FREE TOOL

HandBrake: free video converter

By AiCoN | Published 14 October 2026 | Sources checked 14 October 2026

HandBrake says it is free software that needs no account and runs entirely on your computer. It converts video between formats.

Official app preview

Official HandBrake macOS video settings screenshot with encoder quality and frame rate controls — Official HandBrake homepage illustration of the macOS Video settings tab. It shows encoder, frame-rate and quality controls. The image has no verified version label, so it is not presented as a hands-on test of HandBrake 1.11.2. Official source. Open original 920 × 646 image. Media checked 22 October 2026. Independent guide, not sponsored.

What it is

HandBrake is a video converter. Its homepage describes it as "a open-source tool, built by volunteers, for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs". Use it to change a video's format, for example to make a file play on another device or to shrink its size. It is not an AI tool. We included it because it is a free tool from an official source.

Is it free?

Yes. The download page says: "HandBrake is free software and does not require an account to use! It runs entirely locally on your computer." The homepage also lists "Free and Open Source". We found no paid tier on the pages we read.

Which devices

Windows 10 and later (Intel/AMD x64 and ARM64), macOS 10.13 and later (universal), and Linux (Flatpak or a download). The current version on the page is 1.11.2.
We found no phone version on the official pages we read.
The download page warns that handbrake.fr, GitHub (HandBrake) and Flathub are the only official places to download it, and that unofficial mirrors can be scams.

Privacy and data

HandBrake's privacy policy says the app has a built-in update checker that makes a standard https call to its website or GitHub. It says this is opt-in and can be turned off in preferences.
It says no information about the app logs, errors, or the videos you convert is collected or sent from your computer.
The website keeps access logs (IP address and browser details).
The policy says the project is run by volunteers, with no company behind it.

India

We found no India-specific statement or age limit on the pages we read.

AiCoN checkRead HandBrake's homepage, download page and privacy policy on 14 October 2026, and its graphics licence on GitHub. We did not install or test it, and we did not check which video formats it handles.

Frequently asked questions

Is HandBrake free?

Yes. Its download page says it is free software and needs no account.

Does it upload my videos?

Its privacy policy says it runs locally and sends no information about your encoded content.

Is it AI?

No. It is a video converter. We included it because it is a free tool from an official source.

Sources: HandBrake, Downloads, Privacy policy, Graphics licence. Checked 14 October 2026.

Logo: HandBrake logo, Copyright HandBrake Team (https://handbrake.fr), CC BY-SA 4.0, from the official HandBrake graphics folder. Independent guide, not affiliated.

Official homepage, download and features pages rechecked 22 October 2026. Download remains 1.11.2, with Windows 10+, macOS 10.13+ and Linux options. No conversion, format compatibility or performance test was performed; other statements retain their original source-check date. Original publication date is unchanged.