How to Convert DVD to MKV Free and Lossless: Top 6 Software in 2025

Many of us still have shelves of DVDs, but modern laptops rarely include disc drives, and physical discs can be scratched or damaged over time. The most reliable way to keep your movies safe is to convert DVDs to MKV, a digital format that preserves full video quality, multiple audio tracks, and subtitles in a single file.

I faced the same issue with my own collection and decided to digitize my DVDs for long-term storage. In this guide, I'll show you 6 proven methods to rip DVD to MKV, covering both free and paid options, so you can choose the approach that works best for you.

Convert DVD to MKV with DVDFab DVD Ripper

 

DVDFab DVD Ripping software is one of the best DVD to MKV converters that allows you to rip any copy-protected DVD / ISO file / folder to any video & audio format playable on any device, media player, or home theatre.

Free Download

100% safe&clean

Free Download

100% safe&clean

Working System: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & macOS 10.10 - 15.x

Step 1. Download and install DVDFab 13

DVDFab DVD Ripper is one of the modules of DVDFab 13. After launching DVDFab, select the "Ripper" module from the left menu.

• Insert your DVD disc, or click "Add" to load your source file.
• If you have an ISO file or a DVD folder, simply drag and drop it into the program window.

Step 2. Set the output format as MKV

With the source loaded up, you will see all input and output details on the screen. Here you can choose the titles, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles you want to include in the MKV video. Or you can also add external subtitles by clicking the "Subtitle" dropdown menu.

Next, set the output format by going to "Choose Other Profile → Format → Video". You can use the profile filter to select the type of MKV that best matches your needs.

For example, you may choose Lossless MKV Passthrough, 3D MKV, or High-resolution MKV (4K or 5K). If you prefer a quicker setup, you can also click "Device" to select an output preset designed specifically for phones, tablets, TVs, and other playback devices.

Step 3. Edit the video and adjust settings

It's time to customize the output MKV video. 

• Advanced Settings: adjust video/audio parameters such as codec (H.264/H.265), bitrate, resolution, and frame rate.
• Video Edit: trim clips, adjust brightness/contrast, change playback speed, or add subtitles, and visual effects.

Step 4. Start converting DVD to MKV

When everything is set, you need to select an output directory and click the "Start" button to initiate the DVD to MKV conversion.

Convert DVD to MKV For Free with MakeMKV

MakeMKV is a versatile DVD to MKV ripper that can convert DVD and Blu-ray discs to MKV format only. It offers fast conversion speeds and has the ability to preserve all audio tracks and subtitles. The software is known for its ease of use and high-quality output, and it supports many types of DVDs, including those with copy protection.

Working System: Windows XP or later & Mac OS X 10.6 and later & Linux x86 or amd64

Step 1. Install and open MakeMKV 

Go to the official MakeMKV website and download the latest version (currently 1.18.2) for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Follow the installation prompts, then launch the application on your computer.

Step 2. Insert DVD and scan titles

Place your DVD into the computer's DVD drive and wait a few seconds for the program to recognize it. In MakeMKV, click the large DVD drive icon that appears in the main window. The software will then scan the disc and display all available content.

Step 3. Select titles, tracks and subtitles

In the list that appears, tick the boxes next to the video titles and the audio or subtitle tracks you want to keep. You can deselect unnecessary items, such as foreign language audio tracks or bonus content, to save space. A useful tip is that the longest title usually corresponds to the main movie.

Step 4. Set Output Folder and Start the Conversion

Choose a destination folder on your computer where you want the MKV file to be saved, and make sure there is sufficient disk space available, as DVD movies typically require between 4 and 8 GB. Once ready, click the "Make MKV" button to begin the conversion.

Convert DVD to MKV with Custom Settings Using HandBrake 

HandBrake is a free and open-source software that can convert DVD to MP4 or MKV on multiple platforms. It offers advanced video and audio settings, presets for optimizing output quality, and batch conversion. However, it's worth noting that some commercial DVDs may be copy-protected, which could prevent them from being converted using Handbrake without additional tools or plugins.

Working System: Windows 10 and later & macOS 10.13 and later & Linux

Step 1. Install HandBrake and required libraries

Download the latest version of HandBrake (currently 1.10.2) from the official website at https://handbrake.fr and install it by following the on-screen instructions.

If your DVD is copy-protected, which is the case for most commercial discs, you will also need the libdvdcss library to enable HandBrake to read the content.

• On Windows, download the file libdvdcss-2.dll and place it inside your HandBrake installation folder.
• On macOS, open the Terminal and install it using the command: brew install libdvdcss.

Step 2. Open HandBrake and load DVD source

Insert the DVD you want to convert into your computer's DVD drive and wait until the system recognizes it.

Launch HandBrake, which will usually attempt to scan the disc automatically. If the scan does not start, manually select the DVD drive as the source.

Step 3. Select the Main Title and Output Format

After the scan is complete, you will see a list of available titles. Select the main movie title, which is usually the one with the longest runtime.

On the main screen, open the Format dropdown and select MKV to ensure the output is saved in the Matroska video container format.

Step 4. Configure video and audio settings

In the Video tab, select a codec (commonly H.264) and adjust the constant quality slider to a value around RF 20–23, which provides a good balance between quality and file size for DVD sources.

In the Audio tab, choose which audio tracks to include, and remove tracks you don't need, such as commentary or alternate languages.

In the Subtitles tab, either select subtitle tracks from the DVD or import external subtitle files (e.g., .srt). You can also decide whether to burn the subtitles into the video or keep them switchable.

Step 5. Rip DVD to MKV with HandBrake

Click the "Browse" button at the bottom of the window to select the output folder and name your file. Finally, click the green Start Encode button at the top to begin the conversion. HandBrake will process the disc and generate an MKV file in the location you specified.

Convert DVD to MKV with Other 3 Powerful Solutions

1. Freemake DVD Ripper (Windows)

Freemake DVD Ripper is a freeware allows users to convert DVD-5 or DVD-9 videos to MKV format. It also has some additional features, such as the ability to rip audio tracks from DVDs and customize output settings like resolution, frame rate, and bitrate. However, it's worth noting that Freemake may not work with all DVD types or protected discs.

Working System: Windows 11, 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Vista

2. Wondershare UniConverter (Windows, Mac)

UniConverter, previously known as Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate, is a premium software exclusively designed for Mac users to rip DVD to MKV format. The software supports various input formats, including DVDs and ISO files, and offers a range of output options. UniConverter also provides customization options for output settings such as cropping, resolution, bitrate, and audio quality.

Working System: Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista & macOS 10.7 and later

3. AnyMP4 DVD Ripper (Windows, Mac)

Recognized as the sixth best DVD to MKV converter, AnyMP4 DVD Ripper is suitable for users who want to customize their videos during the conversion process. It provides a multifunctional DVD toolkit that can serve as a media metadata editor, GIF maker, video compressor, 3D maker, video enhancer and more.

Working System: Windows 7/8/10/11 & macOS 10.12 or later

Comparison: Which DVD to MKV Converter is Best for You

 

We have introduced the six best DVD to MKV converters, including DVDFab DVD Ripper, MakeMKV, HandBrake, Freemake, Wondershare, and AnyMP4 DVD Ripper. In this section, we will conduct a comprehensive comparison of these tools, helping you determine which tool is best suited for your specific needs.  

DVD to MKV Converter	Compatible OS	Conversion Speed	Customization Options	Best For
DVDFab DVD Ripper	Windows &  macOS	Fast	Extensive	Ripping any copy-protected DVD/ISO/folders to different MKV formats, such as 3D, Passthrough, H265, etc.
MakeMKV	Windows, MacOS, Linux	Fast	Limited	Rip AACS/BD+ protected DVDs and Blu-rays to MKV only.
HandBrake	Windows, macOS, Linux	Moderate	Extensive	Free to rip non-protected DVDs and Blu-rays to MKV and MP4.
Freemake	Windows	Moderate	Limited	Its free version works well to rip region-coded DVDs and Blu-rays to MKV if you don't mind the watermark in the output file.
Wondershare	Windows & macOS	Slow	Extensive	It integrates video conversion, editing, compression, recording, and many extra features.
AnyMP4 DVD Ripper	Windows & macOS	Moderate	Extensive	Besides ripping DVDs to lossless digital copies, it can backup DVD to ISO and folder.

Test Results: DVD to MKV Conversion Performance

All DVD to MKV converters covered above come with their own strengths and limitations. To move beyond feature lists, we conducted hands-on testing under the same conditions, focusing on key performance indicators such as ripping speed, output file size, and quality.

💡Test Environment and Movie Information

• Operating System: Windows 10 X64, Intel i7-6700 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti 8GB
• Source Movie: 8 Mile; 1h50m; 6.13GB 

Software	Codec	Output Format	Output Video/Audio	Conversion Time	Output File_Size
DVDFab (Re-encoding)	H264 / AAC	MP4	720*404 AAC 5.1	5min31s	1.91GB
DVDFab (Passthrough)	No Encoding	MKV	720*480 DTS 5.1	1min37s	5.07GB
MakeMKV (Passthrough)	No Encoding	MKV	720*480  AC3 5.1	1min34s	6.01GB

⭐Key Takeaways

Speed: Both DVDFab (Passthrough) and MakeMKV finished in under 2 minutes, with nearly identical speed.

File Size: DVDFab's passthrough output was about 15% smaller than MakeMKV, saving disk space without re-encoding.

Audio: DVDFab preserved DTS 5.1 audio, which generally provides higher fidelity than MakeMKV, especially on high-end audio systems.

Flexibility: Unlike MakeMKV, DVDFab also supports full re-encoding, allowing conversion to MP4 and 1000+ formats with adjustable profiles

FAQs About Ripping DVD to MKV

Can VLC convert DVD to MKV?

Yes, you can convert DVD to MKV file using the VLC media player. With VLC, users can choose to use the DVD disc as the source and MKV as the desired output format by using the "Convert/Save" feature. The size and duration of the DVD may affect how long the conversion process takes.

Is MakeMKV Still Free?

Yes, MakeMKV is still free—DVD ripping is always free, while Blu-ray ripping remains free during the beta phase using a regularly updated beta key. Although the official website went down temporarily from June 16 to June 20, 2025, it has since been restored and is fully operational.

How do I convert DVD to MKV on Windows and Mac?

To convert homemade DVD to MKV on Windows and Mac, you can use the free DVD ripping software introduced in this article, such as Handbrake. However, if you need to decrypt commercial DVDs and customization options, DVDFab DVD Ripper is recommended. Remember to respect copyright laws when converting DVDs and only rip DVDs that you own or have permission to copy.

How to Convert DVD files to MKV on Linux system?

Both HandBrake and MakeMKV introduced above are excellent choices for converting DVD files to MKV format on Linux. Here are instructions on how to use Handbrake.

Step 1: Make sure that HandBrake is installed on your Linux system; it can usually be found in your distribution's package manager.

Step 2: Prepare your DVD. Please note that you will need to install additional libraries to handle encrypted DVDs with tools such as libdvdcss.

Step 3: Click Open Source in HandBrake and load the source file from the available list. HandBrake will show multiple video files available for conversion.

Step 4: Select MKV as the file format from the drop-down menu. You can set specific video codec, audio and subtitle options. After adjusting the parameters, select the output folder and name the file.

Step 5: Click "Browse" under the "Destination" section to select the output location. Finally click the "Start Encode" button.

Final Verdict

Converting DVD to MKV is a great way to keep your movie collection safe by transforming it to digital format. Unlike physical discs, digital movies don't degrade over time. There are many tools that allow you to rip DVD to AVI or MKV, but if you want the best, we recommend trying out DVDFab DVD Ripper. It is the optimal choice after considering the operating system, ease of use, supported DVDs and conversion speed.