Top 5 Best Alternatives to HandBrake on Windows/Mac/Linux

When you need a transcoding tool, you might think of getting Adobe Media Encoder. However, HandBrake is a free and open-source solution, so many users find it more effective than premium software. It is accessible most of the time and helpful for media conversion, editing, encoding, and so on. But what if the tool is not available? Are there any HandBrake alternatives for Windows and Mac? Indeed! You are in the right place to discover more similar tools that can help you rip, convert, encode, and edit videos on your computer. Let’s get into it.

• Part 1. What is HandBrake
• Part 2. Top 5 HandBrake Alternatives
• Part 3. FAQs about HandBrake

Part 1. What is HandBrake

Before we get into the alternatives, let’s learn more about HandBrake. The software was developed by Eric Petit in 2003, mainly to back up his DVD files. However, throughout the years, HandBrake was shared with other communities and became an official program to download on Mac, Windows, and Linux. But what are the features you may find in this tool? Let’s check the following list:

• Commonly used to convert video and audio files
• Compress file size with the user’s preferences.
• Encode media files with audio and video codecs.
• Custom presets with quality, resolution, and FPS.
• Add subtitles to the video with SSA, SRT, etc.
• Rip Blu-ray and DVD or burn videos into blank discs.
• The user can preserve chapters by using the Chapter Markers.
• Organize files that are processed.
• Real-time preview after processing the media file.
• Support batch conversion with configured settings.

Part 2. Top 5 HandBrake Alternatives

Here are the recommended alternatives that you can download on Windows and Mac. We chose these tools according to the most important criteria: overall quality, ease of use, supported formats, price, and advanced features. This way, you can weigh the following options and pick the best one you prefer.

1 Blu-ray Ripper

Best For: Ripping and converting Blu-ray discs, folders, and ISO files.

Blu-ray Ripper is designed to rip movies like 2D, 3D, MP4, and MOV. It is an alternative to HandBrake for Windows 10/11 and Mac that allows you to process multiple files simultaneously and without quality loss. Its intuitive layout design lets you use every function with ease to upload, convert, and export without the need for a tutorial. Of course, its performance relies on the advanced settings of its system, providing essential functions to configure the frame rate, resolution, audio, and more. Blu-ray Ripper is the quickest HandBrake alternative on Windows and Mac with proper output results.

Features:

• Rip and convert multiple video and audio files with individual settings.
• Support ripping and converting 3D, AVI Top, Anaglyph, and more.
• It has a wide range of supported formats to export MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.
• Built-in video editor to change the aspect ratio, trim, and apply effects.

2 Video Converter Ultimate

Best For: Quick DVD conversion and editing of media files.

Video Converter Ultimate is the best alternative to HandBrake for DVD and common video conversion. The software supports converting the highest resolution on your desktop, including up to 8K, without losing the quality. Prepared with a huge library of output formats, you can export the video with a new file extension, such as MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, and so on. Because it is a comprehensive desktop converter, you can expect an excellent set of tools to edit, compress, and further enhance the media files before converting them. Video Converter Ultimate is a free alternative to HandBrake, but you can also purchase its pro version for a reasonable price.

Features:

• 70x faster conversion speed for multiple uploads.
• Rip or copy the DVD in a 1:1 ratio.
• Specific presets with device compatibility, resolution, FPS, etc.
• Edit the volume level, audio-sync, add a watermark, and more.

3 MakeMKV

Best For: Preserving data even after converting the videos.

MakeMKV is described as one of the best HandBrake alternatives for Mac and Windows. Well, it is a one-click converter that allows you to change the format and lets you play it on several devices. It is commonly used for encrypted discs as it can automatically convert them into a set of MKV files. While this allows the data to be stored in its original state, the HandBrake alternative will configure, edit, and store the files on your desktop. You can get this alternative without paying, but it is only free during BETA.

Features:

• It can read both DVD and Blu-ray files.
• Reads protected discs with the latest versions of AACS.
• Preserve the metadata of all exported files.
• No additional extensions are required for conversions.

4 VLC Media Player

Best For: Opening and playing videos.

You might be surprised that VLC Media Player can also be an alternative to HandBrake. But it is true; it has the converting ability included in its system, other than being a normal media player. Thanks to the developers, VLC remains free and open-source, not allowing it to become a premium multimedia player. Its converter highlights changing the output formats with presets. But you can also configure the settings manually with basic editing features. The HandBrake alternative is supported on any popular platform, including Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS.

Features:

• It remains free and effective for streaming and converting.
• Intuitive interface for a quicker learning process.
• Support popular formats like MOV, MP4, AVI, and so on.
• Allow extensions to add more features.

5 Avidemux

Best For: Cross-platform open-source software.

Avidemux can be a HandBrake alternative for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Created as an open-source application, Avidemux helps transcode videos using various codecs. If there is one thing unique about this software is its ability to demux the files without re-encoding them. Additionally, it has a scripting interface to give you a wider perspective of the file information. This is the solution you might like for detailed configuration.

Features:

• Support batch conversion.
• Provide filters and effects.
• Encode files with different codecs, FPS, etc.
• Best for scripting and enhancing.

Part 3. FAQs about HandBrake

• Is there a better alternative to HandBrake?

  Yes. The provided alternatives in this article are solutions that offer better services than HandBrake. Video Converter Ultimate and Blu-ray Ripper are noteworthy because of their ability to convert, rip, edit, and export media files with high-quality results.

• Is HandBrake still the best?

  HandBrake is still relevant to this day, and this is because developers still update or upgrade it. The only problem is its occasional buffering that affects your workflow. Thus, you might need a HandBrake alternative to continue your work.

• What is the Windows equivalent of HandBrake?

  In terms of DVD ripping and converting, Video Converter Ultimate is the equivalent of HandBrake on Windows. It is free and easy to use while preserving the video quality throughout the process.

• Why is my HandBrake so bad?

  There are several reasons why HandBrake on your computer is not working efficiently. First, it is incompatible with the device. HandBrake only supports operating systems with certain versions. Another thing to look out for is an unstable internet connection. Depending on how big the files you are converting are, HandBrake needs to be connected to a strong WiFi network.

Wrapping up

At last, you discovered the best HandBrake alternatives for Windows and Mac. The recommended tools are specialized in various features, and it is up to you which one you think is the best. But for professional conversion and editing, it is best to try Blu-ray Ripper and Video Converter Ultimate. These two software are developed to preserve the quality of the files while quickly converting them into other formats. Click the Free Download button to start today.