Converting a DVD collection to digital files solves a real problem. DVD drives are disappearing from laptops, scratched discs become unplayable, and finding a working physical disc for a movie you already own can be more annoying than streaming a digital copy. Once a movie is in a digital file, it plays on every device you own and can be backed up safely.
This guide covers five tools that handle the conversion well, from completely free open source options to paid suites with broader feature sets. Pick based on your technical comfort and how much you want to spend.
Comparison Table
| Tool | Best For | Cost | Output Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| HandBrake | Free general use | Free | MP4, MKV |
| MakeMKV | Pure preservation | Free during beta | MKV |
| AnyMP4 DVD Ripper | Ease of use | Paid | MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI |
| WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro | Speed and presets | Paid | MP4, MKV, plus device presets |
| Wondershare UniConverter | All-in-one suite | Paid | Most major formats |
HandBrake - The free open source standard
HandBrake is the tool most often recommended for DVD ripping because it is completely free, open source, runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and produces high-quality output. The interface looks a little dated compared to commercial tools, but the underlying encoder is among the best in the industry. The MP4 files HandBrake produces are well-encoded and play on essentially any modern device.
The trade-off is that HandBrake on its own cannot rip commercial DVDs with copy protection. Most retail DVDs use the CSS encryption system, and HandBrake requires a companion library called libdvdcss to read encrypted discs. On macOS and Linux this library is straightforward to install. On Windows it takes a few extra steps. Once libdvdcss is in place, HandBrake handles most commercial discs without issue.
For users who want a free, reliable tool and do not mind a slightly technical setup, HandBrake is the default pick. The community and documentation are extensive, and the output quality is competitive with anything in the paid market.
MakeMKV - The preservation specialist
MakeMKV does one thing extremely well, which is rip a DVD or Bluray to an MKV container with minimal processing. The tool reads the disc, decrypts the copy protection if needed, and produces an MKV file that contains the original video stream, all the audio tracks, and the subtitle streams essentially untouched.
This is the right approach for collectors and archivists who want to preserve the disc exactly as it was. Re-encoding always loses some quality, and MakeMKV avoids that loss entirely by skipping the encoding step. The output files are larger than re-encoded MP4s, but storage is cheap and the preservation benefits are real.
MakeMKV has been in beta for years, and during the beta period it is free to use. A beta key is published regularly on the developer's forum, and entering it removes the trial limitations. For a free tool that handles encrypted discs without requiring a separate library, this is a great option.
AnyMP4 DVD Ripper - The user-friendly paid option
AnyMP4 DVD Ripper is one of the more polished paid DVD ripping tools, with a modern interface and broad format support. The tool handles encrypted discs out of the box without requiring a separate library, outputs to MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, and many other formats, and includes device presets for phones, tablets, and gaming consoles.
The strength is approachability. Insert a disc, pick an output format or device, and start the rip. The tool handles the rest without requiring users to understand video codecs, bitrates, or container formats. For non-technical users who just want to back up their DVD collection, this is significantly less intimidating than HandBrake.
The trade-off is cost. AnyMP4 is paid software with a lifetime license available at a moderate price. For users who only need to rip a handful of discs, HandBrake is the better choice. For users with large collections who value the time savings, AnyMP4 is worth the price.
WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro - The speed-focused pick
WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro positions itself on speed. The encoder uses GPU acceleration aggressively when available, and the resulting rip times are noticeably faster than HandBrake on the same hardware. For users with large collections and modern graphics cards, this speed difference matters.
The feature set covers the basics well. Encrypted disc support is built in, output formats include MP4, MKV, and a wide range of device presets, and the interface is approachable for non-technical users. The platform also handles DVD ISO files and disc image folders in addition to physical discs.
Pricing is similar to AnyMP4 with both monthly and lifetime licenses available. The trade-off is that the quality of the encode is slightly lower than HandBrake at the same bitrate because the GPU encoder prioritizes speed over efficiency. For most users the quality difference is not noticeable on DVD source video.
Wondershare UniConverter - The all-in-one suite
Wondershare UniConverter is not strictly a DVD ripper. It is a broader media conversion suite that includes DVD ripping as one of many features. The same tool handles video conversion between formats, audio extraction, basic video editing, screen recording, and DVD authoring in addition to ripping.
For users who need multiple media tools and would otherwise buy separate products, the all-in-one bundle makes sense. The DVD ripping module is competent without being best-in-class. Output quality, speed, and format support are all reasonable, and the interface is consistent with the rest of the suite.
The trade-off is that the all-in-one approach means none of the individual modules are as deep as dedicated tools. For DVD ripping specifically, HandBrake or one of the dedicated paid tools above are stronger. For users who want one tool that does many media tasks acceptably, UniConverter is a reasonable choice.
Visit Wondershare UniConverter
How to choose
Start with whether you want to pay. HandBrake and MakeMKV are both free and produce excellent output. HandBrake re-encodes to MP4 for compatibility, MakeMKV preserves the source in MKV for archival. If you are comfortable with a slightly technical setup and free tools, the choice is between these two based on whether compatibility or preservation matters more.
If you want a paid tool with a polished interface, AnyMP4 is the most approachable, WonderFox is the fastest, and UniConverter is the most feature-broad. The lifetime licenses are reasonable if you have a meaningful collection to rip.
Plan for storage. A full DVD rip ranges from 1 to 4 GB depending on format and quality settings, and MKV preservation rips can hit 8 GB or more per disc. A modest collection of 100 discs needs several hundred gigabytes of storage. An external drive or network-attached storage is a worthwhile investment before you start ripping.
Think about how you will play the files once they are ripped. For simple playback on phones, tablets, and most smart TVs, MP4 files just work. For a more polished home library experience with cover art, episode metadata, and multi-device access, Plex or Jellyfin running on a home server is the most popular setup. Both pull metadata automatically and let you stream the library to any device on your network. If a media server is in your future plans, organize the file names consistently from the start because renaming hundreds of files later is tedious.
One more decision is what to do with the original discs after ripping. Some users keep the physical discs as backup proof of ownership, which is sensible for legal cover and for re-ripping if a file is ever lost. Others donate or sell the discs once the digital copy is verified. The right choice depends on your storage situation and how much you care about the physical media. Whichever path you choose, verify each rip plays cleanly before parting with the disc, because catching a bad rip later when the disc is gone is a frustrating problem to have.
For related reading, see our VHS to digital conversion guide and our breakdown of landing page builders. For full methodology on how we evaluate software, see our review methodology page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to rip your own DVDs?+
The legality of ripping DVDs depends on your country. In the United States, ripping a DVD you own for personal backup is in a legal gray area because of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which technically prohibits circumventing copy protection. Enforcement against personal backups of owned discs has historically been minimal. In other countries the rules are different, with some explicitly allowing personal backups and others prohibiting them outright. Check your local laws before proceeding.
Do you need a separate DVD drive in 2026?+
Most modern laptops no longer ship with built-in DVD drives. You can buy an external USB DVD drive for a small price, and these work fine for ripping. Look for drives that specifically advertise compatibility with your operating system and that include the regional codes for the discs you plan to rip. Bluray drives are more expensive but handle DVDs too if you need to rip both formats.
What format should you rip DVDs to?+
MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is the most compatible format and plays on essentially every device including phones, smart TVs, and streaming sticks. MKV preserves more of the original disc content including multiple audio tracks and subtitle streams but requires a player like VLC or Plex on some devices. For most personal libraries, MP4 is the safer choice. For archival and collectors who want everything preserved, MKV via MakeMKV is the standard.
How long does ripping a DVD take?+
Ripping a single DVD takes anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour depending on the disc, the drive speed, the source video length, and your CPU. HandBrake re-encoding to MP4 is slower than MakeMKV's straight rip to MKV because the re-encoding is CPU-intensive. A modern computer with a recent CPU can handle a full movie in around 30 minutes for MP4 output. Older machines or laptops without dedicated graphics will take significantly longer.
Will ripped DVDs look as good as streaming?+
DVD source video is 480p maximum, which is significantly lower than HD streaming and far below 4K. No ripping tool can add detail that is not on the disc, so the output quality is capped by the source. That said, a well-encoded MP4 from a clean DVD will look better than most low-bitrate streaming sources and similar to standard definition streaming. For collectors who want HD or 4K, Blurays or 4K Blurays are the source to rip, not standard DVDs.
