DVD Shrink Review and Its Best Alternatives on Windows and Mac
Summary: DVD Shrink remains a popular choice for basic DVD compression and backup, but its lack of updates and limited features make it less effective today. This article offers a complete review of DVD Shrink and recommends the best alternatives for ripping and backing up DVDs on both Windows and macOS.
Table of Contents
DVD Shrink is a classic freeware for compressing and backing up DVD discs. With features like re-authoring, DVD Shrink makes it easy to compress large DVD content onto standard discs.
However, the software hasn't been updated for 20 years, and many users are looking for alternatives that offer a wider range of compatibility and advanced features. In this article, we'll provide a full review of DVD Shrink - how it works, what it can (and can't) do - and introduce the best DVD Shrink alternative.
DVD Shrink Review: What You Need to Know
DVD Shrink is a once-popular free DVD backup tool for Windows. Originally released in the early 2000s, it was designed to compress large DVD content to fit onto smaller 4.7GB single-layer discs using MPEG-2 transcoding, with minimal quality loss. It can back up full discs or specific titles, audio tracks, and subtitles, outputting either an ISO image or a VIDEO_TS folder.
Although many users still search for "DVD Shrink download", it's important to note that the official website is no longer functional. Last updated in 2004, the original developer no longer hosts the software. If you still want to try it out, the safest way is to download it from the Internet Archive of the Forum, or from a third-party platform such as FileCroco or Uptodown.
Pros and Cons of DVD Shrink
- DVD Shrink is completely free to use with a small file size
- Large DVD files can be efficiently compressed to fit on smaller discs
- Offers both full disc backup and re-authoring options for custom DVD copies
- It removes basic protections like CSS and RC, and outputs ISO or VIDEO_TS folder
- No updates since 2004: Cannot handle modern copy protection on newer DVDs.
- Not compatible with macOS or Linux operating systems.
- It doesn't have advanced functions like Blu-ray ripping or video format conversion.
- Requires third-party burning software like Nero to create physical DVDs.
How to Use DVD Shrink to Copy a DVD
Step 1: Launch DVD Shrink and Open your DVD
Download and launch DVD Shrink. Click "Open Disc" to load a physical DVD from your optical drive, or use "Open Files" to import a previously saved VIDEO_TS folder. DVD Shrink will analyze the structure of your DVD content automatically.
Step 2: Choose Backup Mode
After the analysis is complete, choose one of the two main modes:
- Full Disc: Backup the entire DVD, including menus, extras, and main movies.
- Re-author: Customize the DVD Structure by selecting specific titles, and remove extras.
Step 3: Choose Compression Settings and Audio Tracks
DVD Shrink lets you fine-tune compression settings to control output quality and file size. In the Video section, you can choose from several compression modes including Automatic, No Compression, Custom Ratio, Still Image, and Still Pictures. Additionally, you can select which audio tracks and subtitles to include or remove for further size optimization.
Step 4: Backup and Save the Output
Click the "Backup!" button to start the process. Choose to output your backup as either an ISO image or a VIDEO_TS folder.
Note: DVD Shrink does not include a built-in DVD burning engine. If you wish to burn the output to a blank disc, use third-party software such as ImgBurn, or DVDFab DVD Copy.
Best DVD Shrink Alternative: DVDFab DVD Copy
- Copy DVDs in batch at a lightning-fast speed
- Copy DVDs with meta info and .nfo file generation
- Remove Cinavia permanently and copy as clean audio
- Remove any copy protection from DVDs, even from the newest DVDs
- Copy DVD to a blank disc or as an ISO file and folder in lossless quality
- Provide 6 Copy Modes (Full Disc, Main Movie, Merge, Customize, etc)
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 all types of DVDs, and completes the copying process in just 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the disc size.
How to Copy DVD in Lossless Quality with DVD Shrink Alternative
Step 1: Free download and launch DVDFab DVD Copy.
Step 2: Double click DVDFab 12 to launch the program, and choose the Copy Option when it runs. 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. Here are Full Disc, Main Movie, Customize, Split, Merge, and Clone. Then we will take the main movie mode as an example.
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.
Compare: DVD Shrink vs. DVDFab
When testing DVD Shrink vs DVDFab DVD Copy, we focused on key features and compared functional differences.
| Feature | DVD Shrink | DVDFab DVD Copy |
| User Rating From Truspilot |
3.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Last Update | 2005 | Actively maintained |
| Copy Protection Removal | Partial (CSS, RC, RCE) | Full support, including latest protections like Cinavia |
| Output Formats | ISO / VIDEO_TS only | ISO / Folder / Blank Disc |
| Blu-ray Support | Not supported | Supported via DVDFab Blu-ray Copy |
| Custom Copy Modes | 2 | 6 |
FAQs
Yes, but the last and only official stable version of DVD Shrink is 3.2.0.15. Since the developer stopped updates in 2005, newer protections are not supported, and compatibility with Windows 10 or 11 is limited.
While DVD Shrink is free, it is necessary to identify the regular version. Only the original release is safe. Avoid fake versions with names like “DVD Shrink 2010” or “DVD Shrink 2011”, which may contain malware. Also, always use antivirus software to scan any files you download.
Can DVD Shrink Remove Copy Protection?
Yes, DVD Shrink can serve as a DVD decrypter that removes basic copy protections such as CSS, RC, and RCE. However, it cannot decrypt protections like Sony ARccOS, Disney X-Project, or newer encryption methods found on most commercial discs today.
Therefore, if you want to remove DVD copy protection without hassle, you can turn to professional alternatives like DVDFab Passkey for DVD.
Is DVD Shrink Available for macOS?
Unfortunately, DVD Shrink was designed for Windows only and is not compatible with macOS. There is no official version for Mac. While some users attempt to run it through compatibility layers like Wine or virtualization software, this setup is unreliable. For a native and seamless experience on Mac, consider its alternatives.
Conclusion
While DVD Shrink used to be a popular tool for backing up DVDs, it is now outdated, incompatible with modern protections and operating systems, and lacks essential features. The DVD Shrink alternative presented in this article offer a more strong and secure solution with features such as regular updates, removal of various copy protections, and cross-platform support. Thus, don't waste your time on outdated tools.
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