8 Best & Free DVD to MP4 Converters in 2023

DVDs have become obsolete due to advanced technologies like Blu-ray and streaming services. Without a DVD player or disc slot on your computer, playing DVDs can be difficult. To solve this issue, many people convert their DVDs to MP4 format, which is smaller, easier to manage, and can be played on most devices.

Additionally, making an MP4 copy can create a digital backup that can be stored on a hard drive or in the cloud, preserving the video for future use. So, if you're ready to say goodbye to the hassle of DVDs and hello to the convenience of MP4, keep reading to learn about fast, convenient, and fully featured DVD to MP4 converters on Windows and Mac.

8 Best Ways to Convert DVD to MP4 Free

1. DVDFab DVD Ripper

DVDFab DVD Ripper

DVDFab DVD Ripper allows you to rip and convert any copy-protected DVD / ISO file / Folder to any video & audio format playable on any device, media player, or home theatre.

DVDFab DVD Ripper is a dedicated DVD to MP4 converter with an elegant and user-friendly interface. This powerful tool can efficiently eliminated copy protections such as RC, RCE, APS, and 99 titles from your discs, and then rip and convert your DVDs into various widely-used video formats with no loss of quality.

Apart from this, DVDFab offers the convenience of ripping DVD audio alone or even in lossless Hi-Fi quality. Thus, if you are seeking video or music from your DVD movies or shows, this versatile ripper can effortlessly fulfill your desire.

💻Available on: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & Mac 10.10 - 13

Features:

• The ONLY tool capable of removing the latest DVD copy protection
• Rip DVDs to various MP4 profiles, such as 3D, Passthrough, 4K/5K/8K, H265, 10/12 bit.
• Also support 1000+ video & audio output formats and 260+ preset devices 
• Multi-core CPUs and Intel Quick Sync are used to provide faster batch conversion
• Auto-synchronize original metadata info for better management on the media server
• Offer a built-in video editor that can crop, trim, brighten, add watermarks and external subtitles, speed up/down, zoom in/out a video, etc
• Free experience Blu-ray ripping

Cons:

• Only MP4 and MKV formats are available in free version.

DVDFab DVD Ripper also offers a lifetime-free but simplified version - DVDFab HD Decrypter - that can rip most encrypted DVD and Blu-rays to MP4&MKV format only. Both versions are installed in one DVDFab package for your easy use.

How to convert DVD to MP4 with DVDFab DVD Ripper:

Step 1: Get DVDFab DVD Ripper download on Windows or Mac.

Step 2: Open DVDFab DVD Ripper software and import the DVD source.

Open DVDFab DVD ripper software and select the "Ripper" module first. This converter gives you the options to either manually load or once your DVD is inserted, it can auto-load the contents.

Step 3: Customize the DVD video output.

On the main interface, you can choose some titles or rip the whole DVD, select audio tracks and languages, extract DVD subtitles to SRT format, and add external subtitles. If you are curious about what kind of copy protection is embedded in your DVD, just click the option "Info" and find out. 

Click the button "Choose Other Profile" - "Format" to select MP4 as the output video format. You can also click "Device" to convert DVD to iPhone, Android, and other portable devices directly.

'Advanced Settings' and 'Video Edit' allows you to customize video and audio characteristics to meet your specific demands.

Step 4: Set the output destination and start to convert DVD to MP4.

At the bottom of the interface, click the "Folder" icon to save your output video: Mobile Device or Folder. Make a decision and then click the button 'Start'. DVDFab DVD Ripper will finish the conversion in just 3 to 5 minutes. 

2. Handbrake

Handbrake is a widely used free and open-source DVD ripper for Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you have libdvdcss installed, Handbrake can rip CSS and RLE DVDs to MP4, MKV and WebM. There are sophisticated options available for exact encoding settings, effects, parameter tweaking, etc., but they require some practice.

💻Available on: Win, Mac, and Linux

Features:

• Rip DVDs without any copy protection to MP4, MKV and WebM
• Offer customization options, such as bit rate, subtitles, and video filters
• Batch video conversion feature supported
• Preview feature available before conversion

Cons:

• Do not support DVD/Blu-ray that has a copyright protection code
• Cannot mix multiple video clips in a single video
• Limited output options

To convert ripped DVD to mp4 on Windows 10 or 11, you must have Microsoft DESKTOP runtime 5. x installed.

How to rip a DVD to MP4 using Handbrake:

Step 1: On your PC or Mac, download, install, and launch Handbrake.

Step 2: To load the DVD video, click Open Source. Please download libdvdcss if the DVD, ISO image, or DVD folder is encoded with CSS or region code. Otherwise, you'll get an error notice that says "no valid source or titles detected." It's worth noting that if your want to rip an encrypted disc with Handbrake, you need to remove its DVD copying protection first.

Step 3: Select General, Web, Matroska, Hardware, and other options from the Presets dropdown menu. Choose Fast480p30 for the United States or Fast576p25 for Europe. You may also pick HQ for improved image quality, but this will slow down the DVD encoding process.

Step 4: Select MP4 from the Format dropdown list in the Summary. Select a target folder for the resulting MP4 file by clicking Browse. Then, in the toolbar above, choose Start Encode.

3. WinX DVD Ripper

WinX DVD Ripper can rip and convert a DVD or ISO to MP4 digital format, even when the DVDs are copyright protected. Apart from MP4, it can convert a DVD to various video formats such as MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV, and more, making it easier to watch DVD content on different devices. It offers users a free version which can later be upgraded to a paid version that keeps getting updated to decrypt new DVD encryptions. 

💻Available on: Win 11/10 or lower & Mac Ventura or lower

Features:

• Ability to decrypt copyright protected encryptions
• Support 210+ video and audio formats and 350+ profiles
• Adjustable HQ encoding and de-interlacing
• Features Level 3 hardware acceleration
• Quality ratio is 1:1
• Flexible settings like codec, resolution, frame rate, and simple editing

Cons:

• Cannot decrypt and rip some Disney DVDs
• May require adjusting of software settings
• The free trial version can only rip up to 5 minutes of video
• Do not support Blu-ray ripping

How to rip a DVD to MP4 format with WinX DVD Ripper:

Step 1: Download and install WinX DVD Ripper on your computer. Then Insert the DVD that you want to convert into your computer's DVD drive.

Step 2: Open WinX DVD Ripper and click on the "Disc" button to load the DVD. Once the DVD is loaded, select "MP4" as the output format from the drop-down menu on the main interface.

Step 3: Set parameters for the converted MP4 video file and do simple editing.

Step 4: Choose a destination folder and click on the "Run" button to start the conversion process.

4. AVC (AnyVideoConverter) 

Besides converting DVD videos between various popular formats such as MP4, Any Video Converter also supports audio conversion and can extract audio from video files. You can extract audio from CD to MP3, AAC, and M4A. It also provides the ability to edit and customize video files, including features such as trimming, cropping, adding watermarks, and adjusting video and audio settings. 

💻Available on: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & Mac OS X 10.7 - Mac OS X 10.15

Features:

• Convert DVD/ISO to MKV, MP4 and other 200+ videos/audio formats
• Videos of even 4K resolution is supported
• Edit the output video via trimming and cropping 
• Batch conversion

Cons:

• Unable to handle copy-protected DVDs
• The encoding process can be slow
• Include bundled extra software
• Limited video editing features in free version

How to create a MP4 digital copy from a DVD with AVC:

Step 1：Get this free DVD to MP4 converter download.

Step 2: Insert DVD disc into computer/external DVD drive. Open AVC and click on the "DVD" button to load the DVD.

Step 3: Select "MP4" as the output format and edit the video.

Step 4: Choose a output directory and start to the ripping process by hitting ‘Convert Now’.

5. VLC Meida Player

With its simple UI and excellent DVD decoder, VLC is a good choice. It can also convert DVDs to MP4, H.264, H.265, WMV, WebM, etc. But there are certain drawbacks. There's no way to decrypt a protected DVD using VLC, and there's no way to alter the conversion's aspect ratio or loudness.

💻Available on: Windows, Mac, GNU/Linux, Android, etc.

Features: 

• Support multiple video and audio codecs
• Available on multiple platforms

Cons:

• DVD encoding is relatively slow
• Has limited video editing functions
• Do not handle copy-protected DVDs

How to rip DVD to MP4 free using VLC?

Step 1: Get the VLC media player, install it, and open it. VLC should be used to play the original DVD.

Step 2: Open the converter, go to the Media menu in the upper left corner of the main screen, and select Convert/Save. To load the DVD, click the Disc button.

Step 3: Once the DVD is in the Disc Device, click Convert/Save. Alternatively, go to the Open Disc from Media tab > browse and select DVD location at Disc Drive > select Convert from the dropdown menu next to the Play button from the Open Disc from Media tab.

Step 4: Select Video - h.264 + MP3 from the Profile dropdown menu when the Convert box appears.

Step 5: To save the converted movie, click the Browse button. Then press the Start button to convert a DVD to an mp4 file.

6. Freemake DVD Ripper

Freemake is a free DVD to Mp4 converter that enables you to rip a DVD to MP4, AVI, and MKV video files for storage or playback on mobile, tablets, game consoles, uploading to social media sites, editing, in high quality free of charge. It also allows you to embed free subtitles (SRT, ASS, and SSA formats) downloaded online into the movie before ripping a DVD.

💻Available on: Windows 11, 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Vista

Features:

• Rip DVDs and Folders to MP4 and other 20+ video formats
• Features a comprehensive library of 50+ preprogrammed profiles
• Remove some DVD copy protections like RC 
• Provide video editing functions, such as cut, crop, add subtitles

Cons:

• Don't work on many other encrypted DVDs
• Don't support ISO file as the input
• The output video is watermarked in its free version

How to use Freemake DVD to MP4 converters:

Step 1: After downloading this program, start it up and insert a DVD into the drive.

Step 2: Select your DVD drive containing the physical movie, then select a VIDEO_TS folder on the DVD by clicking the +DVD button at the top. From the list, select the most extensive VOB file. The application will read the disc and display several different titles. The one with the largest length should be chosen. 

Step 3: Change the MP4 settings, if necessary, by selecting MP4 from the profile list at the bottom of the screen. For example, you may choose from various quality options in the dropdown menus, such as keeping with regular DVD quality or upconverting to 720p, albeit this will lose detail.

Step 4: After making the adjustments, click the Convert button to begin the DVD conversion.

7. DVDVideoSoft

DVDVideoSoft is a little Windows tool that can rip DVDs to MP4, AVI, MKV, MP3, and mobile devices, including iPhones, iPad, and Apple TVs. Use the application to pick DVD titles, languages, and subtitles without effort.

💻Available on: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP

Features:

• All output formats have been preset but allows for manual configuration as well
• Allow for adding subtitles

Cons:

• Outdated and don't have any advanced feature
• Cannot bypass DVDs/Blu-ray discs that are copyright protected

How to convert DVD to MP4 free using DVDVideoSoft?

Step 1: After installing the software on your computer, open it and pick a disc holding your DVD or DVD folder by clicking the Browse option.

Step 2: Then choose the DVD title you wish to convert to MP4 by clicking the Choose option. If you're unsure which title is accurate, you can use VLC to play the DVD and remember the title. You may also select your preferred languages and subtitles before clicking OK.

Step 3: To select an output folder, click Browse. Then choose MP4 as the output format from the Formats menu. You'll find them in the Presets optimized for computer or mobile device playback section.

Step 4: When you've completed all of the steps, click Convert to begin.

8. MediaCoder                                     

MediaCoder is a free media transcoding program that can convert DVDs to various video and audio formats, including H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, VP8/VP9, and others. It uses QuickSync, NVENC, and CUDA to provide a fast DVD to H.264/H.265 conversion speed. Users may also change output options such as video bitrate, format, rate mode, etc. However, getting started with the software is rather complex.

💻Available on: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10 & Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2017

Features:

• Support to rip Blu-ray, DVD, VCD, SVCD, CD 
• Support to adjust multiple transcoding parameters
• Support a wide range of video and audio formats

Cons:

• Lack of video editing functions
• Outdated interface 

How to use MediaCoder DVD to MP4 converter?

Step 1: Open the DVD to MP4 converter software. Select your DVD from the File menu and click Add Track.

Step 2: Check the Enable Video function box under the Video tab. Select MPEG4 from the Format dropdown menu.

Step 3: To designate where the application should save the converted files, click the Output Folder, then click START and wait.

Conclusion

While DVDs are nearing extinction, MP4 has evolved as a popular video format supported by various devices and operating systems. Your DVDs must be converted in MP4 format to be viewed on all mobile, tablet, and computer platforms. Uncompressed DVD to MP4 conversion requires a good DVD converter. Our choice is DVDFab DVD Ripper, a full-featured program with a quick ripping speed and clean UI.