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With the phasing out of optical drives in computers and the rise of streaming services, we need a reliable tool to digitize our memorable DVD collections. By ripping DVDs to a digital format, we can access our favorite content anytime, anywhere, digitally, without the hassle of carrying around a physical disc. This offers great convenience and flexibility.
With so many free DVD rippers and premium options available, how can we choose the best one? In this blog post, we will explore the four best DVD-ripping software for Windows and Mac to help you make an informed decision.
Quick Overview
Are you in a hurry and looking for a quick solution? Here you will find your answers:
- VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper: A professional DVD ripper supporting conversion into more than 300 formats. Allows you to decrypt DVDs regardless of the copyright protection. Compatible with Windows and Mac.
- VLC Media Player: A well-known video player that comes with the capability to rip DVDs in a fairly simple and quick way. Supports Windows and Mac OS.
- MakeMKV: A free-of-cost DVD ripper with easy usage and a simplified user interface. It supports DVD-to-MKV conversion and is designed to work with Windows and Mac.
- HandBrake: An absolutely free and open-source software. It has its own complexities for DVD ripping and may not be the best solution for beginners. It supports Windows and Mac.
- WinX: A feature-rich DVD ripper that offers flexibility, can bypass copyright protection, and can convert between different formats. Compatible with Windows and Mac.
- Freemake Video Converter: This software offers a user-friendly experience for easy DVD ripping along with basic editing features. It is compatible with Windows OS only.
- DVDFab: It is a powerful ripper software that allows you to rip DVDs and Blu-rays. It is perfect for quick ripping jobs; however, it is not free of charge. It supports Windows only.
1. VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper
Supported OS: Windows and Mac
VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is one of the best DVD rippers for Mac and Windows. It supports to rip DVDs into 300+ file formats with advanced encoding algorithms to preserve the original video (for up to 1080p HD & 4K) and audio quality like Dolby Effects. Its decryption technology allows you to access all movies regardless of copy protection and region codes.
Customization options are also abundant, allowing you to tailor the output to your specific preferences. The best part is that it supports hardware acceleration, which makes the ripping even faster, at 6X speed. Also, the interface is intuitive. anyone can use it with no problems.
Verdict: This is best for those who frequently need to convert homemade and commercial DVDs into digital formats for lossless quality playback on various devices.
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
|---|---|
| Multiple output file formats. | Limited time in free trials. |
| Decrypt all protected DVDs. | |
| User-friendly interface. | |
| The software consistently delivers high-quality output at lossless quality. |
2. VLC Media Player
Supported OS: Windows and Mac
Many of you are likely familiar with VLC. VLC Media Player is a famous free video player for multiple platforms. Its additional feature is DVD ripping, which is a good option for ripping DVDs into digital formats like MP4. It also supports basic customization options like adjusting the resolution and adding subtitles.
It is freeware but with limitations. It cannot rip commercial DVDs with protection. Although this can be done by installing some additional files, it could be more complicated and will cost a lot of time. The interface is not considered intuitive, but with patience, you can still handle it after a while. So, if you want to rip some protected DVDs, it is wise to choose the above options, like VideoByte.
Verdict: VLC’s DVD ripping is best suited for users who require a solution for converting their DVD movies into digital formats with basic customization options.
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
|---|---|
| Free to use without any cost. | Limited features compared to dedicated DVD ripping software. |
| Mainstream output file formats supported | Lack of advanced options for customization. |
| Slower ripping process compared to specialized tools. |
3. MakeMKV
Supported OS: Windows and Mac
As the name suggests, MakeMKV can cover the DVDs (also protected DVDs with AASC BD+, etc.) in MKV format while keeping the original resolution, audio track, chapters, and subtitles at lossless quality. Right now, it is in beta. You can use it for free during the beta period.
However, the biggest drawback of this software is that it only supports ripping DVDs into MKV. It does not support other mainstream video formats, which means you need to convert the output to another file format again if you need other file formats. It is not convenient.
Verdict: Best for those who want to convert DVDs to MKV format with lossless quality.
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
|---|---|
| Free to use. | It only supports ripping DVDs to MKV. |
| Decrypt some protected DVDs. | Limited decryption for partial protections. |
| Keep original audio track, chapters, subtitles. | Large file size. |
4. DVD Shrink
Supported OS: Windows
DVD Shrink is a free solution for ripping DVDs on Windows. It supports bypassing protections like CSS, RC, and RCE, ensuring you can access all your favorite movies. Its main feature is keeping the original quality. It is important to note that the software has not been updated since 2005.
However, this software supports fewer output file formats. As a compressor, the ripping speed is relatively slow compared with professional DVD rippers. It lacks customizations. You cannot experience an authentic DVD playback menu. The interface is too old for users to navigate, as well, making it hard to use. So, our first pick—VideoByte—may be a better choice if you seek more flexibility and versatility.
Verdict: Best for ripping some protected DVDs for free.
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
|---|---|
| Completely free. | Limited output file formats. |
| Retain the original quality. | Slow ripping speed. |
| No customization option. | |
| Compatible with only Windows. |
Tips To Choose The Best DVD Ripper
- Compatibility with your computer: You need to check whether the software is compatible with your computer and the current variant of the operating system you are running.
- Ease of use: Depending on your knowledge about ripping features, consider the software’s usability and the overall interface’s ease of use.
- Availability of ready-made profiles: When ripping DVDs, you can select formats like MKV and MP4. Some software comes with ready-made profiles for quick conversion, while others have limited capabilities.
- Editing Options: Some DVD rippers offer added features like trimming video and adjusting audio and video quality, bitrate, framerate, and resolution. If you want to use these editing options, it is important to ensure they are available.
- Price: Both free and paid options are readily available. However, the free options come with certain limitations and watermarks, may have a steeper learning curve, and might not be suitable for beginners. whereas a paid DVD ripper offers added features and is easier to use.
Concluding Thoughts
After we tested all four of these products, we found that all of them are useful in some areas. But VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper comes as the top choice. Its user-friendly interface, high-quality output, and comprehensive decryption capabilities make it a standout option.
While alternatives like DVD Shrink, VLC Media Player, and MakeMKV offer their own features, VideoByte provides a seamless and efficient DVD ripping experience with more advanced customizations. It is the ideal solution for all users who are looking to digitize their DVD collections quickly and effectively.
