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Imagine you're about to watch your favorite classic DVD, only to realize it's starting to show signs of wear and tear from years of use. Or maybe you want to copy your rare movie collection to your computer so you can enjoy it on the go—only you're not sure where to start or which tools are safe and reliable. With so many free DVD copy software options available in 2025, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.

In this guide, we'll cover the essential basics and share expert advice to help you pick the best software for protecting, backing up, and enjoying your DVD collection. All the tools introduced here are intended for personal use. Please ensure compliance with local copyright regulations before copying any disc content.

What You Need to Know About DVD Copying

DVD is an optical disc which is compact and used to store movies or other data. DVD movie discs can be single-layered and double-layered. The former features a 4.7 GB storage capacity which is the reason we call it DVD-5, and the latter is capable of storing between 8.5-8.7 GB from which we name it as DVD-9.

DVD Types and Forms

There are different types of DVDs. You may have heard of DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM. DVD+R/RW are formats supported by Philips, Sony, Dell, Yamaha and others while DVD-R/RW/RAM are supported by Panasonic, Toshiba, Apple, Hitachi, NEC, Pioneer, etc.

(1) DVD+R and DVD-R: they are a recordable DVD format that can record data only once and then the data will be permanently saved on the disc.

(2) DVD+RW and DVD-RW: they are a re-recordable format and the data on them can be erased and recorded for many times without damaging the discs.

(3) DVD-RAM: it is a kind of disc that can be overwritten many times but it is only supported by a small proportion of DVD drives.

(4) DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL: they are Dual Layer writeable DVD+R and DVD-R which can hold more data than those single-layered discs. All of these together with the last paragraph talk about the physical formats of DVDs.

Also, there are two digital formats of DVDs - ISO files and DVD folders, both of which can be attained by copying DVD discs. A DVD ISO file is an image file that contains all of the data found on a DVD disc. A DVD folder is a folder that contains DVD movie content and the video streams of a DVD are stored in the folder named as VIDEO_TS.

What do you need to copy DVDs

  • External or internal DVD drive for reading DVDs.
  • Hard disk space: DVD copies take up a lot of space.
  • If you want to copy to a new DVD, you need a blank disc.
  • DVD Copy Software: These programs can extract DVD contents to your computer.

Best & Free DVD Copy Software Reviews

 
In this section, we have carefully selected six of the most popular and highly rated DVD copy software options. To help you make a more informed and efficient decision, we conducted a side-by-side comparison of them from several key perspectives that matter most to users. 

Editor's Picks: Best DVD Copy Software of 2025 

🏅TOP 1: DVDFab DVD Copy

  • OS: Windows and Mac | Price: Free version + Pro
  • Why: DVDFab DVD Copy is known for its powerful decryption abilities, multiple copy modes, and user-friendly interface, making it easy to customize and backup DVD copies while maintaining stable ISO/folder/DVD output.

🏅TOP 2: MakeMKV

  • OS: Windows, Mac, Linux | Price: Free (Beta)
  • Why: MakeMKV, excels at quickly ripping DVDs to MKV format, automatically removing most copy protections and preserving quality.
Software Compatible OS Copy Ability Best For Rating From Trustpilot Copy Success Rate
DVDFab DVD Copy Windows & Mac Copy DVD to DVD/ISO/Folder Best balance of power, ease of use, and compatibility 4.6/5 100% (10/10 discs)
MakeMKV Windows, Mac, Linux Copy DVD to MKV Fast MKV ripping, minimal setup 3.3/5 70% (7/10 discs)
BurnAware Windows Copy DVD to ISO or blank disc Simple free DVD copying without watermark N/A 30% (3/10 discs)
DVD Shrink Windows Copy DVD to ISO/Folder Completely free with compression settings 3.2/5 30% (3/10 discs)
WinX DVD Copy Pro Windows Copy DVD to DVD/ISO/Folder Simple UI and guided steps 4.2/5 90% (9/10 discs)
DVD Cloner Windows & Mac Copy DVD to ISO/Folder Splitting and merging 3.2/5 50% (5/10 discs)
Testing environment: Windows 11, Pioneer external DVD drive, 10 physical DVD-9 discs (including CSS, ARccOS, APS and more).

1. DVDFab DVD Copy

DVDFab DVD Copy is powerful enough to remove all known DVD protections, including CSS, RC, RCE, APS, UOP, ARccOS, RipGuard and more. It lets you copy DVDs to an ISO file, folder, or blank DVD disc and provides users some advanced options to choose: 6 copy modes, several output sizes and 3 different output formats, etc.

Best Free DVD Copy Software DVDFab DVD Copy

DVDFab DVD Copy

  • The copying process is fast due to the latest acceleration technology
  • There are different customization options for copying files
  • The output file can be backed up on any media player
  • 6 copy modes: Full Disc, Main Movie, Customize, Split, Merge, and Clone/Burn
  • 1:1 copy DVD to blank disc or as ISO image file/folder saved on HDD
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If you are looking for a free tool, DVDFab HD Decrypter should be ranked as No.1 without any doubts. It allows you to decrypt and copy both commercial DVDs and protected Blu-rays released one year ago and all the DVDs except for the adult DVDs and those containing multiple VTS protections. It also provides two copy modes – Full Disc and Main Movie, enabling you  to specify your preferred output audio track and subtitles, choose the chapters and more. 

How to copy Encrypted DVD with DVDFab DVD Copy?

Step 1: After installing DVDFab DVD Copy, open the software and switch to the Copy module from the menu bar. Then insert your original disc to your optical drive, and the program will automatically detect and load the disc content.

How to Copy DVD via DVDFab DVD Copy

Step 2: Select Copy Mode and Output Destination

  • Choose your preferred copy mode, such as Main Movie, or Clone/Burn; advanced users can also access Customize, Split, or Merge options.
  • Configure key settings: DVD size (DVD-9 or DVD-5), volume label, and other output preferences.

how to copy encrypted dvd with dvdfab dvd copy

Step 3: Start the Copy Process

  • Select the output destination from the bottom of the interface: a blank disc, an ISO, or a DVD folder stored on your hard drive.
  • After reviewing your settings, click the "Start" button.

Best Free DVD Copy Software DVDFab DVD Copy

Our Testing Notes: DVDFab handled multiple discs smoothly, including older, region-locked titles that often fail on free tools. It also showed good compatibility with slightly scratched discs, maintaining playable output files.
 
Editor's Insights: DVDFab's biggest strength lies in its decryption engine and mode flexibility. It’s particularly reliable when working with commercial discs or larger libraries where batch stability matters. 

2. MakeMKV

🖥️Working System: Windows, Linux and Mac

Best Free DVD Copy Software: MakeMKV

MakeMKV is a popular and highly recommended free DVD copy tool known for its ease of use and reliable performance. With just a few clicks, you can use MakeMKV to rip your DVDs into MKV files, automatically removing most copy protections in the process. One of its biggest advantages is that it keeps the original video and audio quality, so you don't lose any detail in your backups. MakeMKV works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible no matter what system you use.

👍Pros of MakeMKV

  • Very easy to use, with a straightforward interface
  • Removes most DVD copy protections automatically
  • Maintains lossless video and audio quality
  • Supports multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux)
  • Output files (MKV format) are highly compatible with most modern media players

👎Cons of MakeMKV

  • Only exports to MKV format—no support for other file types or disc cloning
  • Lacks advanced editing or customization options
  • Cannot copy DVD to disc, ISO or folder
  • No compression, so file sizes can be large
Our Testing Notes: MakeMKV stands out for its fast disc scanning process, taking less time to start compared to most DVD copiers. There are few steps between loading a disc and starting ripping, which makes it efficient for bulk archiving.
 
Editor's Insights: It is perfect for digital archiving and media server setups. However, it is not an ideal choice for users requiring traditional disc backups, as it cannot preserve menus.

3. BurnAware

🖥️Working System: Windows Vista 7, 8, 10, 11

BurnAware Free is a well-regarded DVD burning and copying tool that stands out for its simplicity and reliability. Designed for users who need a straightforward way to copy DVDs or create data, video, and audio discs, BurnAware Free offers an easy-to-navigate interface that makes the burning process quick and hassle-free. It's a great option for beginners and anyone looking for basic disc copying and creation features without complicated menus or technical jargon. The software works on Windows and supports a wide range of CD, DVD, and Blu-ray formats.

👍Pros:

  • Clean and intuitive, perfect for users of all experience levels.
  • Supports not only DVD copying, but also the creation of data discs, audio CDs, and even ISO images.
  • Lightweight and can be installed quickly with minimal system resources.
  • Regularly updated to maintain compatibility with the latest disc drives and media.

👎Cons:

  • Does not remove copy protections, so you cannot use it to copy encrypted or commercial DVDs.
  • Advanced features, such as direct disc-to-disc copying and extra burning options, may only be available in the paid versions.
  • Lacks video editing, customization, or format conversion tools.
Our Testing Notes: The burning process requires minimal user input. However, when tested on encrypted discs, the software could not proceed, displaying clear error messages.
 
Editor's Insights: As it cannot handle DRM or advanced copy protection, BurnAware is better suited as an auxiliary tool for personal archiving, backups, or simple ISO file creation. 

4. DVD Shrink

🖥️Working System: Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8

DVD Shrink is a classic and widely used free tool for copying and backing up DVDs on Windows. It’s especially popular for its ability to compress large DVD movies so they can fit onto standard-sized DVD discs. With DVD Shrink, you can choose to copy the entire disc or just the main movie, and you have the option to remove unwanted extras, languages, or subtitles to save space. The program also lets you save your copies as ISO images or DVD folders on your computer for later burning.

👍Pros:

  • Completely free and easy to use, even for beginners
  • Offers compression options to fit dual-layer DVDs onto single-layer discs
  • Allows selection of specific titles, languages, and extras for customization
  • Saves output as ISO or DVD folder, ready for burning with other software like ImgBurn

👎Cons:

  • No longer updated, so it may not handle the latest copy protections on newer commercial DVDs
  • Only available for Windows
  • Does not offer direct burning; you'll need an additional tool to burn the final files to disc
  • Lacks advanced editing or conversion features
Our Testing Notes: DVD Shrink successfully backed up 3 out of 10 test discs. When compressing DVD-9 to DVD-5, the resulting file size was reduced by around 45% on average, with noticeable quality loss on large action scenes.
 
Editor's Insights: DVD Shrink still performs surprisingly well for what is essentially legacy software. It's a free solution for users dealing mostly with home recordings or early 2000s DVD collections.

5. WinX DVD Copy Pro

🖥️Working System: Windows 11/10 and lower

WinX DVD Copy Pro

WinX DVD Copy Pro is a wonderful DVD backup tool that helps users easily clone, copy, or back up their DVD collections. It offers flexible copy modes, such as full disc backup, main title extraction, and ISO creation, making it suitable for different backup needs. The software stands out for its fast performance, straightforward interface, and the ability to bypass many common DVD protections like CSS and region codes. WinX DVD Copy Pro is especially helpful for saving scratched or damaged DVDs by making exact digital copies.

👍Pros:

  • User-friendly interface that's simple for beginners
  • Supports a wide range of DVD backup options (full disc, main title, ISO, folder)
  • Handles many standard DVD copy protections
  • Fast copying speed with stable results
  • Useful for restoring and preserving old or damaged discs

👎Cons:

  • May not handle newer or advanced copy protections on the latest DVDs
  • The free version has some feature limitations (full functionality requires a paid license)
  • Only available for Windows
  • Fewer advanced editing or customization options compared to professional software
Our Testing Notes: In practice, WinX DVD Copy Pro offered stable copying on Windows. Creating ISO or VIDEO_TS folders completed in 18–25 minutes per DVD-9 on an external drive. Its sector-by-sector option handled two lightly-scratched discs without stalling.
 
Editor's Insights: Unlike MakeMKV, WinX DVD Copy preserves disc structure and menus. It doesn't match DVDFab's breadth of decryption flexibility, but for users who want reliable ISO/folder backups, WinX DVD Copy Pro is a everyday pick.

6. DVD Cloner

🖥️Working System: Windows 11/10 and lower

DVD Cloner is a powerful DVD copying tool known for its strong decryption capabilities and versatile copy options. It allows users to create exact 1:1 copies, clone main movies, split or merge discs, and burn or save backups as ISO files or DVD folders. The software is regularly updated to bypass the latest DVD copy protections, making it suitable for both old and new DVD releases. Its user-friendly interface and advanced settings cater to both beginners and power users.

👍Pros:

  • Excellent decryption ability, handles most DVD copy protections
  • Offers multiple copy modes, including full disc, main movie, split, merge, and ISO creation
  • Regular updates keep up with new disc encryptions
  • Simple and intuitive interface with advanced options for customization
  • Available for both Windows and Mac

👎Cons:

  • Advanced features are mostly only available in the paid version
  • Free version may have limitations on copy speed or functionality
  • Lacks extensive video editing tools
  • Larger file sizes when making 1:1 copies
Our Testing Notes: DVD Cloner handled most test discs smoothly, completing 1:1 disc copies or ISO creation in 35 minutes per DVD-9 on average. CPU usage peaked at around 45–55%, staying consistent across tasks.
 
Editor's Insights: DVD Cloner sits in a middle ground between power and accessibility. It lacks some of DVDFab's advanced customization but a good option for users who want professional-level backup features without an overly complex interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to copy DVDs?

For the question "Is it legal to copy DVDs", please first refer to your country's laws and then think about your purpose to make copies. In some countries it is illegal to bypass the CSS, APS or other protections on DVDs, so the behavior of copying DVD may be at risk of violating the Digital Copyright Act.

But in some countries, the law says that people have all the rights to deal with the things they purchased only you don't infringe the copy right. That defines that you can copy copy-protected DVD for personal use, but you cannot make copies of these copyrighted DVDs for distribution or any commercial use. Any actions of spreading these copyrighted contents should be illegal. 

What are the main DVD copy protections?

For homemade DVDs, you can copy as many as you can easily and freely, but that is not the case for commercial DVDs. Commercial DVDs always come with some protection schemes to protect their copyrights. Here are some of the main DVD copy protection schemes.

(1) APS

APS, short for Analog Protection System, is a DVD protection scheme designed to distort the color and brightness of the unauthorized DVD copying. The process works by adding pulses to analog video signals to negatively impact the AGC circuit of a recording device.

(2) UOP

UOP means User Operation Prohibitions. Most DVD players prohibit viewers from performing lots of actions during sections of a DVD, and display no symbol or a message. It is used mainly for copyright notices or warnings, such as an FBI warning.

(3) Cinavia

Though Cinavia is one of the major protections used on Blu-rays, it is founded on increasing commercial DVD discs. Cinavia is a protection scheme that embedded in the audio tracks of DVDs and can mute the audio tracks of an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted DVD. 

(4) RC

RC, known as Region Code, is a digital rights management technique to protect copyright and the rights and profits of rights holders. With it, movie studios can control the international distribution of a DVD release, including its content, release date, and price.DVD copy protections are more than these, you can remove them with the best DVD Copy software and copy DVDs on Windows 10/Mac easily. But before we begin, you may want to know whether it is legal to copy a commercial DVD.

How to choose a powerful DVD copy software?

A powerful DVD copy should come with a decrypter that can bypass the protections on commercial DVDs. Let's see what other factors may influence the quality of a powerful DVD copy tool.

Copy Mode: A good DVD backup software program should not only copy DVDs in 1:1 ratio without compression but also have the ability to compress DVD-10 to a smaller size.

Quality: A good DVD copy software should output exact copies which are indistinguishable from the original under 1:1 copy, and should give a copy with minimal quality loss when users choose to compress their DVDs.

Copy speed: though a DVD is not as large as a Blu-ray movie, you still need take some time to copy the nearly 5 G or 10 G contents from a disc. You won’t want to spend more than one or two hours copying a DVD disc.

Output formats: DVD-5 or DVD-9 should be the basic output formats. But if a DVD copy program has the ability to output ISO files or DVD folders for digital storage we believe it will bring great convenience to you.

Customization Tools: A DVD copy expert will give you some customization tools to copy your DVDs in your way. You should have the choices to copy the exact part you want or to get rid of the protections or not.

Conclusion

Throughout this review, we've compared different DVD copy software in terms of performance, compatibility, and ease of use. From full-disc backups to ISO or MKV conversions, each tool has its strengths for different user needs.

With the right software, learning how to copy DVD to computer is a straightforward process. You can back up discs for long-term storage, create ISO files for media servers, or make 1:1 copies for playback on any compatible device.