences, markers and automatic backups.
- Proxies and asset bins
- Imports footage in most audio and video formats, shows metadata, and can use proxies for smoother playback on slower machines. Clips can be tagged and sorted into several bins.
- Effects and transitions
- Hundreds of audio and video effects that can be keyframed, plus transitions and layer compositions.
- Color tools
- LUTs, basic corrections and detailed grading, with histogram, vectorscope, RGB parade and waveform views.
- Subtitles and titles
- Subtitles can be created with automatic transcription. Simple title clips are built in, and projects can connect to Glaxnimate for motion graphics.
- Audio mixing
- Audio mixers, built-in voiceover recording and an audio spectrum view.
Plans
HandBrake
Free$0
Free and open source, with no account required; installers for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Kdenlive
Free$0
The full editor on Windows, macOS and Linux. The project asks for optional donations.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, HandBrake or Kdenlive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both HandBrake and Kdenlive are free to use.
Which has a free plan, HandBrake or Kdenlive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both HandBrake and Kdenlive have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.