Best Free DVD Rippers: 7 Easy Ways to Rip a DVD

Movavi Video Converter for Windows and Mac makes it surprisingly easy to get your DVDs onto a computer or mobile device. It handles almost any format you can think of: AVI, MOV, MKV, and M2TS, to name a few out of 180+ options. You don’t need to fiddle with confusing settings or codecs; the software lays out simple presets so you can choose the right format for your phone, tablet, or laptop. It feels fast and responsive, and the interface is clean enough that I didn’t get lost in menus. Even batch conversions aren’t a headache, you can queue up a few discs and walk away.

When I put it to the test, I started with a couple of old DVDs from my collection. I was impressed by how quickly the program converted them, and the quality stayed true to the original discs. I liked the preview feature a lot. It helped me make sure everything looked right before hitting convert.

One thing I noticed is that even when I compressed files to save space, the picture didn’t suffer much. Movavi made the whole process of ripping DVDs almost effortless. After spending some time with it, I realized I could finally carry my favorite movies anywhere without juggling discs or worrying about compatibility.

VLC Media Player isn’t hard to figure out if you want to rip a DVD, and it works on both Mac and Windows. I like that it handles almost every file type, so you get a lot of control over the output. The interface is simple once you know your way around, but it’s not very intuitive for ripping, you have to dig through menus and files a bit. As a free option, it’s easy to see why so many people rely on it.

When I put VLC to the test, I loaded a few DVDs and experimented with different formats. It seemed great for small projects, though I did get tripped up a couple of times navigating the settings.

The ripping speed was decent, and the quality stayed true to the original discs. I also checked the latest version, 3.0.21. It includes codec updates, new GPU-powered HDR features, improved subtitles on macOS (Asian languages), and a security fix.

Heads up! The program isn't very user-friendly. Expect to manually navigate files instead of easily ripping DVDs via the interface.

HandBrake is a lifesaver for getting DVDs onto your computer, and it works like a charm on both Windows and Mac. What I really love is that it's totally free and incredibly straightforward – I could get a DVD onto my machine with just a few clicks. The interface is nice and clean, though if you hit a snag, getting help might be a bit tough since there aren't tons of people behind it.

I messed around with it for a bit, trying out different movies in formats like MP4 and MKV. The video quality held up really well, and the batch conversion feature was a total lifesaver for handling multiple files. The newest version, 1.10.2, even tweaked how it handles metadata and updated some core stuff for smoother sailing. All in all, I'd say it's simple, free, and reliable – just be prepared to figure out any minor hiccups on your own.

WinX DVD Ripper is ready for both Windows and Mac, but I found it truly shone on Windows 10: it was incredibly fast and efficient. A big plus for me was its ability to handle everything from old, scratched DVDs to newer releases without taxing my computer. The interface may feel a bit dated, and Mac users may find it a tad clunky to navigate.

When I put it through its paces, ripping several older and newer DVDs, the speed was a real highlight. The video quality remained excellent, and I could get full disc backups done in mere minutes. They've also improved copy-protected disc support and boosted GPU acceleration in the latest version.

However, even with these improvements, it still lacks Blu-ray support, as major apps often include capabilities for a wider range of optical media. More than that, it lacks support for advanced audio formats like DTS-HD, and I encountered issues loading certain discs.

Windows Media Player isn’t flashy, but it gets the job done if you just need to rip DVDs on Windows 10 or older versions. For most users, it’s already installed on your machine, so there’s no hunting for downloads or extra apps. The interface is simple, and I could figure out how to extract a DVD without wading through complicated menus.

During my testing, I put a few discs through the rip process. It worked, but it wasn’t especially fast, and the interface felt a little outdated. I also noticed that some features are limited compared with modern rippers, and since official support ends in October 2025, there won’t be further updates. For casual use, it’s fine, but heavy users may find it lacking.

WonderFox DVD Ripper is a solid Windows tool for getting videos off your DVDs and onto your computer. I liked that it handles protected discs without much fuss, and it can rip in high quality pretty quickly. The interface is straightforward, so you don’t feel lost in menus or settings.

When I put it to the test, I ran a few old and newer DVDs through it. The free version worked fine for basic ripping, but I noticed that some advanced features, like faster batch processing and certain output formats, required the paid version. It’s definitely effective on Windows, but Mac users will need another solution.

Freemake Video Converter is a simple Windows tool for ripping DVDs, and it’s completely free to use. I liked how easy it is to get started, you just insert a DVD, choose a format like MP4 or AVI, and hit Convert. There’s no need to dive into complicated settings, which is great if you just want a quick copy of your discs.

When I tested it out, I converted a few movies and was pretty pleased with how fast and dependable it performed. The main drawback is that it doesn't support Mac, but aside from that, the program isn't… exactly cutting-edge. The most recent update was in 2022, so it's definitely not getting a lot of new bells and whistles.