Extra features
Each of these programs brings something new to the table…
Each of these programs has its own advantages and disadvantages, and some additional features that may be useful to you. For example, Shutter Encoder is able to save generated videos directly to an FTP server, which is useful if you’re transcoding videos for web use. It also has other features aimed more towards video production, so is worth considering if your needs go beyond format or size conversion.
Because of its simplicity, Curlew doesn’t have too much in the way of features, unique or otherwise. It does enable you to pass a directory of videos for batch transcoding. It also has an option to merge the videos as it transcodes, creating a single output file from multiple input files. These two features obviously complement each other well.
VLC is able to stream the video as it transcodes it, using common protocols like HTTP and RTSP. You need to select a suitable transcoding profile and be sure your computer has the power to convert in real time. If so, this is a good way of, for example, watching a DVD or Blu-ray movie on a device without an optical drive.
Handbrake is the most feature rich of the group, so it has plenty of extras. We particularly like the command line client, which seems odd for a review of GUI programs. Once you have picked or set up the presents you like in the GUI, you can apply these to as many videos you like using the command line program, making it even easier to batch convert videos without needing to load the GUI each time you need to add one.
Avidemux has little in the way of extras, it does what it does well, but adds no frills.
If cross-platform usage is important to you, then note that Avidemux also runs on Windows and MacOS, as do VLC and Handbrake. Shutter Encoder is written in Java, although it’s also available as an AppImage file, so it runs on Windows and MacOS too. Curlew is written in Python, which would make it a good candidate for cross-platform use, but unfortunately the program only runs on Linux.