Compare software

x264 vs x265: catalog facts
x264	x265
Free Free and open source under the GNU GPL.	Free Free under the GPL-2.0, with a paid commercial license for proprietary use.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
Fast real-time H.264 encoding on consumer hardware Psychovisual optimizations for visual quality	Widely used reference-quality HEVC encoder Usable as a command-line tool or as a library
Command-line only, with no graphical interface Encodes H.264 only, not newer formats such as HEVC or AV1	Command-line only, with no graphical interface of its own HEVC playback and distribution can involve patent licensing questions
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0-or-later	License: GPL-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.