When comparing HandBrake vs Final Cut Pro X, the Slant community recommends HandBrake for most people. In the question“What are the best video encoding tools?” HandBrake is ranked 2nd while Final Cut Pro X is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose HandBrake is:
There are presets for everything, so you don't have to delve deep in to advanced features if you don't want or need to. And in most cases you won't have to because the presets are great.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Great, easy to use presets
There are presets for everything, so you don't have to delve deep in to advanced features if you don't want or need to. And in most cases you won't have to because the presets are great.
Pro Advanced features
Although HandBrake is pretty straightforward to use, you can adjust pretty much any aspect of your conversion if necessary. For example, when transcoding video you have the option of adjusting between constant and variable framerate, adjusting average bitrate and constant quality, having 2-pass encoding or not, as well as tinkering with encoder specific options, and many, many, many more options.
Pro Fast
Since version 0.9.9. HandBrake has been very fast.
Pro Wide range of formats and multiple media types supported
HandBrake can handle DVDs, Blu-Rays, .mp4, .mkv, H.264(x264), MPEG-4, MPEG-2, AAC, MP3, FLAC, AC3, Vorbis, AC-3, DTS and DTS-HD among others.
Pro Often works when dumping archiving disc to hard drive methods do not
Pro Free and open source
HandBrake is licensed under GPL.
Pro Cross-platform
HandBrake works on Windows, Linux and OS X.
Pro Lightweight
It is designed to convert, no added bloat.
Pro Good metadata support
HandBrake can pull, use and edit metadata.
Pro Command Line Interface option
There's HandBrakeCLI if you wish to use HandBrake frome a terminal.
Pro Encoding options are comprehensive but easy to use up front
The GUI makes it easy to encode by providing profiles and a simple GUI, but offers extensive encoding options for people willing to learn and spend time experimenting.
Pro GPU utilization
Pro Powerful media organization
Pro Resolution independence
Pro Real-time graphics and effects
Pro 64-bit architecture
Pro Native format support
Pro Full high-quality pro-res support
Pro Integration with Motion
Pro Multicam editing
Pro ColorSync-managed color pipeline
Cons
Con Supports only two containers
You can output only .mp4 and .mkv.
Con There is no way to preserve menus and special features
Menus and special features will typically not be included in the output from a handbrake encode. Third party software would need to be used.
Con no linux support for hw acceleration
I know that it is not as high quality, but transcoding terabytes of 1080p videos to h265 without hw support isn't realistic and wont be for a long time
Con Not for 1:1 archiving or true backup use
Most uses of Handbrake are lossy, lossless is possible but it usually entails crazy huge file sizes.
Con You need lots of plugins
For example tracking is something Final Cut can't do. Only with a plugin which costs (example) around 100$.
As well as for advanced colour correction you have get a third-party plugin.
Con Important compatibility and format issues
Breaks compatibility with previous versions of FCP and does not support industry standards such as EDL, OMF, AAF. You can export to their version of XML and use third-party tools for a workaround (with limited success).
Con Works only on OS X
Con Color grading is unfamiliar and nonprofessional
Especially compared to Premiere's Lumetri Color Panel in 2015 cc.