DVD Shrink Review and Its Best Alternatives on Windows and Mac

DVD Shrink can compress a larger DVD to fit a smaller disc, but finding a working Windows replacement depends on the output you need: an ISO or VIDEO_TS backup preserves a DVD structure, while MP4 requires a separate video converter.

However, the software hasn't received updates in nearly 20 years, and many users now seek other options that work with newer systems and offer more advanced features. In this article, I'll provide a full review of DVD Shrink—how it works, what it can and cannot do—and introduces the best DVD Shrink alternative available today.

DVD Shrink Status, Safety, and Limits in 2026

DVD Shrink is a once-popular free DVD Copy Software for Windows. Originally released in the early 2000s, it was designed to compress large DVD content so it could fit onto smaller 4.7GB single-layer discs using MPEG-2 transcoding, with image quality depending on the amount of compression. The tool can back up full discs or specific titles, audio tracks, and subtitles, saving them as either an ISO image or a VIDEO_TS folder.

This DVD Shrink review finds a capable legacy utility with a narrow role: basic DVD backup and compression on a controlled Windows setup. Its discontinued status, uncertain download provenance, modern-disc limits, and lack of MP4 output matter more today than its small footprint.

What DVD Shrink Still Does Well

DVD Shrink remains useful as lightweight DVD backup software for selecting titles, audio tracks, and subtitles, then saving a full-disc or re-authored copy. It can compress DVDs so DVD-9 content fits a smaller target, with image quality depending on how much compression the source requires.

My practical take is simple: DVD Shrink still fits an older, readable disc when the goal is a DVD-style backup, not a modern video file or a dependable workflow for newly released discs.

Download and Version Red Flags

A cautious DVD Shrink download decision starts with the version number. DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15 is the stable version listed on the reachable legacy page; names such as DVD Shrink 2010, 2011, 2014, or Gold are warning signs rather than later official releases.

• Confirm that the installer identifies version 3.2.0.15, not a later-sounding edition.
• Avoid mirror pages that hide the filename, publisher, or installer details.
• Scan the downloaded file with current security software before opening it.
• Decline bundled offers or unexpected browser, search, or system changes.

Compression and Output Matrix

DVD Shrink is DVD compression software, not a DVD to MP4 converter. It can compress a DVD file structure and create ISO and VIDEO_TS backups, but MP4 and MKV require a separate DVD-ripping or video-conversion workflow.

An ISO can contain compressed video; saving a backup as an ISO does not make it lossless. Preserving menus and selected audio or subtitle tracks is a separate choice from how much video compression you apply.

DVD Shrink on Windows 10 and 11

DVD Shrink has no maintained support for Windows 10 or Windows 11, but that does not mean it cannot run on an individual installation. Some installations launch and complete older-disc backups, while others fail after an update, crash during analysis, or expose audio and Burn-stage problems.

Common Failure Symptoms

Typical reports include the application not opening, analysis stopping unexpectedly, access errors when writing output, a completed backup with the wrong audio track, or a crash that appears during an external Burn step. These symptoms do not all share the same cause. For analysis or read failures, inspect the disc for dirt or visible damage and check whether the drive can read another known-readable DVD. Repeated failure at the same location across applications calls for checking both the disc and drive; it does not identify a single cause or mean another program can repair physical damage.

To isolate the failure stage, load a readable disc, write to a local folder, and play the resulting VIDEO_TS files before attempting to Burn a disc. If analysis fails before output begins, the problem is not the Burn stage.

Compatibility Steps Worth Trying

A short troubleshooting pass is reasonable, but the aim is to isolate the failure rather than promise a fix.

1. Run DVD Shrink as an administrator.
2. Try Windows compatibility mode for an older Windows release.
3. Check whether the disc opens in a DVD player application and whether the drive reads another known-readable DVD. If available, try the problem disc in another drive.
4. Confirm that the destination has enough free space and that the account can write to it.
5. Use a local output folder instead of a protected system or network location.
6. Review the selected audio tracks before backup, then test the saved output in a player.
7. Separate a backup failure from any issue in the external burning application, optical drive, or blank media.

When the disc reads elsewhere but DVD Shrink still crashes during analysis or output, I recommend trying a maintained application using the DVD Copy trial described below. That is especially true when repeatable Windows 11 operation matters.

How to Use DVD Shrink to Create ISO and VIDEO_TS Backups

The DVD Shrink workflow creates ISO and VIDEO_TS backups rather than MP4 files. Work with discs you own or are authorized to back up, where permitted by applicable law, and verify the saved result before any separate disc-burning step.

Step 1: Launch DVD Shrink and Load DVD

Open DVD Shrink and select Open Disc for a physical DVD or Open Files for an existing VIDEO_TS folder. The program analyzes the DVD structure before showing titles, audio, subtitles, and compression choices.

Step 2: Choose Backup Mode

Select the mode that matches the backup you want:

• Full Disc: Keeps the menu, extras, and main titles.
• Re-author: Builds a smaller custom backup from selected titles.

For an archival copy that needs the original navigation, Full Disc is the better fit. Re-author is more practical when the main movie matters more than menus or extras.

Step 3: Choose Compression Settings and Audio Tracks

DVD Shrink lets you fine-tune compression settings to balance quality and file size. In the Video section, you can choose from compression modes including Automatic, No Compression, Custom Ratio, Still Image, and Still Pictures. Additionally, you can decide which audio tracks and subtitles to include or remove for further size optimization.

Step 4: Backup and Save the Output

Select Backup!, choose an ISO image or VIDEO_TS folder, and save it to a writable location. DVD Shrink prepares the backup; writing it to a blank disc depends on separate software and can fail independently.

Note: DVD Shrink does not include a built-in DVD burning engine. Play the saved backup before burning it to a blank disc with a separate application, such as DVDFab DVD Copy or the legacy ImgBurn 2.5.8.0 release dated June 16, 2013.

Best DVD Shrink Alternative: DVDFab DVD Copy

There are several DVD Shrink alternatives available today, each offering unique features for different user needs. Here's a comparison of some of the most popular and reliable options:

While all the above software can serve as DVD Shrink alternatives, DVDFab DVD Copy stands out as the best replacement. It offers the widest compatibility with modern DVDs, removes nearly all types of encryption (even the latest), supports both Windows and Mac, provides lightning-fast copying and a range of output modes, and is actively updated with excellent user support. Whether you're looking for high quality, speed, or ease of use, DVDFab is the superior choice for both beginners and advanced users.

DVDFab DVD Copy

Copy protected ed DVDs to a blank disc, ISO image, or folder. Preserve original audio and video with full-size copying, or compress DVD-9 content to DVD-5.

Win Download 

100% safe & clean

Mac Download 

100% safe & clean

DVD Shrink compresses DVDs at a relatively slow pace, often taking 1.5 to 2 hours per disc. In contrast, DVDFab DVD Copy software handles many types of DVDs, and completes the copying process in just 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the disc size.

DVD Copy Steps for Full-Size and Compressed Backups

Step 1: DVDFab DVD Copy supports Windows 11/10 (64-bit) and macOS 12 or later. Download the installer for your system using the official buttons below.

Step 2: Launch DVDFab and select Copy. Load the source DVD by inserting the DVD you wish to back up into the optical drive. You can also click the +Add button, or drag & drop the DVD ISO/folder onto the main UI.

Step 3: After loading the source, click the "Copy Mode" tab to choose a copy mode. The six modes are Full Disc, Main Movie, Clone/Burn, Merge, Split, and Customize. Use Main Movie for the example below. Select DVD-9 output for a full-size DVD-9 backup or DVD-5 to compress it; compression re-encodes the video.

Step 4: Customize the output DVD. Here you can make advanced settings, choose other titles, and select your preferred chapter, audio tracks, and subtitles to copy. After that, move to the bottom part to choose your output directory and start copying DVD by clicking the Start button.

Note: Use these steps for personal backups of DVDs you legally own and are authorized to access; permission depends on your use case and applicable law and terms. Do not redistribute the copies.

Final Verdict: When DVD Shrink Still Fits

DVD Shrink may still suit an older unprotected DVD, a controlled Windows setup, and a user who specifically needs ISO or VIDEO_TS output. It is not a sensible default for modern protected discs, dependable Windows 11 operation, native Mac use, Blu-ray, or DVD to MP4 conversion.

My recommendation is to keep DVD Shrink only for a limited legacy workflow that is already stable. When troubleshooting becomes part of every backup, or when the required output differs from a DVD structure, a mordern professional tool like DVDFab DVD Copy is the more reliable choice.