HandBrake Alternatives for Linux

There are many alternatives to HandBrake for Linux if you are looking for a replacement. The best Linux alternative is FFmpeg, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to HandBrake and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to HandBrake are Shutter Encoder, Avidemux, MakeMKV and FormatLab.

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HandBrake alternatives are mainly Video Converters but may also be Audio Converters or DVD Rippers.  Other popular filters includes Windows + Open Source. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of HandBrake.
HandBrake iconHandBrake
  1957
  • ...

An open-source multithreaded video transcoder, HandBrake compresses and converts digital media, supporting MP4, MKV formats, and offers hardware-accelerated conversion.

More about HandBrake
HandBrake alternatives page was last updated Feb 13, 2025
  1. FFmpeg icon
     603 likes

    FFmpeg is the leading multimedia framework, able to decode, encode, transcode, mux, demux, stream, filter and play pretty much anything that humans and machines have created. It supports the most obscure ancient formats up to the cutting edge.

    78 FFmpeg alternatives
    FFmpeg screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Video Converter
    2.  Audio Conversion
    3.  Command line interface
    4.  Integrated Codecs
    5.  Video filters
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Console-based
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No registration required
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Portable
    12.  Lossless Audio
    FFmpeg iconHandBrake Icon

    FFmpeg VS HandBrake

    Is FFmpeg a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
    Comments about FFmpeg as an Alternative to HandBrake
     
       
    23C5DA

    FFmpeg can also transcode audio. It does everything handbrake does, if not better. However, it doesn't have a gui so it's less user friendly.

    CommentJan 20, 2022
    4
    choomaque

    Very versatile and swift, unless you need a batch process a bunch of files. In this case your only option is to spend hours and hours reading their documentation and/or stackoverflow posts to learn how to do what you need to do.

    CommentNov 4, 2022
    3
    5247009

    FFmpeg allows you to transcode videos through the command line. Besides, it's what HandBrake uses/used as its backend.

    Positive commentJan 18, 2016
    11
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    HandBrake Icon
    FFmpeg icon
    • Most users think FFmpeg is a great HandBrake alternative.

    • FFmpeg is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to HandBrake.

    • FFmpeg is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to HandBrake.

    • FFmpeg is Free and Open SourceHandBrake is also Free and Open Source
    • FFmpeg is Customizable and LightweightHandBrake is not according to our users
  2. Shutter Encoder icon
     55 likes

    Open source software without any restriction - converter all formats video|audio|image professionnals codecs and standards - swiss knife tool Windows and OSX.

    185 Shutter Encoder alternatives
    Shutter Encoder screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Homebrew

    Top Shutter Encoder Features

    1.  Video Converter
    2.  Audio Conversion
    3.  Crop video
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Portable
    8.  Hardware Accelerated
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Batch Editing
    11.  Lossless Audio
    12.  Support for 4K
    Shutter Encoder iconHandBrake Icon

    Shutter Encoder VS HandBrake

    Is Shutter Encoder a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
    Comments about Shutter Encoder as an Alternative to HandBrake
     
       
    Paul

    Really good alternative with a nice and easy-to-use interface. Great free and open source alternative to Handbrake.

    Top positive commentNov 4, 2022
    3
    bigbigboy

    has great support for hardware acceleration

    Positive commentJan 7, 2024
    0
    Oktay Mercan

    because supporting GPU AV1 Encode. Plus Batch job.

    Positive commentJun 2, 2023
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    HandBrake Icon
    Shutter Encoder icon
    • Most users think Shutter Encoder is a great HandBrake alternative.

    • Shutter Encoder is Free and Open SourceHandBrake is also Free and Open Source
  3. Avidemux icon
     638 likes

    Free and simple video editor that supports a variety of file types and automated tasks. SIMPLE video editor, dedicated for ONE video at a time. NOT for multi video editing/montage.

    139 Avidemux alternatives
    Avidemux screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Cut video
    2.  Built-in Video Converter
    3.  Crop video
    4.  Lossless Muxing
    5.  Sync Audio & Video
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Visual Editing
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Support for 4K
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Keyframe Animation
    Avidemux iconHandBrake Icon

    Avidemux VS HandBrake

    Is Avidemux a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
  4. MakeMKV icon
     126 likes

    MakeMKV is a program designed for ripping DVD and Blu-Ray disc video. It works by decrypting proprietary discs to transfer codecs from the formats VOB and M2TS into MKV, preserving the necessary data without doing any lossy codec conversion.

    68 MakeMKV alternatives
    MakeMKV screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Kodi

    MakeMKV Features

    1.  Blu-Ray ripping
    MakeMKV iconHandBrake Icon

    MakeMKV VS HandBrake

    Is MakeMKV a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
    Comments about MakeMKV as an Alternative to HandBrake
     
       
    LinuxDoge

    Good base. The resulting MKVs arent great, but it works for ripping DVDs. Handbrake then can focus on reducing the filesize and removing letterboxing (black bars at the edges). It sucks that Handbrake can't really rip DVDs, but these two Programs work together well.

    Positive commentDec 24, 2022
    1
    Guest

    MakeMKV is more for ripping commercial discs

    Negative commentFeb 12, 2018
    6
    Guest

    It's just not as functional

    Negative commentMar 22, 2021
    -1
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    HandBrake Icon
    MakeMKV icon
    • Some users think MakeMKV is a great HandBrake alternative, some don't.

    • MakeMKV is Freemium and ProprietaryHandBrake is Free and Open Source
  5. FormatLab icon
     6 likes

    FormatLab is a Powerful Tool for Converting Video and Audio files and supports almost All Formats with modern and widely supported codecs.

    65 FormatLab alternatives
    FormatLab screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub

    FormatLab Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Dark Mode
    FormatLab iconHandBrake Icon

    FormatLab VS HandBrake

    Is FormatLab a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
  6. WinFF icon
     71 likes

    WinFF is a GUI frontend and batch parser for the command-line multimedia tool FFmpeg. WinFF works by making a batch file that runs in the command-line, designed to launch the command-line tool with given settings from a preset.

    127 WinFF alternatives
    Main Window

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • FFmpeg
    • Lazarus

    WinFF Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Multiple languages
    Discontinued

    The last version (1.5.5) is from June 2017, and it says on the website that it's no longer developed.

    WinFF iconHandBrake Icon

    WinFF VS HandBrake

    Is WinFF a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
  7. FastFlix icon
     1 like

    FastFlix is a free GUI for HEVC and AV1 encoding, GIF/WebP/AVIF creation, and more!

    58 FastFlix alternatives
    FastFlix screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    FastFlix Features

    1.  HDR10
    2.  HEVC
    3.  Encoders
    FastFlix iconHandBrake Icon

    FastFlix VS HandBrake

    Is FastFlix a good alternative to HandBrake?
     
7 of 37 HandBrake alternatives