Finest HandBrake options for Mac to hurry up video work

HandBrake is free and open supply, nevertheless it would not rip industrial discs, the interface feels nothing like a Mac app, and something exterior conversion requires workarounds.

Handbrake has been one of many go-to video conversion instruments for years. It nonetheless is, nevertheless it additionally has vital limitations that pressured me to search for options.

In the event you’re prepared to maneuver on or simply want one thing alongside it, listed below are the ten finest HandBrake options for Mac.

Simply want Permute? Get it as a single app through Setapp Market for $4.99/12 months.

Prime HandBrake Alternate options for Mac (detailed comparisons)

The options we’ll have a look at will aid you change HandBrake, however they aren’t all related. I prefer to see them as completely different merchandise that share an analogous goal:

• Easy file converters that provide a greater interface or Mac optimization
• DVD/Blu-ray ripping and backup instruments constructed for bodily media workflows 
• Skilled encoding and compression apps designed for editors, batch exports, and superior format management

Right here’s a fast overview earlier than the detailed opinions:

In the event you’re switching from HandBrake and uncertain which various to focus on, this Video Modifying Software program for Mac GPT instrument is a quick method to get a solution with out digging by means of documentation.

1. MakeMKV: Best option for DVD/Blu‑ray ripping to MKV (then compress elsewhere)

Finest for: Ripping DVDs and Blu-rays into high-quality MKV information

Platforms: Mac, Home windows, Linux

MakeMKV takes encrypted DVDs and Blu-ray discs and converts them to MKV information. Whereas doing this, it preserves the unique format, all audio tracks, subtitles, and different metadata. It doesn’t re-encode something.

Which means that it’s an ideal choice if you’re shifting from HandBrake as a result of it could possibly’t rip discs. Nonetheless, it additionally signifies that you’ll nonetheless want a file converter to scale back the dimensions (from over 30GB in a film) to an inexpensive dimension and perhaps a extra appropriate format. 

You will additionally need an app that may play MKV information on Mac with out putting in additional codecs.

Professionals:

• Glorious DVD and Blu-ray ripping high quality
• Quite simple workflow in comparison with superior encoders
• Preserves unique video high quality nicely
• Good for media archiving workflows

Cons:

• Targeted primarily on ripping, not compression
• MKV information could be very massive
• Restricted modifying and conversion instruments (wants a second instrument)

Pricing: Free, $50 full license

2. VLC Media Participant: Most suitable choice if you need playback + occasional fast conversions

Finest for: Mac customers who primarily want a media participant with an choice for the occasional conversion

Platforms: Mac, Home windows, Linux

VLC has a built-in conversion instrument that the majority customers by no means discover — it is hidden below File > Convert / Stream. It’s nicely often known as a media participant and is already a part of the setup for many Mac customers who cope with media information. Nevertheless it additionally has a little-known conversion and transcoding instrument hidden within the app. It’s tucked below File > Convert / Stream.

In the event you solely do occasional conversions, this function can get the job achieved with out putting in an additional instrument. It helps frequent format conversions, nevertheless it received’t provide the controls you get in HandBrake.

Professionals:

• Free, open supply, no want for additional codecs
• Conversion function is sufficient for frequent format modifications 
• Streaming and community playback in-built
• Cross-platform and commonly up to date

Cons:

• Conversion UI just isn’t apparent to new customers
• No batch processing
• No superior encoding management

Pricing: Free

3. Apple Compressor: Ultimate for Ultimate Minimize Professional customers and professional batch encoding on trendy macOS

Finest for: Ultimate Minimize Professional customers dealing with skilled encoding and batch exports

Platforms: Mac

Apple Compressor is Apple’s encoding companion meant for professional customers, particularly those that already use Ultimate Minimize Professional. Being from Apple signifies that it’s far more optimized for Macs in comparison with HandBrake and different instruments.

A function I like is which you could share the encoding workload with different Macs in your community. It additionally connects instantly with Ultimate Minimize Professional’s share workflow to permit setting a vacation spot.

Apple Compressor is supposed for professionals and content material creators, however it could be overkill for easy file optimizations.

Professionals:

• Tight Ultimate Minimize Professional integration 
• Skilled supply presets for YouTube, Vimeo, broadcast, and Apple platforms
• Distributed encoding throughout a number of networked Macs 
• Optimized for Apple Silicon

Cons:

• Steep studying curve
• Solely maximized if already utilizing Ultimate Minimize Professional 
• Overkill for infrequent conversions

Pricing: $49.99 one-time

4. Wondershare UniConverter: Best option if you need a industrial GUI with presets and help

Finest for: Mac customers who need to pay for a elegant, feature-full video toolkit with an actual help workforce behind it

Platforms: Mac, Home windows

Wondershare UniConverter is the fitting selection if you need one app that covers conversion, compression, DVD burning, and fundamental modifying, and also you’re keen to pay for it.

It’s the industrial all-rounder within the record. It is constructed to make sure rookies are comfy, so it emphasizes the GUI to make duties simpler.

Its largest plus is that it covers conversion (in as much as 8K) in addition to downloading, compression, DVD burning, and even fundamental video modifying. There are additionally AI-powered options like a watermark remover, text-to-speech, video summarizer, and high quality enhancer.

Nonetheless, it’s closely industrial with aggressive advertising and marketing and a price ticket of $59.99 per 12 months (plus $19.99 for AI instruments). The whole lot HandBrake provides at no cost, UniConverter costs for, with upsells added on high

Professionals:

• Polished drag-and-drop interface with device-specific presets 
• AI options: auto-generated subtitles, video enhancement, good trimming
• Covers conversion, compression, modifying, and DVD burning in a single app
• Precise buyer help through telephone and e-mail 

Cons:

• Free trial just isn’t actually helpful
• Comparatively costly
• Upsell prompts throughout the app can really feel pushy

Pricing: From ~$19.95/month

5. Permute: Most suitable choice if you need most management, codecs, and automation

Finest for: Mac customers who need a clear, native, all-in-one media converter 

Platforms: Mac

Permute is my favourite HandBrake various, and I’d additionally say one of the best video and media converter on Mac. Permute is constructed for Mac from the bottom up. It makes use of Apple silicon acceleration and helps drag-and-drop with no settings required. 

It’s nice at changing movies as you simply want to tug and drop information, then choose a preset (from 30+ choices). It helps 50+ file codecs and goes past video conversion to supply picture conversion, audio conversion, and PDF to picture. It even has fundamental video modifying like trimming, cropping, and quantity adjustment.

In the event you want extra modifying energy past conversion, try the finest iMovie options for Mac.

Professionals:

• A Mac native instrument, seen within the interface, and pace
• Converts video, audio, and pictures 
• Mild modifying in-built
• AppleScript and Automator help for workflow automation

Cons:

• Fewer guide encoding controls than HandBrake
• No DVD/Blu-ray ripping

Pricing: One of many predominant benefits of Permute is that it’s a part of Setapp. This can be a market for curated Mac, iOS, and net apps that costs a single subscription. For $9.99 + tax a month, you may get Permute alongside lots of of different premium Mac apps.

6. iFlicks: Ultimate for optimizing movies for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV

Finest for: Encoding and organizing video information for playback on Apple units 

Platforms: Mac

iFlicks is the fitting HandBrake various in case your objective is getting video information into your Apple TV library or Plex with out re-encoding what’s already in a appropriate format. 

It’s a bit extra particular than HandBrake and different instruments in that it prepares information for the Apple ecosystem. It’s a Mac-native app, and if you drop a file, it converts it to an Apple-compatible format. From there, it fetches the film or TV present metadata, paintings, subtitles, and chapters, and drops all the pieces into the Apple TV app or Plex.

One of many issues I like in regards to the app is that it doesn’t waste time doing pointless re-encoding as HandBrake does. As a substitute, it checks contained in the container to see if the video observe is already in an Apple-friendly codec (like H.264 or HEVC/H.265). In that case, it simply extracts it and places it in a appropriate container.

Professionals:

• Automated metadata, paintings, and subtitle lookups 
• Lossless passthrough for H.264 and HEVC (no pointless re-encoding)
• Tightly built-in with the macOS TV app and Plex
• Included in Setapp 

Cons:

• Solely appropriate for constructing an Apple ecosystem media library
• Much less superior compression management than HandBrake
• Not ultimate for skilled encoding workflows

Pricing: Obtainable on Setapp. No additional buy obligatory.

7. EaseFab Video Converter Final: Best option if you need consumer-friendly batch conversion + compression instruments

Finest for: Customers in search of a simple GUI converter with batch processing and compression instruments

Platforms: Mac, Home windows

EaseFab Video Converter Final is without doubt one of the finest HandBrake options for individuals who need to make the method so simple as attainable. It closely depends on presets. There are over 500 of those, and also you simply want to decide on the machine or format you’re focusing on. 

The interface is outdated, however I like how simple it’s. There are additionally a number of different helpful options like compressing massive information, ripping DVDs, and batch conversion.

Professionals:

• Easy interface with device-specific presets 
• You may goal a selected file dimension for sharing and add limits
• Giant library of machine presets
• DVD ripping, compression, and batch conversion help

Cons:

• Much less file management in comparison with HandBrake
• Protected disc ripping is not supported 
• Outdated interface that feels extra consumer-oriented than skilled

Pricing: $17.95/12 months or $27.95 lifetime

8. DVDFab: Best option if you need a full disc backup/ripping suite (with metadata and safety claims)

Finest for: Companies that must again up discs, rip massive media libraries, and handle broader DVD/Blu-ray duties in a single place.

Platforms: Mac, Home windows

DVDFab is the one instrument on this record constructed particularly for companies managing massive disc libraries. It handles ripping, copying, ISO backup, conversion, and AI upscaling throughout 28 separate modules. 

Nonetheless, all of the options are handled as completely different modules and offered individually. None of them comes low cost, and also you’d need to pay about $300 to get all of the options. It’s meant for companies coping with massive media libraries.

Professionals:

• Works with DVDs and Blu-rays which have trendy copy protections 
• Full suite: rip, copy, ISO backup, and convert + extra
• GPU-accelerated encoding on Mac for quick processing
• Gadget-specific presets for Apple, Android, and extra

Cons:

• Free model is considerably restricted (480p)
• Overkill for customers in search of easy video conversion (file-to-file)
• Licenses are pricey
• The enterprise mannequin is closely subscription/upgrade-oriented

Pricing: Module-based pricing ($59.99 to $129.99) or $279.99 all-in-one

9. Any Video Converter: Most suitable choice if you need a free tier plus downloader and fundamental edits

Finest for: Customers who need light-weight conversions alongside downloading and easy modifying options.

Platforms: Mac, Home windows

Any Video Converter (AVC) has made a reputation for itself as among the finest video and audio conversion instruments, and the usual model continues to be free on Mac. The instrument has a easy interface that allows you to drag and drop a video, then select the output format. 

The Professional model provides extra options like a customized obtain mode, curating your audio and subtitles, recording to display, and burning to DVD. The Final model then provides AI options like producing movies (Seedance 2.0) and auto-transcription.

Professionals:

• Free for normal use with no significant time or file limits
• Newbie-friendly interface
• Constructed-in video downloader 
• Broad format help and fundamental modifying

Cons:

• Much less superior encoding customization
• Pushes premium upgrades closely
• Compression optimization is lighter than HandBrake’s

Pricing: Free plan, $19.95/month (Professional), $29.95/month (Final)

10. Freemake: Not a Mac various (formally)

Finest for: Home windows customers in search of a beginner-friendly video conversion instrument

Platforms: Home windows

Freemake is a well-liked video converter on Home windows for these in search of a easy and GUI-oriented method to convert movies. Nonetheless, it at the moment doesn’t have a Mac model. Whereas it is typically talked about amongst HandBrake options, keep away from downloading information that declare to put in the media converter on Mac as they include malware.

If you’re shifting from Home windows and have already got a license, the one method to run the app on Mac is thru virtualization. You may try extra on learn how to run Home windows on Mac.

Selecting the best HandBrake various on Mac

The best HandBrake various will depend on what’s lacking out of your workflow.

If you need DVD and Blu-ray ripping, MakeMKV is probably the most simple choice, however DVDFab is healthier for companies coping with massive information. If you’re already working with Ultimate Minimize Professional, Apple Compressor will slot in higher than different instruments. 

VLC and Any Video Converter additionally work nicely for the occasional conversion. Nonetheless, if you’re in search of a Mac native expertise and a instrument that may convert any file, Permute is one of the best HandBrake various for Mac. iFlicks additionally provides an analogous really feel if you wish to create information for Apple units or Plex.

HandBrake is highly effective. It is also a workflow tax — each Mac workaround it requires is time spent on the flawed factor. Permute and iFlicks are each in Setapp: drag-and-drop conversion and Apple library administration in a single plan. 250+ Mac apps.Begin My Free 7-Day Trial.

FAQ (HandBrake options on Mac)

What’s the finest app to compress movies on Mac?

The perfect app to compress movies on Mac for many customers is Permute. It provides a clear interface, helps all video codecs, and provides management of the file dimension and bitrate.

Is VLC or HandBrake higher?

VLC is a media participant for probably the most half, nevertheless it additionally provides a fundamental media conversion function. HandBrake is extra devoted to video encoding and provides better management over the output high quality. It’s extra succesful for conversions.

Can HandBrake be trusted?

Sure, HandBrake could be trusted because it’s well-established and the code is open-source. You simply want to make sure you obtain it from the official web site, handbrake.fr.

Is HandBrake fully free?

Sure, HandBrake is totally free and open supply. It has no paid tier, function caps, or upsells.

What’s a quicker, much less problem various to HandBrake?

Permute is the quickest and best to make use of various to HandBrake. It has a drag-and-drop interface that permits you to choose a format or preset and convert any media in just a few seconds. Wondershare UniConverter is another choice, nevertheless it’s closely industrial with excessive costs and upsells.