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clonedvd review, download and alternative

Cloning DVDs in 2026 is harder than it used to be. Many classic tools no longer run properly on Windows 11, and AnyDVD, the decryption tool many CloneDVD users relied on for newer discs, has been discontinued. I tested CloneDVD alongside the modern tools people are actually switching to, so this review reflects what still works right now, not what worked five years ago.

What is CloneDVD?

CloneDVD2 is a DVD copying and cloning tool built for straightforward disc-to-disc and disc-to-file backups.

I wanted to back up an old favorite from my DVD collection, and CloneDVD's interface looked simple enough to try. I was hoping for a quick, hassle-free duplication. Here is what I found when I put it to the test.

💡Related reading: CloneCD review and alternative

Overview and History

CloneDVD, developed by Elaborate Bytes, built its name in the DVD copying and cloning market. It was designed for both casual users and professionals who needed steady DVD replication software. The tool has added new features over time while keeping a simple interface for DVD copying.

Elby worked with Slysoft, and later Slysoft's successor RedFox, to market CloneDVD alongside AnyDVD, but Elby kept the actual publishing rights and always sold CloneDVD directly through its own site. RedFox eventually dropped CloneDVD and CloneBD from its own storefront, citing limited maintenance resources, and focused on AnyDVD instead. CloneDVD itself was not affected by that decision: Elaborate Bytes still sells and updates it directly, with the most recent build released in March 2025. AnyDVD had a different fate. RedFox's own website has since gone offline, and AnyDVD is no longer available through any official channel.

How to Use CloneDVD for DVD Cloning?

Step 1: Download CloneDVD2 and Insert the DVD

The program opens with a simple wizard view. I loaded my DVD, and CloneDVD showed the disc contents right away. No extra setup needed.

How to Use CloneDVD for DVD Cloning?

Step 2: Customize Settings 

I could copy the full disc, the main movie, or select specific titles. I chose Clone Entire Disc for a quick backup. The preview window made it easy to confirm the selection.

Customize Settings of CloneDVD

Step 3: Select the Output Destination

CloneDVD asked whether to write to another disc or save a DVD folder or ISO. I saved an ISO on my hard drive and used it later to copy a DVD on Windows 10. Output quality and audio options were easy to find, though there weren’t many advanced choices.

CloneDVD: Select the Output Destination

Step 4: Starting the Copy Process

After checking the settings, I clicked "Go". The copy speed for a single-layer disc was in the middle of the pack among the tools I tested, the process stayed smooth, and the progress bar was clear with no pop-ups.

Key Features, Pros, and Cons of CloneDVD

CloneDVD copies DVDs bit by bit, producing a disc that matches the original, which works well for backups or when several identical copies are needed. The program can also compress a DVD9 down to a DVD5 with limited quality loss, and the compression level can be adjusted to balance file size against playback quality.

CloneDVD outputs to DVD-Video, ISO images, or DVD folders, and it supports NTSC and PAL discs, working with common DVD players and drives.

Pros of CloneDVD2

 
  • Offers Full Disc, Main Movie, and Customize modes.
  • Compression settings can be adjusted to shrink a DVD9 disc down to DVD5 size.
  • Users can pick audio tracks and subtitles.
  • Runs on most PCs without heavy system demand.

Cons of CloneDVD2

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  • Only includes a 21-day trial.
  • Imports Video_TS folders only, and lacks advanced editing or conversion tools.
  • Limited customer support; Windows-only.
  • CloneDVD does not include its own decryption engine for newer copy protection. It historically relied on the companion tool AnyDVD to handle that step, and RedFox has since discontinued AnyDVD.

Best CloneDVD Alternative: DVDFab DVD Copy

When backing up a mix of older and newer DVDs, I noticed CloneDVD handled unprotected discs easily but failed with recent Hollywood titles. After switching to DVDFab DVD Copy, the newer discs loaded without issues, and I could compress, clone, or split Disney and Universal movies with little effort.

This kind of gap shows up often in DVD-backup discussions. On Reddit's r/software, people comparing options today tend to split into two camps: a free two-step workflow using MakeMKV for the disc rip and HandBrake for compression, or a single all-in-one tool that handles decryption and copying together. DVDFab DVD Copy falls into the second camp, which matters if running two separate programs is not something you want to manage.

CloneDVD alternative: DVDFab DVD Copy

DVDFab DVD Copy

A powerful DVD copy software that enables users to effortlessly create backup copies of their DVDs with high quality and customizable settings.

Win Download 

100% safe & clean

Mac Download 

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Key Features of CloneDVD Alternative

  
  • • Updated to support the latest media formats and technologies
  • • Offers lossless compression options to fit larger DVD9 content onto DVD5 discs
  • • Provides high-quality output with lossless compression and fast processing speed
  • • Offers 6 copy modes, including Full Disc, Main Movie, Clone/Burn, Merge, Split, and Customize
  • • Supports the latest DVD protection schemes, ensuring users can backup any commercial DVD

How to Decrypt and Copy DVDs with DVDFab DVD Copy?

After reading several reviews, I tried DVDFab DVD Copy to back up an older DVD at home.

Step 1: Download DVDFab DVD Copy and upload the source

I installed the program on my Mac, chose the Copy module, and inserted the DVD. DVDFab loaded the disc right away and showed the titles and audio tracks, with the main movie identified automatically.

How to copy DVD with CloneDVD alternative?

Step 2: Choose the copy mode and personalize the settings

I selected Full Disc for a full backup. Output type (DVD-5 or DVD-9), audio, and subtitle choices were easy to set. Advanced settings included output folder and file naming, laid out without extra menus.

How to use CloneDVD Alternative: DVDFab?

Step 3: Start Ripping DVDs to Hard Drive

I inserted a blank DVD and clicked Start. DVDFab showed progress and remaining time. With GPU acceleration on, the copy finished in a short window for a feature-length movie.

How to clone DVD with CloneDVD alternative?

FAQs

What is CloneBD? Is it the same product as Slysoft CloneDVD?

CloneBD is a software application crafted specifically for copying, converting, and ripping (3D) Blu-ray discs. No, CloneBD and CloneDVD are not identical products; although both are developed by Elaborate Bytes (Elby), they have distinct functionalities and share a similar user interface and design approach.

Is CloneDVD free?

CloneDVD is not free. It offers a 21-day trial, after which a paid license is required to keep using the full feature set, including compression and Video_TS import. As of 2026, the only official source is Elaborate Bytes' own site, which sells CloneDVD directly for EUR 39 with free updates for life. RedFox, which once resold CloneDVD alongside AnyDVD, has dropped it from its own storefront and taken its site offline, so any CloneDVD installer found elsewhere is coming from an unofficial source and should be treated with the same caution as any other unofficial download.

Do I still need AnyDVD to use CloneDVD?

Historically, yes, for most commercial DVDs. CloneDVD handles the copying and compression, but it does not include its own decryption engine for newer copy protection. That job was handled by AnyDVD, which was sold separately through RedFox rather than through Elaborate Bytes, the company that actually publishes CloneDVD. RedFox has since discontinued AnyDVD and taken its own site offline, so that decryption step no longer has an official source, even though CloneDVD itself is still sold and updated on its own. Discs using recent protection schemes are increasingly likely to fail in CloneDVD alone, which is one reason people who used the two together are now looking at all-in-one tools instead.

What is CloneDVD Mobile?

With its user-friendly interface and thoughtful design, CloneDVD Mobile quickly converts your DVD movies into file formats compatible with portable devices (Sony PSP, Apple iPod Video, iAudio X5, Creative Labs ZEN Vision, etc.). Additionally, you can convert DVDs into various formats such as MP4, DivX, XviD, AVI, and more.

However, RedFox, the company that owned CloneDVD Mobile, has ceased operations, raising questions about the product's availability.

Conclusion

CloneDVD is still sold and updated directly by Elaborate Bytes, and it still handles basic disc-to-disc copying on older, unprotected DVDs well. What it no longer has is the AnyDVD decryption layer it used to pair with, since RedFox discontinued that tool, which limits CloneDVD on discs with newer copy protection. Users who want broader disc compatibility without a separate decryption tool can consider DVDFab DVD Copy, a comprehensive DVD copying tool that fills that specific gap and continues to receive updates for newer copy protection.