It’s a free, open-source video encoder that converts almost any video into modern codecs such as H.264, H.265 (HEVC), AV1, and VP9. Think of it as a toolbox for working with media files. Built on FFmpeg, it supports an enormous range of video, audio, and image formats along with dozens of production tools. If you mostly want smaller video files, HandBrake is the better pick. If you regularly edit, convert, or prepare media files for different projects, Shutter Encoder is the more capable tool.