handbrake

HandBrake is a free and open-source transcoder for digital video files. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it converts video from many formats into a set of common, widely supported codecs and containers.

The project began in 2003 under the direction of Eric Petit and is now developed by the HandBrake open-source community with ongoing contributions. The software is released under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later.

HandBrake reads a variety of input formats and outputs to MP4 and MKV. It encodes video using codecs such as H.264 (x264) and H.265/HEVC (x265), with support for newer codecs depending on build. It also offers streaming-friendly presets, a built-in picture scaler, and filtering options. Subtitles can be imported as SRT or embedded as selectable, and optional subtitle burning is available. It includes basic controls for frame rate, pass-based encoding, and quality-based outcomes via a constant quality setting.

The user interface centers on presets tailored to popular devices, plus a range of manual controls for bitrate, encoder profile, and advanced options. HandBrakeCLI provides a command-line interface for scripting batch tasks and automated conversions.

HandBrake does not include the rights to decrypt commercial DVDs or Blu-ray discs. Source content protections may require separate legitimate tools and licenses. The project emphasizes user responsibility and compliance with applicable laws.