Video encoder comparison

Stop guessing which encode is better.

Compare encodes side by side with perfectly synchronized playback, frame-accurate zoom, and live quality metrics. Tune AV1, HEVC and x264/x265 — objectively.

Free forever One-time Pro — no subscription Move your licence between machines
Windows 10 / 11
EncCompare comparing a source clip against three encodes — hevc_nvenc q28, libsvtav1 q35 and libsvtav1 q45 — in a synchronized 2×2 grid, each pane overlaid with live PSNR, SSIM and VMAF and a comparison sidebar.
Every codec, no pre-encoding NVENC SVT-AV1 AV1 x264 x265 / HEVC custom ffmpeg args
See it in action

A real comparison, start to finish.

Watch EncCompare drive several encodes through one synced timeline — zooming into artifacts and reading live metrics.

The old way

Comparing encodes in VLC or MPC-HC is guesswork.

  • Videos drift out of sync
    You lose the exact frame you were comparing.
  • You forget which one looked better
    No side-by-side memory, just tabs and windows.
  • Endless jumping back and forth
    Hunting for the difference instead of seeing it.
  • You end up judging still images
    Motion is where codecs actually fall apart.
EncCompare

Built specifically to solve this.

Every clip stays locked together — play, pause, seek and step frame-by-frame across all of them at once. Zoom into artifacts, blink between two encodes, and read live PSNR/SSIM against the source. Reach a real conclusion in minutes, not an hour of window-switching.

Key features

Inspect quality the way encoders actually differ.

Purpose-built for encoder evaluation — not a media player with two windows open.

Synchronized playback

Every video stays locked together while playing, pausing and seeking. Nothing drifts.

Instant A/B comparison

Switch between encodes instantly without losing your place in the timeline.

Side-by-side viewing

A live 2×2 grid — source plus three encodes at once. No more opening several players.

Zoom into the details

Inspect compression artifacts, ringing, blocking, colour shifts and fine texture at high magnification — synchronized across every panel so you're always looking at the same pixels.

Frame-accurate navigation

Step frame by frame to inspect exactly where encoders differ. Timeline cache markers keep it fast.

View modes

Every way to see the difference.

The same synced grid, seen through the mode that reveals what you're chasing — from a plain look to a per-pixel error heatmap.

EncCompare zoomed to ×4 across all four panes at once — source and three encodes — so the same magnified pixels line up for artifact inspection.
Zoom · synced ×4

Pixel-peep every pane at once

Magnify up to ×4 (or more) with all panes locked to the same region — blocking, ringing and lost texture jump straight out.

EncCompare Difference view: each encode pane rendered as its error against the source, so only the pixels that changed light up.
Difference view

Show only what actually changed

Subtract each encode from the source. A near-black pane means near-lossless; bright specks are exactly where an encoder gave up detail.

EncCompare Heatmap view: encode error mapped to colour intensity across each pane, highlighting regions of concentrated quality loss.
Heatmap view

Map error to colour intensity

Turn the difference into a heatmap to spot concentrated quality loss — foliage, motion edges, fine gradients — at a glance.

EncCompare A/B wipe: source on the left and hevc_nvenc q28 on the right, split by a draggable divider, with an A/B comparison table of bitrate and metrics.
A/B overlay · Pro

Wipe two finalists head-to-head

Split any two panes with a draggable divider — or blink and fade between them — beside a live A/B table of bitrate, resolution and metrics.

Typical workflow

From source file to decision in minutes.

Open your source

Drop a source file into EncCompare — ProRes, MOV, MP4, whatever you're working with.

Set up encodes

Configure several encodings live — NVENC, SVT-AV1, x264/x265 or your own ffmpeg args. No pre-rendering.

Play them together

Run all encodes simultaneously in a synced grid and zoom into the areas that matter.

Read the metrics

Live PSNR and SSIM against the source tell you what your eyes suspect — objectively.

A/B the finalists

Blink, wipe or fade the two best encodes against each other, or drop in an external file.

Decide with confidence

Pick the encode that actually looks best at the bitrate you can afford — and ship it.

Pricing

Free to compare. Go Pro to sweep, score & share.

One licence, activated with a key and yours to move between machines — with a 14-day offline grace window so it keeps working on the road.

Free · forever
A$0no card, no catch

Everything you need to compare encodes side by side.

  • Live 2×2 grid — source + 3 encodes, no pre-encoding
  • Synchronized scrub, zoom & pan
  • Every codec: NVENC, SVT-AV1, x264/x265, custom ffmpeg
  • Live PSNR & SSIM vs the source
  • Comparison sidebar, cache markers & cross-session cache
Download free
Pro · lifetime licence
A$39one-time · no subscription

Everything in Free, plus the tools to sweep, score and share.

  • A/B overlay — blink, wipe & fade any two encodes, or drop in an external file
  • Rate-distortion sweep — run a full CRF/bitrate range, plot quality-vs-bitrate
  • VMAF scoring — industry-standard perceptual scores on top of PSNR/SSIM
  • Export — burn the 2×2 to PNG, or dump every metric to CSV
  • Move your licence between machines · 14-day offline grace
Upgrade to Pro
FAQ

Questions, answered.

Does it work with AV1?
Yes. AV1 and SVT-AV1 are fully supported, alongside HEVC and x264/x265.
Can I compare different codecs?
Yes — any supported video files can be compared together. Right now that's x264/x265, HEVC and AV1; more may be added on request.
Is it a subscription?
No. Pro is a one-time purchase, and the free version is free forever. No recurring charges.
Who is it for?
Anyone evaluating video quality — creators, archivists, restoration artists and codec enthusiasts tuning FFmpeg, comparing CRF values or testing denoising filters.
What does it run on?
Windows 10 and 11 for now. Your Pro licence activates with a key and can move between machines, with a 14-day offline grace window.

Stop guessing.
See the difference.

Free to compare — go Pro to sweep, score and share.