# HandBrake review (2026): is it any good? > Free open-source video converter for Windows, Mac and Linux Checked Nov 12, 2026 ยท graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA. HandBrake is an open-source video transcoder that converts video from most common formats into MP4, MKV or WebM. It offers device presets, quality and bitrate controls, filters, subtitle handling and a batch queue. It is a post-production converter, not an editor, and it does not combine clips or bypass copy protection. - **Category:** Screen Recording & Video - **Made by:** The HandBrake Team - **Website:** https://handbrake.fr - **Runs on:** macOS, Windows, Linux - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you want to edit, as it doesn't combine clips. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 12, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 12, 2026, HandBrake is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** None. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | Free and open source, with no account required; installers for Windows, macOS and Linux. | Read from https://handbrake.fr on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with HandBrake before buying. ## Key features - **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. ## Good for - Shrinking large video files or changing their format - Preparing videos for a phone, TV or media player - Anyone who wants a free converter with no account ## Worth knowing - 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.8 out of 4**, graded Nov 12, 2026. HandBrake is a free, open-source converter that turns video into MP4, MKV or WebM with presets for phones and TVs. It converts only: it doesn't edit, doesn't touch copy-protected discs, and wants 16 GB of memory for 1080p. - **Value for money: A.** Free and open source, with no account, and anyone can download and run it. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Nothing to pay for at any point, with no caps or watermark mentioned. - **Features: C.** Converts 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. - **Ease of use: C.** No store rating on record. Encoder and quality settings have a learning curve beyond the presets. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Desktop only: Windows, Mac and Linux, plus a command-line version. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from HandBrake's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among screen recording and video tools - HandBrake's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 65 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 9. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 74 of 84) and worst on features (C, above 0). - HandBrake has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/video ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** HandBrake is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 65 of the 84 other screen recording and video tools we grade. - You could make: File compression: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: A video editor. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Video editing, Open source, File compression, Works offline ## Alternatives - [Shotcut](https://toolgpa.com/tools/shotcut): Free open-source video editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handbrake-vs-shotcut) - [Kdenlive](https://toolgpa.com/tools/kdenlive): Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handbrake-vs-kdenlive) - [DaVinci Resolve](https://toolgpa.com/tools/davinci-resolve): Video editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/davinci-resolve-vs-handbrake) - [OpenShot](https://toolgpa.com/tools/openshot): Free, open-source video editor for Linux, Mac and Windows. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/handbrake-vs-openshot) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026: - https://handbrake.fr - https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php - https://handbrake.fr/features.php - https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/introduction/about.html - https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/system-requirements.html Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/handbrake Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).