How to Rip Blu-ray Discs : Top 8 Tools for Beginners and Pros
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.truehd.earc
|
Home theater with TrueHD/eARC support
|
Lossless TrueHD audio
|
MP4.apple.prores
|
Professional video editing
|
High-quality ProRes codec
|
MP4
|
General-purpose playback
|
Balanced quality and compatibility
|
MP4.mobile
|
Mobile devices
|
Smaller file size, optimized for phones
|
MP4.theater
|
Home theater or large screens
|
High bitrate and resolution
|
So for general use, pick MP4; for home theater, choose MP4.theater or MP4.truehd.earc; for mobile, use MP4.mobile; and for editing, go with MP4.apple.prores. Select based on your device and quality needs!
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 powerful and user-friendly tool designed to rip Blu-ray discs with ease and efficiency. Whether you’re looking to create digital backups or enjoy your movies on multiple devices, DumboFab offers lossless quality, fast processing speeds, and comprehensive DRM removal (including AACS and BD+). With support for various output formats (MP4, MKV, AVI, etc.) and features like batch processing, built-in editing tools, and hardware acceleration, it's a versatile choice for both beginners and professionals.
👍Main Features:
- Maintains the original Blu-ray video and audio quality.
- Supports AACS, BD+, and region codes for seamless ripping.
- Outputs to MP4, MKV, AVI, and more.
- Rips multiple discs or titles in one go.
- Utilizes NVIDIA CUDA and AMD for faster processing.
- Easy to use for beginners and professionals.
- Includes trimming, cropping, and subtitle options.
👎Cons:
- Fewer advanced editing features compared to competitors.
Step-by-Step Guide to Rip Blu-ray with DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper
Step 1: Install and Launch DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper
Download and install DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper v7.2.9 from www.dumbofab.com ; Launch the software after installation.
Step 2: Insert the Blu-ray Disc
Insert your Blu-ray disc into the drive; Click "Load Disc" in DumboFab to load the Blu-ray content.
Step 3: Choose Output Format and Settings
Select your preferred output format (e.g., MP4, MKV, AVI) from the format list; Adjust settings like video quality, resolution, and audio tracks if needed
- 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: Customize Output and start ripping
Use editing tools to trim, crop, or add subtitles to the video; Apply presets for specific devices (e.g., iPhone, Android, or TV); Click the "Start" button to begin the ripping process.
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 - 14
👍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.
However, Last year, MakeMKV download was punished for its decrypition of AACS. In the face of MakeMKV up today, you have to be cautious about the legality of MakeMKV to rip UHD or Blu-ray and DVD. So some people decide to seek MakeMKV alternative.
💻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.
A Comparison Table and Recommendation For You
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.
- DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper: Specialized for Blu-ray ripping with full DRM removal.
- DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper: Beginner-friendly tool with baisc DRM support.
- Blu-ray Master: Fast tool with hardware acceleration and editing tools.
- DVDFab HD Decrypter: Free tool for ripping old discs with limited DRM removal
- MakeMKV: Free tool with beta support for Blu-ray to MKV backup.
- HandBrake: Open-source converter with no native Blu-ray decryption support.
- Freemake Video Converter: Free tool with watermark and basic disc conversion.
- VLC: Free player with limited ripping support for unprotected Blu-rays.
💡Here is the comparison table:
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper | DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper | VLC | DVDFab HD Decrypter | MakeMKV | HandBrake | Freemake Video Converter | Blu-ray Master | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supported Formats | 1000+ audio & video | 300+ | Most popular formats | MP4 and MKV | MKV | 20+ | 50+ | 10+ |
Blu-ray Copy Protection Removal | AACS, BD+, Cinavia (requires Cinavia removal tool), RC, BD-J | AACS, BD+ (Older versions only) | Not supported by default | AACS (Only for Blu-rays released 1-year ago) | AACS, BD+ (most versions) | No | No | CSS, AACS (not reliable for newer protections) |
Batch Processing | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Video Quality |
1:1 Lossless (Offers 4K, 1080p, HEVC (H.265) encoding for high-quality compression.) |
1:1 Lossless ( Adjustable H.264/H.265 encoding for efficient high-quality output.) | No lossless mode | Only basic MP4/MKV conversion (older versions may lack HEVC support) | 1:1 Lossless | Adjustable (up to 4K) | Noticeable quality loss, especially at default settings. | Only supports basic MP4/AVI conversions, no lossless options. |
Editing Tools | Yes (trim, crop, subtitles,watermark removal, merge, Brightness adjust, external subtitles adding) | Yes (trim, crop, subtitles) | Yes (baisc) | No | Yes (trim, crop, subtitles) | Yes (trim, crop, basic effects) | Yes (trim, crop, subtitles) | Yes (trim, crop, subtitles) |
Hardware Acceleration | NVIDIA CUDA/NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, AMD | NVIDIA CUDA/NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, AMD | No | No | No | NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, AMD VCE | NVIDIA CUDA/NVENC (limited models) | No |
User Interface | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly | Intermediate-friendly | Intermediate-friendly | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
TrustPilot Rating | ⭐ 4.6/5 | ⭐ 4.1/5 | ⭐ 3.7/5 | ⭐ 4.6/5 | ⭐ 3.5/5 | ⭐ 4.3/5 | ⭐ 2.9/5 | / |
👍Recommendations Based on Needs
For Professional Use: DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper (full DRM removal, lossless quality, advanced features).
For Free and Open-Source Tools: MakeMKV (lossless ripping, no cost) or HandBrake (customizable, open-source).
FAQs About Ripping Blu-ray
If you'd rather store those high-quality Blu-ray movies on a PC and create your own in-home streaming platform through something like Kodi or Plex (or if you just want to back them up in case of future scratches), you can rip them to your computer using a simple disc-ripping program.
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.