Video codecs

The following video codecs are available for encoding in HandBrake.

  • H.264:

  • MPEG-4 Part 10, also known as H.264/AVC

  • Provides excellent quality, performance, and file size
  • Widely supported by media players, including mobile devices
  • Several different encoders are supported:
    • In software: x264
    • In hardware: Intel QuickSync, AMD VCE, Nvidia NVENC and ARM devices though MediaFoundation.

  • H.265 (HEVC)

  • MPEG-H Part 2, also known as H.265/HEVC

  • Successor to H.264/AVC offering higher quality encodes and smaller file sizes
  • Current strengths are improved quality and compression for low bit rate encodes, and for ultra high definition content
  • Significantly slower than software H.264/AVC encoders
  • Limited device compatibility compared to H.264/AVC, but this is improving rapidly
  • Several different encoders are supported:
    • In software: x265
    • In hardware: Intel QuickSync, AMD VCE, Nvidia NVENC and ARM devices though MediaFoundation.

  • MPEG-4:

  • MPEG-4 Part 2, also known as MPEG-4 Visual

  • Predecessor to H.264/AVC offering fast encoding with lower overall quality than H.264/AVC
  • Compatible with older devices, inexpensive DVD/flash/network players

  • MPEG-2:

  • MPEG-2 Part 2, also known as MPEG-2 Visual and H.262

  • Predecessor to MPEG-4 Visual offering very fast encoding with lower quality than modern codecs
  • Creates larger files than modern encoders

  • AV1:

  • Developed by Alliance for Open Media and the successor to VP9, is a free and open video codec.

  • Several different encoders are supported:
    • In software: SVT-AV1
    • In hardware: Intel QuickSync, Nvidia NVEnc, AMD VCN

  • VP9 (libvpx):

  • Developed by Google and the successor to VP8, VP9 is a free and open video codec

  • Comparable to HEVC/H.265 in quality and file size
  • Slower encoding compared to x265

  • VP8 (libvpx):

  • Developed by On2 Technologies and acquired by Google, VP8 is a free and open video codec

  • Successor to Theora offering significant improvements, comparable to H.264/AVC

  • Theora:

  • This encoder is considered deprecated.

  • Developed by Xiph.Org Foundation and based on On2 Technologies' VP3, Theora is a free and open video codec
  • Comparable to MPEG-4 Visual in quality and file size