Tool profile
HandBrake: cost, fit and limits
HandBrake is a free, open-source video transcoder built by volunteers, the HandBrake Team, that converts video from nearly any format to modern codecs on Windows, Mac and Linux. The project says it is free and lists version 1.11.2 on its homepage.
What to know first
HandBrake costs nothing and carries no paid tier on the pages we read. Version 1.11.2 is listed on the homepage, and the project is built by volunteers. It names no AI feature. What it does offer is a readable privacy policy: website logs and contact-form messages are kept for up to six months, and the update checker does not transmit source media or encoded content.
HandBrake at a glance
| Maker | The HandBrake Team (volunteer project), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Video Converter Software in 2026, rank 7 of 13 |
| Website | handbrake.fr |
Who HandBrake is best for
People who only need conversion
Nearly any video format can be changed to a modern, widely supported codec, with no credits, accounts or upsell. There are no credits, accounts or upsell screens on the pages we read.
Privacy-minded users
The policy says the update checker sends no source media, error reports or encoded content, and the website sets no cookies.
Mixed Windows, Mac and Linux households
One free application runs on all three platforms, so settings and habits carry across machines. Presets and habits carry over between machines, so a family can share advice.
HandBrake plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| HandBrake | Free | Open-source video transcoder for Windows, Mac and Linux, version 1.11.2 on the vendor homepage. Open-source video transcoder for Windows, Mac and Linux, version 1.11.2, with no paid edition mentioned. |
Checked November 2026.
What HandBrake does
- Format conversion
- Converts video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs, per the vendor page. Converts video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs, per the vendor page. Presets are not itemized there.
- Cross-platform
- Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, which is rare among free converters that name a specific platform. Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, which is rare among free converters that tend to name one platform and ignore the others.
- Volunteer open-source project
- The vendor describes the project as free and open source and built by volunteers, so updates depend on contributors rather than a company. The vendor describes the project as free and open source and built by volunteers, so updates depend on contributors rather than a company roadmap.
- Update checker
- The checker may include the app version in its HTTP request, and the policy says it sends no logs, error reports or media content. The checker may include the app version in its HTTP request, and the policy says it sends no logs, error reports or media content.
How HandBrake handles your data
The privacy policy says website access logs are kept for six months and contact-form messages for up to six months, and that the website does not use cookies. It says the update checker does not transmit application logs, error reports, source media files or encoded content, though it may include the app version in its request. The website is hosted on servers in France. Because conversion happens on your own computer, files are not uploaded for processing. No certifications are stated, and training on user data is not addressed.
Where HandBrake falls short in practice
- No AI features. The vendor pages name none, so upscaling, transcription or enhancement need a different tool before or after conversion. The vendor pages name none, so upscaling, transcription or enhancement needs a different tool before or after the conversion step.
- License not named. The pages we read describe the project as open source but do not name the license, which matters for companies with policy rules on software.
- Volunteer support. Help comes from a volunteer project rather than a company, with no support contract or stated response time on the pages read. Help comes from a volunteer project with no support contract and no stated response time on the pages we read.
Alternatives to HandBrake
HandBrake: common questions
Is HandBrake free?
Yes. The vendor page says it is free and describes the project as free and open source, built by volunteers. No paid edition or premium tier appears on the pages we read, so there is nothing to upgrade to inside the project.
Does HandBrake have AI features?
The vendor pages name no AI feature. HandBrake focuses on converting video from nearly any format to modern codecs. Buyers who want upscaling, subtitle generation or noise removal should look at tools such as VideoProc, Aiseesoft or Shutter Encoder instead.
Does HandBrake send my videos anywhere?
The privacy policy says the update checker does not transmit application logs, error reports, source media files or encoded content. It may include the app version in its HTTP request. Conversion runs on your own computer, and the website is hosted in France.
Which systems does HandBrake support?
The homepage lists Windows, Mac and Linux, with 1.11.2 shown as the current version. The pages we read do not list minimum operating system versions, so check the download page for your computer before installing. The version listed on the homepage is 1.11.2. Check the project's download page for older operating systems before installing.
What license does HandBrake use?
The pages we read call HandBrake free and open source but do not name the license. A company that needs to record the license for compliance should check the project's source repository and documentation directly, since the homepage and privacy page do not state it.