How to Rip Blu-ray Discs : Top 8 Blu-ray Rippers for Windows & Mac
Summary: In this article, we will guide you through how to rip Blu-ray using the best free Blu-ray ripper available in the market. Not only will this help preserve your beloved Blu-ray movies and shows, but it also offers increased accessibility and convenience in viewing them.
Table of Contents
Are you struggling with DRM restrictions or finding it hard to rip Blu-ray discs into digital formats? With the right tools, you can easily convert Blu-rays to MP4, MKV, or AVI, enabling playback on any device without limitations.
Grand View Research published a study on the evolution of home entertainment and the growing shift toward cloud-based and digital video storage solutions. It highlights that with increasing consumer demand for on-the-go and multi-device compatibility, fewer people are relying on physical Blu-ray discs.
This is where Blu-ray ripper comes into play. Now let's check out some of the best free Blu-ray Rippers currently available, guiding you through their features and instructions on how to rip a Blu-ray and bypass copy protection effectively.
How to Rip Blu-ray with the Best Blu-ray Ripping Software
1. Rip Blu-ray Discs with DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper
Trustpilot users once commented that DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper offers a comprehensive, user-friendly solution for converting Blu-ray discs into digital files. They praised that ripping software is versatile, fast, and produces high-quality results, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to enjoy Blu-ray content on a range of devices.
Steps for Ripping Blu-ray with Best Blu-ray Ripper
You can Watch the video or follow the detailed guidline:
Step 1: Download the free blu-ray ripper on your Windows or Mac and run it. Once it's done, choose the "Ripper" module and navigate to the source file by clicking the "Add" button or simply dragging it into the main page.
Step 2: Select your desired profile by clicking the "Choose Other Profile" button. Then choose which titles, audio track, and subtitle you want to save.
💡Take "MP4" as an example. When using DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper, the multiple MP4 output options are tailored for specific use cases, devices, or quality preferences. Here's a breakdown of each MP4 option and its purpose.
Output Option
|
Best For
|
Key Feature
|
MP4
|
General-purpose playback
|
Balanced quality and compatibility
|
MP4 ProRes
|
Professional video editing
|
High-quality Apple ProRes codec
|
MP4 H.265 HEVC
|
Efficient storage | Smaller file size with same visual quality |
MP4 Mobile
|
Smartphones and tablets
|
Smaller file size, optimized for mobile
|
MP4 Theater
|
Home theaters or large displays
|
High bitrate and enhanced resolution
|
Then click the "Advanced Settings" and the built-in 'Video Editor' to customize the output video. The former helps you to set the video, audio and subtitle parameters, and the latter option enables you to crop, trim, speed up/down, zoom in/out, adjust the video properties like contrast, brightness, saturation, etc.
Step 3: Finally, click the "Start" button to start the ripping. It will take a few minutes once it's done. Besides, this free Blu-ray ripper supports multi-tasks mode, and let you rip audio from blu-ray.
2. Rip Blu-ray with DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper
DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper is a straightforward tool for converting Blu-ray discs into widely supported digital formats like MP4, MKV, and AVI. It supports key DRM protections such as AACS and BD+, and offers hardware acceleration for faster processing. While it doesn't provide lossless conversion, DumboFab has useful features like batch ripping and basic video editing.
👍Main Features:
- Preserves high video and audio quality, though not lossless.
- Supports AACS, BD+, and region codes for some commercial Blu-rays.
- Offers 13 device profiles and 12 audio presets for easier format selection.
- Utilizes NVIDIA CUDA and AMD for faster processing.
- Built-in video preview to check content before ripping.
- Includes basic editing tools like trimming and cropping.
👎Cons:
- Lacks disc auto-detection and drag-and-drop importing.
- Doesn’t support adding or exporting subtitles, including external subtitle files.
- Limited advanced editing features compared to top-tier rippers.
Step-by-Step guide to ripping Blu-ray using DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper
Step 1: Download and install the latest version 7.3.0 from www.dumbofab.com. Once installed, launch the software to begin.
Step 2: Insert and Load Your Blu-ray
Then, in DumboFab, click the disc icon on the main interface to import the Blu-ray content. You can also load Blu-ray folders or ISO files.
Step 3: Choose Output Format and Adjust Settings
Click on the "Format" bar to select an output format such as MP4, MKV, or AVI. You can fine-tune settings like resolution, bitrate, and audio track using the Settings panel.
- Format: MKV (H.265)
- Resolution: 1080p (1920x1080)
- Bitrate: 15,000 kbps
- Audio: AAC, 384 kbps, 5.1 channels
- Subtitles: SRT (separate track)
- Hardware Acceleration: NVIDIA CUDA (enabled)
Step 4: Edit and Preview
To make basic edits, click the "Edit" option at the top menu or the pencil icon next to the title. You can trim or crop the video. And a preview window lets you see the changes in real time.
Step 5: Start Ripping
Once you're ready, click the Start button and a progress window will appear, showing you the real-time status and estimated time remaining.
3. Rip Blu-ray Using Blu-ray Master
Designed to manage Blu-ray discs, Blu-ray Master is a comprehensive software suite. Blu-ray Master's Free Blu-ray Ripper, which lets users rip Blu-ray discs and convert them into several digital formats for simpler storage and playback on multiple platforms, is one of its primary features.
💻Working System: Windows 11/10/8/7 & macOS 10.12 or above
👍Main Features:
- Supports more than 500 output formats, such as WMV, AVI, MKV, etc
- Manage the conversion of any kind of 2D/3D Blu-ray disc, including BD-5/9, BD-25/50
- Allows adjustment of audio tracks and addition of external SRT, SSA, ASS subtitles
- Use the built-in video editor to trim Blu-ray titles, add filters and adjust brightness, etc
👎Cons:
- The free version does not support encrypted Blu-ray discs
- Need to pay for outputting lossless ripping quality
How to Rip a Blu-ray with Free Blu-ray Ripper
Step 1: After installed, start the Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Ripper application. Then click on the Load Blu-ray to import Blu-ray disc, ISO or folder.
Step 2: Choose your preferred output format by clicking the Profile drop-down menu.
You can also adjust settings such as resolution, bitrate, frame rate, and audio options according to your needs.
Step 3: Click "Edit" button to customize your Blu-ray
Step 4: To begin the Blu-ray ripping process, select Output Destination and press the "Rip All" button.
How to Rip Blu-ray with Free Blu-ray Ripper Software
If you are looking for powerful and feature-rich ripping software, the paid options mentioned above offer excellent performance, advanced decryption, and high-quality output. However, if you prefer a free solution without additional cost, there are also several reliable options available.
1. Rip a Blu-ray with DVDFab HD Decrypter
DVDFab HD Decrypter is a free tool that can effortlessly rip your Blu-ray discs, ISO files, or folders to MKV and MP4 formats, even copy-protected Blu-rays. As a free version of DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper, this versatile software also doubles as a handy DVD/Blu-ray disc copier. Whether you want to make copies of your valuable DVD/Blu-ray collection or rip discs for digital use, this free Blu-ray Ripper has got you covered.
💻Working System: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and macOS 10.10 - 15.x
👍Main Features:
- Freely decrypt DVD/Blu-ray discs released one year ago.
- Rip Blu-ray or DVD disc, ISO, folders to MKV & MP4 formats.
- Copy DVD/Blu-ray to DVD-9/BD-50 disc, ISO file, or Folder.
- Support multitasking mode for DVD/Blu-ray .
- Auto-synchronize all the original metadata information.
- Built-in Video Editor can crop, trim, brighten, add watermarks and external subtitles to, speed up/down, zoom in/out a video.
👎Cons:
- Unable to process newly released Blu-ray disc.
How to Rip Blu-ray with this Free Blu-ray Ripper
Step 1: Download and launch DVDFab software
Open DVDFab 13 and choose the Ripper option. Insert your Blu-ray into the optical drive, or navigate to it through the Add button. If the source is an ISO or a folder, you can simply drag and drop the file onto the main page.
Step 2: Select a format and customize the video
To select an output format, click "Choose Other Profile". Then choose which titles, audio tracks, and subtitles you want to preserve. To personalize the output video, go to "Advanced Settings" and use the built-in "Video Editor".
Step 3: Start ripping Blu-ray discs
At the bottom of the main interface, click the folder icon to select the destination folder. When you press the Start button, DVDFab will immediately begin ripping Blu-ray disc and display full progress information.
2. Rip a Blu-ray For Free with MakeMKV
Makemkv (beta) is entirely open-source and free Blu-ray ripper that can convert Blu-ray or DVD discs to versatile MKV format. It decrypts and transcodes without affecting the original content and quality, preserving all meta-information, movie subtitles and chapters. With MakeMKV, you can watch your favorite Blu-ray videos on your preferred platforms effortlessly.
There were multiple days in June when the website simply wouldn't load no matter how many times I tried. Things didn't really improve in August either—the beta key, which is needed to keep using the free version, wasn't updated on time. This left a lot of users, including myself, unable to use the software as usual. To make matters worse, some people on the forums even reported that after purchasing a license, they never received their registration key. If you're experiencing similar problems or just want to keep up with the latest updates and emergency solutions, you can always check the MakeMKV Beta Key page for more information.
💻Working System: Windows XP or later, x86 or x64; Mac x64 or ARM64 Mac OS X 10.7 or later; Linux
👍Main Features:
- Support DVD and Blu-ray discs, including AACS and BD+ protected ones.
- Rip DVD discs and Blu-ray to MKV format.
- Maintain all meta-information such as track language and audio type.
- Keep chapter information intact.
- Offer fast conversion, limited only by your drive's reading speed.
👎Cons:
- Unable to read all copy-protected Blu-ray disc.
- No video editing options.
- The output file is too large because of its lossless Blu-ray ripping.
- Certain versions may crash while operating.
How to Rip Blu-ray with this Free Blu-ray Ripping Software
Step 1: Download this free Blu-ray Ripper from https://www.makemkv.com/. Launch MakeMKV, let it scan your computer for optical drives and recognize the Blu-ray disc inside. Then, click the Blu-ray button to open the disc for ripping.
Step 2: After scanning, select from a list of 'titles' on the disc. Look for one that matches the length and chapter count of the movie you want to rip, deselecting others. You may adjust audio and subtitle tracks if necessary.
Step 3: Choose a destination folder in which to save your output video by clicking on the folder icon in the right-hand pane, then click "Make MKV". Wait for completion - this may take some time depending on movie size and player speed.
3. Rip a Blu-ray with HandBrake
HandBrake is also an open source and free Blu-ray ripper that can convert Blu-ray to MP4, MKV, WebM formats. It supports a wide range of multimedia formats, including DVD and Blu-ray movies with no encryption. This program provides advanced video and audio settings, presets for optimal output quality, and batch conversion capabilities. HandBrake makes it easy to prepare films for playback on various devices such as iPhone, iPod, and many more.
💻Working System: Windows 10 and later & macOS 10.13 and later & Linux
👍Main Features:
- Rip Blu-ray/DVD discs without copy protections.
- Support MP4, MKV, WebM as output profile.
- Select title, chapter, subtitles and range.
- Supports batch scanning of multiple Blu-ray files.
- Provide a variety of video filters such as deinterlacing, denoise, detelecine, deblock, grayscale, colourspace along with cropping and scaling capabilities.
👎Cons:
- This free tool cannot decrypt Blu-ray discs.
- It is complicated to use for basic users.
- Only support to preview the first four minutes of video.
How to Rip Blu-ray with this Open Source Blu-ray Ripper
Step 1: Download this free Blu-ray Ripper from https://handbrake.fr/. Insert your non-protected Blu-ray disc and launch HandBrake. Choose your BD drive in Source Selection to load the disc. Once scanning is complete, select your desired title under the Title section.
Step 2: Under the Summary tab, choose MP4, MKV or WebM as your output video format. Then customize your video by selecting video resolution or adding subtitles, and so on. Select a preset on the right side that fits your needs.
There is a "Web Optimized" item in the HandBrake Setting:
The Web Optimized option in HandBrake is a useful feature for preparing videos for streaming or hosting on the web. When enabled, it ensures that the output file is structured in a way that allows for efficient streaming and playback, even before the entire file is downloaded.
💡Settings for Web-optimized videos:
By enabling Web Optimized and following these settings, you can create videos that are well-suited for streaming and web playback, ensuring a smooth and fast user experience.
Items | Recommended Value |
Format | MP4 |
Video Codec | H.264 (x264) |
Constant Quality (RF) | 20 |
Resolution | 1920x1080 (or 1280x720 for smaller file sizes) |
Frame Rate | "Same as Source" |
Audio Codec | AAC at 160 kbps |
Encoder Preset |
Medium
|
Web Optimized |
Enabled
|
Step 3: Click on Browse at the bottom to specify a destination folder for saving ripped files. Finally hit Start Encode button at top of Handbrake interface to begin conversion process.
4. Rip Blu-ray with Freemake Video Converter
Freemake is a free video converter, but can also serve as a free Blu-ray ripper. It can rip Blu-ray videos (M2TS files) into many digital formats for playback on TV, mobile devices, or media servers. Once the output is selected, it will reduce the size of the file so you can view it on a mobile phone as well. Besides ripping, you can edit videos and photos as well.
💻Working System: Windows 11, 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Vista
👍Main Features:
- Rip Blu-rays and region-coded DVD discs and folder.
- Support multiple output formats, such as MP4, MKV, AVI.
- Customize videos by cutting, cropping, or adjusting output size.
- Add subtitles to videos in SRT, ASS, SSA file formats.
👎Cons:
- The output video is watermarked.
- Some advanced features require payment.
- Does not support copying Blu-ray disc.
How to Rip a Blu-ray Using Freemake Video Converter
Step 1: Download the Freemake Video Converter from https://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/ and insert your Blu-ray disc into the drive.
Step 2: Launch the program, click on the DVD button in the menu bar, select your drive, then let the software to load your Blu-ray folder.
Step 3: Choose a output format from profile list at bottom of screen. You can adjust quality settings or crop and cut videos as needed. Once you're satisfied with settings, click 'Convert' to start conversion process.
💡If you want to upload your output video into YouTube, you don't need an extra step. Just select the "to YouTube" button to convert your Blu-ray.
5. Rip Blu-ray For Free with VLC Media Player
VLC is well-known as an open-source media player that also offers basic disc conversion functionality. It can convert Blu-ray to MP4 or other formats for free, making it a popular choice for users who don't want to invest in paid software.
However, by default, VLC cannot extract content from copyright-protected Blu-ray discs. To play or rip protected content, users must manually install additional files, such as the libbdplus library, which can be a complex process for beginners.
💻Working System: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
👍Main Features:
- It's completely free to use, with no ads, trial limits, or feature restrictions
- Supports basic media file conversion, including DVDs and unencrypted Blu-rays
- Offers audio/video filters, playback speed adjustment, screenshot capture, and video effects
👎Cons:
- Lacks advanced customization options
- Lower conversion quality than dedicated software
- Can be overwhelming for non-technical users
How to Rip a Blu-ray to MP4 Using VLC
Step 1: Download, install, and launch the most recent version of VLC for your Windows or Mac from videolan.org. If your PC is 64-bit, you must download the VLC Windows 64-bit version.
Step 2: After that, visit https://vlc-bluray.whoknowsmy.name/ and download the files based on your computer's operating system.
- Download the keydb.cfg file and save it to C:\ProgramData\aacs\ (Windows) or ~/Library/Preferences/aacs/ (macOS). If the AACS directory does not already exist, create it.
- Download the libaacs DLL file and place it in the VLC directory (Windows) or /usr/local/lib/ (macOS).
Step 3: Insert your Blu-ray disc and launch VLC. Navigate to "Media > Open Disc." In the new window, select "Blu-ray," and then click "Play" to ensure that VLC can access the Blu-ray disc properly.
Step 5: In the "Convert" window, select "H.264+MP3 (MP4)" from the "Profile" list, then click "Browse" to specify a save location and filename. And finally click "Start" to begin the Blu-ray to MP4 conversion process in VLC.
Step 6: You may track your progress using the progress bar located at the bottom.
Top Blu-ray Rippers Compared: Features and Speed
We took several features into account, referred to ratings from authoritative websites, and conducted several tests to find the best tool. By viewing this table, you can quickly get to know the pros of each Blu-ray ripping software so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Tool | DVDFab | DumboFab | Blu-ray Master | VLC | MakeMKV | HandBrake | Freemake |
User Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 | N/A | 3.7/5 | 3.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 2.9/5 |
Supported Formats | 1000+ audio & video | 300+ | 200+ | Most popular formats | MKV | MP4, MKV and WebM | 50+ |
Blu-ray Copy Protection Removal | AACS, BD+, Cinavia, RC, BD-J, etc | AACS, BD+ (Older versions only) | Basic | Not supported by default | AACS, and BD+ | Not supported by default | No |
Batch Processing | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | YES | YES |
Hardware Acceleration | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | YES | NO |
Video Quality | Lossless or high-quality compression | Slight loss after encoding | Slight loss after encoding | Lossy | 1:1 Lossless | Adjustable | Noticeable quality loss |
💡Key Takeaways from the Comparison
Best for Full-Featured Ripping: DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper supports the widest range of protections, offers customizable outputs and advanced settings.
Best Free Solutions: MakeMKV and HandBrake are cost-free options, though they lack advanced DRM support.
For Casual Users: Blu-ray Master is suitable for beginners, quickly converting to common formats and handling basic editing tasks.
Ripping Speed Comparison: Top 4 Tools
To provide a practical benchmark for users, we tested the most popular Blu-ray Rippers using the same test environment and Blu-ray source. We focused on evaluating ripping speed, output quality, and file size in both compressed (H.264 encoding) and lossless (1:1 passthrough) modes.
Compressed Ripping (H.264 Encoding)
Tool | Time Taken | Output Size | Video/Audio Codec | Resolution | Audio Channels |
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper | 7m 45s | 3.74 GB | H.264 AAC | 1920x1080 | 5.1 |
DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper | 24m 41s | 3.54 GB | H.264 AAC | 1920x1080 | 2.0 |
HandBrake | 5h 34m 50s | 3.46 GB | H.264 AAC | 1920x800 | 2.0 |
Lossless Ripping (1:1 Passthrough)
Tool | Time Taken | Output Size | Resolution |
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper | 7m 04s | 31.4 GB | 1920x1080 |
MakeMKV | 7m 33s | 34.7 GB | 1920x1080 |
🐵Why DVDFab Ranks #1 in Performance
1. Fast Speed with Excellent Quality Retention
- DVDFab showed the fastest performance in both compression and lossless modes. It completed H.264 encoding in just 7 minutes and 45 seconds, which is 3.2 times faster than DumboFab. Even in 1:1 lossless extraction mode, DVDFab outperformed MakeMKV while generating smaller files.
2. Balanced Output
- DVDFab preserved full HD resolution and multichannel audio at a much smaller file size in both ripping modes. By contrast, HandBrake downscaled the resolution, resulting in noticeable limitations.
3. Best Use of Hardware Acceleration
- While many software claim to support GPU acceleration, they lag significantly in terms of speed. HandBrake, though powerful, does not automatically optimize for GPU in all setups.
FAQs About Ripping Blu-ray
Yes. With the right Blu-ray ripping software, you can convert Blu-ray to digital files. This is useful for watching on devices without a disc drive, or setting up a home media server with Plex or Kodi. Just keep in mind that most commercial Blu-rays use copy protection, so you’ll need a ripper that can handle DRM decryption.
Yes. DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is reliable software to deliver specialized Blu-ray ripping services. This program can rip Blu-ray discs to MP4 with the subtitles and audio tracks preserved. You can also use it to convert ISO to MP4 and other over 1000 digital video and audio output formats.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a copy protection system designed to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of digital content, including Blu-ray discs. Ripping Blu-ray discs—converting them into digital files—often involves bypassing DRM protections.
The most common Blu-ray DRM protections include:
- AACS (Advanced Access Content System) – The primary encryption system on Blu-ray discs, requiring decryption keys.
- BD+ – A self-updating DRM system that changes protection methods over time, making older decryption tools obsolete.
- Cinavia – A digital watermark embedded in the audio track to prevent playback of ripped copies on authorized Blu-ray players.
- Region Coding – Restricts discs to specific geographic locations, making them unplayable in unsupported regions.
You can use a professional Blu-ray ripper program mentioned above to rip the Blu-ray content into digital formats and then save the ripped content to your USB drive.
The most compatible video format for Plex is MP4 with H.264 codec. Therefore, if you want to rip Blu-ray discs for Plex streaming, you could convert them into this format with a Blu-ray ripper, such as DVDFab HD Decrypter and HandBrake, and add the ripped Blu-ray video to your Plex library so it can be streamed across all of your devices.
Yes, 4K Blu-ray discs can also be ripped using professional software such as DVDFab UHD Ripper. It can convert any protected Ultra HD Blu-ray to MKV/MP4/M2TS format in 15 minutes and keep HDR10/Dolby Vision effect for playback on any devices such as smart TVs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a free Blu-ray ripper for Mac and Windows to rip blu-ray to your preferred digital formats, you can try any program from the above mentioned list. The converted files can be easily played on a mobile phone include iPhone, Andriod.