Alternatives to MKVToolNix
Builds, inspects and edits MKV files: add subtitles, drop a track, fix chapters, all without re-encoding. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
MKVToolNix
Builds, inspects and edits MKV files: add subtitles, drop a track, fix chapters, all without re-encoding.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as MKVToolNix.
FFmpeg
The command that converts, cuts, streams and inspects essentially any audio or video file in existence.
FFmpeg can remux and edit tracks without re-encoding in any container, not only Matroska, but it is command line only with no graphical header editor.
Shutter Encoder
A professional transcoding and media processing front end for FFmpeg, with batch queues, presets and genuinely lossless operations.
Shutter Encoder offers remux, stream extraction and audio replacement across formats plus transcoding, but it has no header editor for track flags and chapters.
LosslessCut
Trims and joins video and audio without re-encoding, so a cut takes seconds instead of an hour.
LosslessCut merges files, extracts tracks and repairs containers without re-encoding, but it focuses on cutting and lacks chapter and header editing.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
HandBrake
A video converter that turns files and unprotected discs into MP4, MKV or WebM with presets for common devices.
Subtitle Edit
Creates, retimes, translates and fixes subtitles, with a waveform so you can see where the speech is.
MediaInfo
Tells you exactly what is inside a video or audio file: codecs, bitrates, resolution, frame rate, subtitle and audio tracks.
MakeMKV
Turns a DVD or Blu-ray you own into an MKV file, keeping every track and chapter exactly as it was.
Avidemux
A simple video editor for cutting, filtering and encoding, aimed at trimming and converting rather than full editing.
Gaupol
An open-source editor for creating, editing and translating text-based subtitle files.
