December 19, 2023 11:30Posted by Brittany Garcia to Rip DVD
As streaming services rise and become the mainstream of today’s entertainment, DVDs are kind of an old-school thing. Considering its fading popularity and fragility, it is time to find yourself an excellent Mac or Windows DVD ripper tool to digitize your collections. By doing so, you can also prevent accidents and keep your cherished memories in good condition. Not knowing which one is the most suitable tool? No worries. This guide has covered the most excellent ripping software on the market and elaborates carefully on its features, pros, and cons. Once you have read this post, you will have the answer about which one to use to rip DVDs to compatible digital formats.
Part 1. A Quick Preview of the Best 9 DVD Rippers for Windows and Mac
Take a quick preview of the summary of each best DVD ripper for Mac and Windows here. Check their supported OS, DVD types, and what they are best for before moving to know their specific features.
| OS | Supported DVD types | Best for | |
| BDMaster Free DVD Ripper | Windows 7/8/10/11 | DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD±RW, DVD±R, IFO files, DVD folder | Simple homemade DVD ripping with high efficiency |
| MakeMKV |
Windows XP or later, x86 or x64 Mac OS X 10.7 or later, including macOS Sonoma |
Encrypted and homemade DVD discs | Encrypted DVD ripping and lossless output quality |
| HandBrake | Windows 10 and later, macOS 10.13 or later | any DVD/Blu-ray sources with no copy protection | Flexible DVD ripping with various customization options |
| DVD Decrypter | Windows 7, 10, Vista, etc | HD-DVD, DVD | Backup DVDs protected with CSS and remove DVD regional restrictions |
| Aimersoft DVD Ripper |
Windows XP/Vista/7/8 and Windows 10; Mac OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9 (Mavericks), 10.10 (Yosemite) and 10.11 (El Capitan) |
Homemade and encrypted DVDs, DVD IFO file, ISO file, folder, .dvdmedia, IFO, BUP, VOB | Ripping all DVD titles into one video file |
| MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition | Mac OS X and later | Homemade, encrypted DVDs and others | Free DVD ripping with a wide range of video format support |
| MacTheRipper | Mac OS X | Homemade and encrypted DVDs | Copy DVD discs on Mac for free with original quality |
| ffmpegX | Mac OS X | Non-encrypted DVD files | Rip and compress DVDs to smaller sizes |
| VLC | Windows and Mac, including the latest Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma | Homemade DVDs (Encrypted DVD ripping requires extra codec downloads) | Best for: playing and ripping homemade DVDs effortlessly |
Part 2. Top 5 Windows DVD Ripper [Free]
1 BD Master – Free DVD Ripper
Here comes the first free DVD ripper on Windows 10/11, BD Master’s Free DVD Ripper. As its name suggests, it is a whole package that comes with a free DVD ripping feature plus wide support for media formats. With this ripper software, you can convert DVD videos to different digital formats flexibly. You can make the movie from the disc playable on iPad, Galaxy, iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, PlayStation, and more. Meanwhile, if you love the soundtrack from the DVD, simply extract them all using this free ripping tool.
- Compatible with MP4, HEVC, AVI, MKV, MOV, MPEG, and more formats.
- Support high-quality conversion between DVD and video/audio files.
- Preview all DVD titles with the built-in player.
- Cut off unwanted titles and edit the video clips on DVDs.
Free Download
For Windows
Secure Download
How to use the Free DVD Ripper
Step 1.Install the Ripper
Get the free download via the button above. Install and launch the software later. Prepare your DVD disc, put it on the drive, and connect it to your computer. Then, the ripper will detect your DVD. Alternatively, you can click Load Disc to import it.
Step 2.Choose a Title and Output Format
You can select to rip only the main title or all titles. Next, from the Profile drop-down option, select an output format. MP4 is a nice choice for it is compatible with most devices and platforms. If you are ripping multiple titles, click the Apply to All button to set the same format for all.
Step 3.Start Ripping the DVD
After choosing the output format, select a destination folder using the Browse button. Then, click the Convert button to rip your DVD.
If anyone prefers a DVD ripper for Windows 10 or the latest Windows 11 systems, BD Master’s Free DVD Ripper is definitely a good choice for you to convert your DVDs to digital for free at your cozy houses. Besides, it offers an upgraded version for you to back up the DVD to more formats with faster speed.
2 MakeMKV
MakeMKV, an old but still popular Windows and Mac DVD Ripper, converts all your DVDs and Blu-rays to MKV videos losslessly for free. Its many great features include a disc encryption engine, lossless output quality, and an easy-to-use navigation process. The only downside about it is that MKV is the only format. Besides, the output video file can be enormously large. It would be best if you used a compressor to shrink the output file size. But it remains an ideal choice for those who prefer high-quality ripping results.
Pros
- Reasonably excellent output quality.
- Relatively quick ripping speed.
- Bypass regional restrictions and other DVD encryptions.
Cons
- You can’t preview the DVD titles.
- MKV is the only choice you have.
- The output file consumes too many spaces.
3 Handbrake
HandBrake is another free DVD ripper for Windows and Mac. You can install it with multiple language support, for it is an open-source program. As a proper video transcoder, HandBrake supports several digital formats (MP4, MKV, MOV, etc.). When ripping the DVD in HandBrake, you can select presets of different resolutions for different platforms/devices. Meanwhile, it is a good companion for MakeMKV. You can easily use it to re-encode and compress the MKV file from the DVD in MakeMKV.
Pros
- Great options for customizations.
- Diverse output presets.
- Preview the title of the first four minutes before ripping.
Cons
- It somehow crops your video.
- The output quality is not as ideal as MakeMKV.
4 DVD Decrypter
Another free Windows DVD ripper is DVD Decrypter. Although the officials have stopped this project, it can still be downloaded on a mirror site. There is no scam or malware during the downloading process. But you might find its interface to be too classic and outdated. All it has is a simple DVD-ripping feature and comes with a light file size.
Pros
- Reads DVD and loads titles automatically.
- It shows each ripping step in the log window.
- Copy your DVDs with the original structures.
- Minimal influence on your computer’s performance.
Cons
- It has been a long time since it has had updates.
- Not compatible with Windows 11.
5 Aimersoft DVD Ripper
As it advocates, Aimersoft DVD Ripper’s primary function is to rip DVDs to any standard digital format, like AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, FLV, MKV, 3GP, MPEG, HD AVI, HD WMV, etc. As one of the best free DVD ripper software on the list, Aimersoft efficiently extracts your DVD video and audio into multiple formats and even online formats for streaming purposes. With NVIDIA® CUDATM technology, the conversion is performed on NVIDIA's GPU rather than your computer's CPU, freeing up more CPU for other tasks. Aimersoft’s DVD ripper for Windows says that regular and high-definition video conversion is six times faster with all of these technologies.
Pros
- Fast DVD ripping speed.
- 2000+ format support.
- Customize the DVD by applying effects, trimming video clips, and adding watermarks.
- Search DVD information online.
- iTunes synchronization.
Cons
- It is not equipped with the latest codecs.
- Some of the device profiles are outdated.
Part 3. 4 Best Free Mac DVD Rippers
1 MacX DVD Ripper Mac - Free Edition
The first on the list of Mac free DVD rippers is MacX DVD Ripper Mac, the free edition. Enhanced with the latest hardware acceleration technologies, the free edition backs up your DVD in ISO files, folders, and digital formats like MP4, FLV, MOV, MPEG, AVI, WMV, and more. The free version is suitable for ripping short titles and your homemade DVDs. Moreover, you can use the built-in editor to trim, merge, and crop the clips.
Pros
- Digitize your DVDs up to 300-400 FPS.
- It allows complete control and access to all DVDs, including unplayable and damaged ones.
- An ease-to-navigate user interface.
Cons
- Limited features in the free edition.
- You can’t rip a whole DVD movie using the free version.
2 MacTheRipper
Next on our list is MacTheRipper, another free DVD Ripper for Mac with practical features. It rips DVDs, removes protections, and generates lossless results. You don’t have to improve the video quality after ripping in MacTheRipper, which saves you a lot of time. As its official page says, it is not an ideal choice for people who want to rip DVDs to videos instead of backing up their DVDs on the computer.
Pros
- Makes DVD copies for your car.
- Achieves lossless conversion.
Cons
- The latest version requires a donation to use.
- You cannot preview the titles.
- It does not support the up-to-date Mac models.
- You cannot copy the DVD files.
- It does not support commercial DVDs.
3 ffmpegx
ffmpegX is not related to the FFmpeg program but is still suitable for converting your DVD. ffmpegX is a robust solution for Mac users seeking advanced DVD ripping capabilities. This comprehensive free DVD ripper on Mac, designed to focus on multimedia processing, extends its functionality to efficient DVD conversion. Offering a feature-rich platform, ffmpegX empowers users to transform their DVD collections into digital formats seamlessly.
Pros
- Multiple encoding options.
- Enhances the speed of DVD ripping.
- Users can tailor their digital copies by selecting specific subtitle tracks and audio options.
Cons
- It poses a slight learning curve for beginners.
- Limited to Mac users.
- ffmpegX's interface might appear outdated.
4 VLC
VLC, renowned for its media playback prowess, is also a standout free DVD ripper for Mac users. Beyond its role as a versatile player, VLC simplifies the DVD-to-digital conversion process on Mac systems. With a user-friendly interface and customization options, VLC rips DVDs for free and makes it easier for users of all levels. This software digitizes your DVD collection, allowing you to create a backup of your favorite movies effortlessly. Forget managing physical DVDs – VLC empowers Mac users to enjoy their digital content seamlessly across various devices. VLC is a reliable and accessible solution for Mac users looking to enhance their media experience by converting DVDs into digital formats.
Pros
- VLC is entirely free to use.
- Supports a broad range of multimedia formats.
- Enjoy the convenience of DVD ripping on Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms.
Cons
- VLC's DVD ripping lacks some advanced options found in premium alternatives.
- Longer wait times for larger DVD collections.
Part 5. FAQs about Free DVD Ripper for Mac and Windows
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Does Apple have a DVD ripper?
No. Apple does not provide a built-in DVD ripper on its Mac computers. Users looking to rip DVDs must rely on third-party software for this functionality.
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Is MacX DVD Ripper safe?
Yes, MacX DVD Ripper is generally considered safe to use. It's a reputable DVD-ripping software for Mac that allows users to convert DVDs into various digital formats. However, as with any software, it's essential to download it from the official website or trusted sources to ensure security.
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Can VLC rip protected DVDs?
Yes, VLC can rip protected DVDs. However, users may need to install additional libraries or plugins for optimal functionality in some instances.
Wrapping up
After reading all the detailed features from free DVD rippers for Windows 10, 11, macOS X and above, you must have a clear picture of all the popular choices. Now, grab the one you like and start ripping your DVD collections with ease. If you prefer flexibility with fairly quick conversion speed, Bd Master's Free DVD Ripper is, out of doubt, the ideal choice for you. Why not give it a go and have a free download here to start your DVD-ripping journey on a fast lane?
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