With the rapid rise of streaming services, it’s time to digitalize your DVD collections. By doing so, you will be able to play your DVD movies on iPhone, iPad, Samsung Tablets, or any other portable devices and put them on the cloud. Moreover, ripping DVDs to media files can save your room space. This article points out the tips you should consider, and lists the top 5 free DVD ripper for Mac, together with the best alternative to free ones.
Best DVD Ripper for Mac (Support DRM-ed DVD)
HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder. Free DVD to MP4 Converter - Rip and Convert DVD to MP4 with High Quality. CloneDVD Studio Free DVD to MP4 Ripper is a 100% free yet professional DVD to MP4 ripping software that helps you rip and convert DVD movies to MP4 video format with high speed and splendid video/audio quality for playback on MP4 players and popular mobile devices such as iPad2/3/Mini, iPod, iPhone4/4s/5, Apple TV.
Use Cisdem Video Converter- the powerful DVD ripping software for Mac to:
- Rip movie DVD to MP4/HD MP4/HEVC MP4, MOV, AVI MKV, M4V, etc.
- Extract audio from DVD to MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, etc.
- Convert DVDs to optimized presets for iPhone, iPad, HUAWEI, MI, PS4, etc.
- Rip DVD/DVD folder/ISO to digital formats
- Remove DVD copy protection like Region Code, CSS, etc.
- Convert video & audio files between 300+ digital formats
- Download videos from 1000+ websites, YouTube.com included
- Edit (trim, crop, apply effects, etc.) and merge DVD videos
- Advanced settings to change the output file codec, quality, bitrate, etc.
- Preview DVD movies via built-in video player
- 30X faster speed
- >> 4 Tips to Choose the Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac
- >> Top 5 Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac
- >> Where Free DVD Ripping Software for Mac Fall Short?
- >> Perfect Alternative- The Robust yet Simple DVD Ripper for Mac
4 Tips to Choose the Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac
There is a vast variety of free DVD ripper software on the market. Each of them has a common advantage, which is to help you rip DVD for free. But it's not enough, and more aspects you should take into consideration while choosing a free DVD ripper for Mac. I've sorted out several tips below for your reference.
1. DVD Ripping Speed - DVD videos are usually in large sizes and need to spend some time to convert. Using a super-fast free Mac DVD ripper will save you a lot of time.
2. The Output Quality - To enjoy the high-definition video is of great pleasure. Or else, not only your eyes may get hurt, but also the annoying jumpy and mosaics will also bother you.
3. Supported Format - The output format compatible with your digital player device is another point you should take in. The more output options, the better the DVD ripper.
4. Additional Customization Features- It will be the icing on the cake if a free DVD ripper lets you configure the output parameters and edit DVD videos before ripping them out.
Top 5 Best Free DVD Rippers for Mac
#1 HandBrake
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.11 or later
HandBrake is an open-source video transcoder. It's the most welcomed free DVD ripper for Mac and Windows. The app was produced by Eric Petit and originally designed for ripping movies from DVD.
Today, Handbrake allows you to rip non-protected DVDs, Blu-ray to MP4, MKV, and universal device presets like iPhone, iPod, Apple TV (2/3), Android Tablet, etc. But this free Mac DVD ripper can only output MP4 or MKV video files. If you wish to make the ripped video compatible with other formats such as AVI, MOV, MPEG, MP3, etc., HandBrake can't help.
Its ripping speed depends on the files upload. For a small file, it won’t take too long. For a large one, it maybe takes a long time. The final quality is not bad. If you are not hurrying to get your converted video, you could take it.
#2 MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.6 or above
MacX offers a free DVD ripper for Mac users. The free version can rip DVD movies to MP4, MOV, M4V, MP3, AAC, AC3, Apple TV, and iTunes.
But Compares with its paid version, it's unable to back up & rip the latest copy-protected DVDs for free, and rip DVDs for some hot devices, like iPad Pro, iPhone (11/Pro/Max), Android, Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC, PS4, etc.
If you can bear the limited output formats and unsatisfying speed, this Mac DVD ripper free is a decent option. Anyway, it can meet your basic DVD ripping necessary.
Note: MacX seems to have given up upgrading and promoting DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition. The download link on its official website has been replaced by MacX DVD Ripper Pro (the paid program). To download the free version, you are able to find it on some app download sites like softonic.com, download3k.com, etc.
#3 ffmpegX
OS Platform: OS X 10.7 to 10.14 (OS X 10.3 to 10.7 version available on official site)
ffmpegX is an open resource free DVD ripper for Mac. It was first to run on Linux, and later it can be compiled under most operating systems, including Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, AmigaOS.
ffmpegX is a very experimental and developer-driven project. It supports the most popular formats except HD video. Based on the customers' review, its output quality is not too bad. The components mpeg2enc (mpeg-2 encoder and multiplexer), mencorder (mpeg-4 encoder with subtitles support), myplayer are not distributed with ffmpegX and must be self-installed.
This free DVD ripping software for Mac has not been updated for over 10 years. When you start encoding, it's prone to failure. Meanwhile, ffmpegX doesn't recognize a DVD disk device, just a DVD folder & VOB file, and can't remove any DVD decryption.
#4 MacTheRipper
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher
MTR (named MacTheRipper) is the Mac’s oldest and smartest DVD - backup application, now greater than ever. The speed of the MTR is ok. It merely takes a few minutes to rip a small DVD.
However, this free DVD ripper for Mac is unstable, especially on Sierra, High Sierra version, and later versions. It may be crashing, shut down by itself, or failure to launch. And the output quality will not as good as you think.
Note: MacTheRipper is no longer free currently. For example version 5.0.0.5 is a paid upgrade. Licensed owners of version 4.3 who donated within the last 365 days can upgrade for free. But for those who donated more than 365 days ago should upgrade for $10. The last free version is MacTheRipper 2.6.6, which only supports Mac OS X 10.6 Leopard or older.
#5 VLC
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.7.5 or above
VLC, coming from a non-profit organization composed of volunteers, is dedicated to the development and promotion of open-source multimedia solutions. It can also run on Windows, Android, and Ubuntu. The initial function of this free DVD ripper for Mac is to play media files in various formats and resolutions. Through improvements, VLC began to support audio and video transcoding to help you convert videos and DVDs.
However, VLC free Mac DVD ripper can't process multiple videos, DVD folders, or ISO images in batches and won’t defeat any kind of DRM. And you have to accept the fact that the video ripped by VLC will cause quality degradation.
Note: If you agree with its concept and its effort in developing VLC, don't forget to donate $5.00 on its page.
Where Free DVD Ripping Software for Mac Fall Short?
From the above introductions, we can judge that the free DVD ripper for Mac has obvious shortcomings, for example:
- Can't retain high-quality output
- The speed is not always fast
- Limited output formats and profiles
- No further video editing feature
- Can't rip DRM encrypted DVDs, like Handbrake and VLC
- Stop update, like MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition
- Not free in the new versions, such as MacTheRipper
- Difficult for the novice, such as FFmpeg
It seems that no free Mac DVD ripper meets the criteria mentioned in part 1, but paid one does. Therefore, you are better off using the commercial and effective DVD ripper instead.
Perfect Alternative- The Robust yet Simple DVD Ripper for Mac
Cisdem Video Converter is the best alternative to the free DVD ripper Mac. It's a highly interactive program that delivers lossless ripping of media content at an ultra-fast speed and obtains high-quality possible results. It provides a free trial version for you to test its performance before purchasing. The trial version can rip the first 5 minutes of the DVD. If your DVD video is less than 5 minutes, it will convert half of the content.
Best DVD Ripper for Mac
- Rip general or copyrighted DVD to mainstream video/audio formats
- Rip movie or music DVD to ready-made presets for all popular devices
- Adjust the frame rate, resolution, bit rate, etc. of DVD video
- Edit DVD video with trimming, cropping, subtitles, watermarks, and more
- Convert digital video from one format to another
- Download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and other 1000+ sites
- Rip DVDs, convert & download videos in batches
- Crisp and easy-to-use interface
- Available on OS X 10.10 or higher, including macOS Big Sur
How to Rip DVD via the Best Alternative to Free DVD Ripper for Mac:
Step 1. Launch Cisdem Video Converter
After installation, run the software. You will see 3 tabs for different functions. The second tab is for DVD ripping.
Step 2. Import DVD videos
Insert your DVD into the Mac slot. Its icon will appear in the sidebar of the Finder app. Then you have two ways to add the DVD disc:
- Straightly drag the DVD or VIDEO-TS folder to the interface of Cisdem Mac DVD ripper.
- Navigate to 'File' > 'Add DVD' in the menu bar to import your DVD content.
Step 3. Configure output profiles
Click the format icon to open the output file panel. All the output formats have been already divided into various categories. For example, if you desire to play the DVD movie on your iPhone, you can go to 'Apple Device' > 'iPhone', and choose your phone model. Or select the universal format- MP4, just head over to 'General Video' > 'MP4 Video'.
For getting better video/audio quality, click icon to open a window, and tweak the output parameter settings.
Step 4. Choose titles and languages
A DVD movie may contain multiple titles, audio languages, and subtitle languages. You can manually choose what you want.
Step 5. Rip DVD to digital files
Hit button at the lower right corner to begin ripping your DVD to MP4, Apple TV, or other formats.
Pro tip: edit your DVD videos
Click button to find your ripped videos. Drag-n-drop them to the “convert” interface.
Click button, and you'll able to edit the DVD movies by rotating, adding 3D effects, and external subtitles & audio.
Bottom line
These are the 5 free DVD rippers for Mac and alternative. If you only want to rip DVD to a common-used format without editing feature, I recommend Handbrake, MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition, and VLC for beginners. For users who are using OS X 10.6 or lower, MacTheRipper 2.6.6 and ffmpegX are nice options. To make everything easy and efficient, an all-in-one DVD ripping software for Mac like Cisdem Video Converter is the best choice, which can rip copy-protected DVDs as well.
Are you a DVD lover? If you store lots of DVDs, it will take you too much room. DVD discs will be scratched and damaged inevitably if they are not placed well enough. And one of the resolutions to fix the problem is ripping DVD to MP4 that can be fully compatible with virtually all devices. So how do you rip DVD to video formats? In this article, we offer 10 free solutions for you to rip DVD to MP4, and you can choose whichever solution you like.
Method 1: Rip DVD to MP4 with the best Free DVD Ripper
Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper is totally free and quite easy to use free DVD ripping software. It has the ability to rip any DVD disc/folder/IFO files to popular videos like MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, M4V, WMV, FLV, MPEG, and more. With this Free DVD Ripper tool , you can adjust display effect by changing brightness, contrast, saturation and hue. Enable watermark by adding text or picture. After converting, you can enjoy your ripped DVD videos free on digital device like iPhone 12 Pro Max/12 Pro/12/12 mini/11/X/XS/XR/8/7/7 plus/6s/6s plus/6/6 plus/SE/5s/5/4s, iPad Pro/mini 4/Air, iPod, Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei and other digital devices.
Download and Launch the program
Firstly, insert DVD disc to the DVD drive, download and install the program, and then launch the program. Click 'Load Disc' button to load the DVD disc or folder you want to rip to the main interface.
Edit DVD with multiple editing features
Click 'Profile' drop-down list to select MP4 output format. Click 'Edit' button to open Edit window, you can crop video frame, adjust video effect like video brightness, saturation, hue and contrast, and add text/image watermark to video.
Start to convert DVD to video
The last step you need to do is clicking the 'Convert' button to rip DVD to your selected video format. The ripping process will be completed within a few minutes.
Method 2: How to rip DVD to MP4 with HandBrake
First of all, the software we recommend is HandBrake. It is a famous DVD-to-MP4 ripper available. Although it is free of charge, HandBrake has lots of features for you to rip DVD to MP4. Here are the steps.
Step 1. Download HandBrake for free and install it. Then launch this program on your personal computer.
Step 2. When HandBrake's friendly interface shows up, click the 'Source' button on the top left corner and choose the DVD you want to rip to MP4.
Step 3. Select a destination folder to save the converted file and then click the 'Output Settings' and choose MP4 format in the dropdown list.
Step 4. After finishing all the above settings, the final thing you need to do is simply click on the 'Start' button and the ripping process will begin.
Method 3: How to rip DVD to MP4 via VLC
The section just shares another DVD to MP4 ripper - VLC Media Player, which you may have already downloaded in your computer. VLC is free software and it is easy to operate. So it is a good choice for you to rip DVD to MP4. Here are the steps.
Step 1. If you don't have VLC, download it then and launch it on your computer. Then load the DVD you want to convert.
Step 2. Click 'Media' and click 'Convert/Save' in the dropdown list. Then the 'Open Media' window will show up, and now you should click 'Disc'.
Step 3. Check the 'DVD' box and choose the right DVD drive in the 'Disc Device' box. You can also tweak other settings here. Next, click on the 'Convert/Save' button.
Step 4. Choose a type of codec and container you want to use or just keep the default. Then click 'Browse' to make a name which end up with .MP4 and choose the destination for your file.
Step 5. Finally, click on the 'Start' button to start ripping DVD to MP4. When the ripping process is completed, click 'Stop' to finish it.
Method 4: How to rip DVD to MP4 with WinX DVD Ripper
VLC is a good DVD ripper when you care little about the video quality. But if you want a high quality video and more functions in software, WinX DVD Ripper is a good option for you. Let's see how to rip DVD to MP4 by WinX DVD Ripper.
Step 1. Download and install WinX DVD Ripper for free and launch this program on your personal computer.
Step 2. When you see the interface of WinX DVD Ripper, click 'DVD Disc' icon and select the DVD you want to rip to MP4.Then click 'OK'.
Step 3. After a while, the main DVD title will be checked automatically and the Output Profile window will appear, too. Choose 'MP4 Video' under 'General Profiles' category.
Step 4. Click 'Browse' at the bottom to choose the destination folder for your converted video and finally click 'Run' to rip DVD to MP4.
Method 5: How to rip DVD to MP4 via Freemake Video Converter
Here is another software to rip DVD to MP4, which is called Freemake Video Converter. Freemake Video Converter is all-in-one video converter software. It is also free and simple to use. Here are the specific steps.
Step 1. First you need to download Freemake Video Converter that is completely free. And then launch this video converter on your computer.
Step 2. At the interface of Freemake Video Converter, click '+DVD' to choose the DVD disc you want and tick these DVD titles that you want to rip to MP4.
Step 3. In the video lines, you can change the audio track and subtitles of your video. What's more, you can also embed subtitles you have downloaded to your video.
Step 4. Select MP4 as the format of your ripped video and then choose the DVD quality under 'Preset'. At last, click 'Convert' to rip DVD to MP4.
Method 6: How to rip DVD to MP4 with Free DVD Video Converter
Another software to rip DVD to MP4 is Free DVD Video Converter. Free DVD Video Converter is a free program without spyware or adware, so it is safe enough to download and use. Next are the steps to rip DVD to MP4 by Free DVD Video Converter.
Step 1. Free download Free DVD Video Converter and install and open it. Click the first 'Browse' button on the interface to choose the targeted DVD drive or folder.
Step 2. Click 'Choose' button to select the DVD title you want to rip and you can also set the languages and subtitles for your video here.
Step 3. Click the second 'Browse' button to choose the destination folder and then choose MP4 as the format under 'Format'.
Rip Dvd To Mp4 Mac Free
Step 4. Under 'Presets', you can specify the presets of your video. And after all these, click 'Convert' in the right corner to start ripping DVD to MP4.
Method 7: How to rip DVD to MP4 with MakeMKV
MakeMKV is a 1-click solution to convert video clips from proprietary disc into MKV files on Windows and Mac. It is a format converter, also called 'transcoder'. The output MKV format can store multiple video or audio tracks and preserve chapters. You can rip DVDs or Blu-ray discs to MP4 with the following steps.
Step 1. Open MakeMKV on your computer. As you insert the DVD disc into DVD drive, the program will automatically detect and show the DVD disc.
Step 2. Click the DVD drive icon, and the program will start scanning the DVD drive. It will take a few minutes to finish scanning titles on disc.
Step 3. Once the scanning complete, you can select the title from the drop down menu. Then, choose the output folder where the MKV file will be saved.
Step 4. After all is set, click 'Make MKV' button to start converting DVD to MKV file.
Method 8: How to rip DVD to MP4 with MediaCoder
MediaCoder is a universal media transcoding program for Windows and Mac. More than a video/audio transcoder, it is a DVD Ripper that supports ripping DVD to common video or audio formats. Follow the steps below to extract MP4 from DVD.
Step 1. Get MediaCoder from its official website. Insert the DVD disc into DVD drive and run MediaCoder on your computer. Select 'Add Track' option from 'File' menu.
Step 2. Select DVD as the Track Type. Click the three-dots button to browse VIDEO_TS folder under the DVD drive. Select the tracks and chapters you want to convert. After that, click Add button to import the DVD to program.
Step 3. Click Video tab on the buttom of the program. You can select the video bitrate, format, rate mode, and more. Then, you can choose the output folder on the top right corner. After all settings done, click START to begin changing DVD into MP4 format.
Method 9: How to rip DVD to MP4 with WonderFox Free DVD Ripper
WonderFox Free DVD Ripper is a professional DVD ripper that can convert your DVD disc/ISO image file or folder to video for free. It is simple to use with a clean and intuitive user interface. It offers flexible options to edit, trim, crop videos, add effects and subtitles.
Step 1. Run Wonderfox Free DVD Ripper on your Windows computer or Mac. Insert the DVD disc to the DVD drive. Click the main interface to load the DVD disc into the program.
Step 2. You can adjust the video settings for different devices. Then, select the output folder where the MP4 file will be saved. Click 'Start' to begining the conversion.
Method 10: How to rip DVD to MP4 with FreeStar Free DVD Ripper
FreeStar Free DVD Ripper is a fast DVD ripper that can rip DVD to MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVI, VCD, SVCD, DivX, and XviD formats on Windows and Mac. You can easily backup DVD movies to MP4 files and extract soundtracks from DVDs.
Step 1. Download, install and run FreeStar Free DVD Ripper on your computer. Click 'OpenDVD' tab to start loading DVD disc to the program.
Step 2. Click 'General Option' on the buttom of the program and select the output file format as MP4 and destination. If you want to adjust video or audio settings, you can click 'Advanced Option' button.
Step 3. After all settings done, click 'Rip' button to start extracting MP4 file from your DVD disc.
Method 11: How to Convert DVD to MP4 with DVD Decrypter
Free Dvd To Mp4 Converter
Another great software for converting DVD to MP4 is DVD Decrypter. You can use it for Mac or Windows to rip any DVD to MP4, MKV, AVI, MP3, and more in high definition (HD). The software is powerful when ripping and converting the DVDs.
Step 1. Download and install DVD Decrypter on your computer. After installation, launch it. Then, insert the DVD that you want to rip to your Mac and make sure that you have enough free disk space.
Step 2. When you open the program, select the right DVD drive from the “Source” field. Under “Destination”, choose the destination where you want to store the ripped file by clicking the folder icon.
Step 3. Choose “IFO” under the “Mode” tab.
Step 4. In the end, click the “DVD to Hard Drive” button to start the DVD to MP4 ripping process. When the ripping is completed, you will get a VOB file.
Method 12: How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with MacX DVD Ripper
MacX DVD Ripper is another powerful DVD to MP4 ripper. It is able to rip DVDs to all popular video formats, including MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV, etc.
Step 1. Launch the program and then insert your DVD.
Step 2. Then, select MP4 as the output format from “General Profiles”.
Step 3. Choose the destination folder for saving the converted file by clicking the “Browse”.
Step 4. Click the RUN button for DVD to MP4 ripping.
Method 13: How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with Any DVD Converter
Any DVD Converter is another popular tool that helps you rip the DVD on Mac. It offers free version to let you convert DVD to MP4. Here’s how to do:
Step 1. After the installation of the program, insert the DVD you’d like to rip and then run the program.
Step 2. Click “Add File(s)” and select the DVD for conversion.
Step 3. Open the “Profile” drop-down list and choose the preferred output format.
Step 4. Then, choose the destination from “Output Location”. In the end, click “Convert Now” to start the conversion.
Method 14: How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with Xilisoft DVD Ripper
Xilisoft DVD Ripper offers a free version for Mac users to rip DVD to MP4, MOV, M4V, etc. It also allows you to edit videos, like cropping, adjusting effects, clipping, rotating, and more. You can follow the steps below to rip DVDs to MP4.
Step 1. Open the DVD ripper on your computer. Then, hit “Add File(s)” to load your DVD
Step 2. Select MP4 as the output format from the drop-down list by clicking the “Profile” button.
Step 3. After selecting the output format, click “Rip Checked Item(s)” button on the toolbar to complete the task.
More: Rip DVD to MP4 with AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate
After seeing the above top 10 solutions about how to rip DVD to MP4, you may be confused about which one you should choose. As a matter of fact, there is the best way to help you successfully rip DVD to MP4, and that is by using AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate. This is the most comprehensive converter available and with it, you can easily rip your DVD to MP4. Now let's see how it works.
Step 1. First of all, free download Video Converter Ultimate and install and launch this program on your computer.
Step 2. In the clear interface, click the 'Add File' button in order to choose the DVD disc you would like to rip.
Step 3. Check the videos and click 'Edit' button, then you come to the edit window. Here, you can adjust the effect of your video and customize it as you like.
Step 4. Click 'Profile' to choose MP4 as the format for your converted video. Then click 'Browse' and choose an output folder to save the file.
Step 5. At last, when you have finished all the settings, simply click 'Convert' and AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate will rip DVD to MP4 for you.
FAQs of Ripping DVD to MP4
1. Should I rip standard DVD to MP4 at 1080p?
What resolution you should use will depend on your DVD. Remember though that video DVDs offer a maximum resolution of 720 × 576. There’s no conversion that will provide you with a 1080p video from a DVD. Just go with the native resolution and don't scale the video. It will hurt your quality, because you're re-encoding an already-encoded video when you're ripping it.
2. Can iTunes convert DVD to MP4?
No. While iTunes does not have an import DVD option, you can use DVD ripper to rip a DVD to the iTunes supported format, like MP4, AVI, and more.
3. Can Nero convert DVD to MP4?
Yes. Nero is a popular software suite of DVD authoring tools. While most of the Nero applications are devoted to publishing media onto DVD, Nero Recode was developed to extract media from DVDs. The program can read discs and digitally encode them into video.
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