Top 5 Best ISO Makers for Windows and Mac | 2025 Updated
Summary: ISO files are ideal for archiving discs and creating bootable media. I tested popular ISO makers on Windows and Mac to see which tools create stable, mountable images fastest, and which free options are safe to use. Below are my top picks, quick tutorials, and a side-by-side comparison.
I've seen the same question appear again and again on tech forums: "What's a safe and reliable ISO maker for Windows or Mac?" People often mention failed burns, corrupted image files, or outdated freeware packed with ads. I've been there myself—trying to archive old DVDs and back up software installers, only to realize most tools either crashed or produced unreadable ISOs.
After testing a range of options, I found a few programs that actually work as advertised. In this guide, I'll explain what an ISO file really is, review the best ISO makers for Windows and Mac, and share my hands-on results so you can pick a tool that's both clean and dependable.
What is an ISO File?
An ISO file is a single archive that replicates every bit of data from a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc. Instead of storing files and folders separately, it preserves the entire disc structure in one compact, standardized format. The name "ISO" comes from the ISO 9660 file system originally used for CD-ROMs, but the format now extends to DVDs and Blu-rays.
In practice, converting DVD to ISO file is the easiest way to safeguard disc content. ISO images can be mounted, shared, or burned back to new discs at any time.
Common uses of ISO files include:
- Archiving DVDs, Blu-rays, or software installation discs
- Deploying operating systems or large software packages
- Creating bootable installation media
- Sharing project data or large file collections efficiently
Best Free ISO Makers for Windows & Mac
1. DVDFab DVD Copy
- Working platform: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 and macOS 10.13 - 15.x
- Why I chose it: Reliable performance, full-format ISO support, and consistent output quality.
DVDFab DVD Copy is a professional ISO maker that lets users back up or compress any DVD disc, folder, or ISO file to a blank disc or save it as an ISO image on the hard drive. In testing, it produced clean, error-free ISOs that retained the same structure and quality as the original disc. What makes it stand out is its versatility—it works equally well for personal backups, video archives, or creating compact copies for playback on standard DVD players.
Key Features:
- Create ISO files from DVD discs, folders, or existing ISOs
- Support the latest encrypted DVDs and region-coded titles
- Losslessly copy DVD-9 to DVD-9 and DVD-5 to DVD-5, or compress DVD-9 to DVD-5
- Six copy modes available for flexible ISO making
- GPU acceleration for batch copying at faster speeds
- Preserve all original menus, chapters, and metadata
Drawbacks:
- Free version lacks support for new encryption types
- Full functionality requires a paid license after trial
How to create an ISO File from DVD with DVDFab DVD Copy
Step 1: Download and install DVDFab DVD Copy on your Windows or Mac computer. Once installed, double-click the desktop icon to open it.
Step 2: Select the Copy module from the side menu to begin creating your ISO file. Insert your DVD disc into the optical drive. Click the + icon in the middle of the interface to load your DVD, or drag and drop the disc, ISO file, or folder directly.
💡If the disc isn't detected, clean its surface gently or try another drive to ensure proper reading.
Step 3: After loading, review the main interface to see your chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles. You can deselect unwanted titles or audio tracks.
Click Advanced Settings to set output volume, and choose copy mode (e.g., Main Movie, Full Disc).
Step 4: At the bottom of the interface, click the ISO icon to select Save as ISO file. Then choose a destination folder with enough free storage, ideally on a drive separate from your system partition. Once all options are set, click Start to begin the process. DVDFab will automatically copy your DVD to an ISO image with full quality preserved.
2. Free ISO Creator
- Working platform: Windows XP, Vista, 7 (32 & 64 bits)
- Why I chose it: Lightweight and simple, ideal for quick ISO creation on old Windows systems.
Free ISO Creator is a user-friendly tool that can convert CDs, DVDs, or folders into standard ISO 9660 images. In my experience, it runs smoothly on legacy Windows machines and reliably produces ISO files that are readable on both Windows and Linux systems. The interface is clean and intuitive, which makes it ideal for quick backups or small data archives without the clutter of extra configuration options.
How to create ISO from DVD with Free ISO Creator
Step 1: Download and open this program. Then click on the "Browser" button to select a source folder.
Step 2: Please input the label of your ISO file in the "Volume Name". Next, hit on the "Save as" button to set an output path as well as name the output file.
💡Use clear, simple names for your ISO and avoid special characters to ensure compatibility.
Step 3: Last, click on that "Create" button to start the process of making ISO file.
3. Free WinISO Maker
- Working platform: Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7
- Why I chose it: One of the earliest ISO makers that combines ISO creation and editing in a single lightweight program.
Free WinISO Maker is a legacy ISO maker that was once popular among Windows users for its ability to open, edit, and create ISO files from CDs. It can also convert different image formats and create basic bootable ISOs, which made it a versatile utility during its time. In my testing, it worked reliably with older CD-ROMs, though the interface now feels outdated compared with modern tools. Still, it remains a functional option for users maintaining old systems or restoring archived software.
How to create an ISO file with Free WinISO Maker
Step 1: Run this ISO maker and go for "Actions" tab on the top bar. Then choose "Make ISO from CDROM" to begin.
💡Make sure your CD/DVD drive is empty before inserting the disc, and close any auto-play dialogs.
Step 2: A dialog box will appear. Select your preferred output path and verify the format as ISO to maintain compatibility with standard ISO readers.
Step 3: Enter a file name under File Name, confirm the destination folder, and click "OK" to start ISO creation. The tool will read the entire disc and generate an image automatically.
4. FlashCrest ISO Maker
- Working platform: Windows 98/2000/XP/2003/Vista/7
- Why I chose it: A simple tool that still performs basic ISO creation tasks with minimal setup effort.
As a lightweight free ISO maker, FlashCrest ISO Maker allows you to create mountable and burnable ISO images from CDs, DVDs, or folders stored on your computer. During my test, the software ran smoothly on older Windows systems and created ISO files that could be mounted or burned without errors. However, its lack of updates since 2012 limits its usability on modern operating systems.
How to make an ISO file with FlashCrest ISO Maker
Step 1: Run this FlashCrest ISO Maker after installation, and click on the "Create ISO" button.
💡Run the program as an administrator to prevent access errors or permission issues during ISO creation.
Step 2: Drag and drop your desired files or folders into the main window. Then choose your preferred ISO format, Joliet or ISO 9660, from the list at the bottom of the interface.
Step 3: Once everything is set, click "GO" to start creating your ISO image. The progress bar shows the completion status, and the ISO will be saved automatically to your chosen directory.
5. Magic ISO Maker
- Working platform: Windows XP, Vista, 2008, 7 (legacy systems only)
- Why I chose it: A classic all-in-one ISO editor that combines creation, extraction, and conversion functions in one tool.
Magic ISO Maker is a long-standing tool for creating, editing and extracting ISO image files from CDs and DVDs. This ISO file converter supports various disc image formats such as BIN, IMG, and IMA, and can convert between ISO and BIN/CUE files. During testing, it handled small disc projects efficiently, and its editing function allowed direct modification of ISO content without needing to rebuild the image from scratch.
How to create an ISO file with Magic ISO Maker
Step 1: Launch Magic ISO Maker, open the "File" menu, and click on "New". A blank workspace appears where you can add files or folders.
Step 2: Click "Add" to import your files. Use the sidebar to arrange or rename entries before saving.
Step 3: Go back to File > Save As, choose a destination, and confirm the filename. The program will compile and finalize your ISO image.
Comparison: What is the Best ISO Maker
Now that I've reviewed the top 5 ISO makers, but which one is best suit your needs? The table below provides you with a complete comparison on working systems, DVD Decryption, supported input and output formats and other extra features, aiming to help you make a good choice.
| Features | Compatibility | Input Source | Output Formats | Disc Decryption | Best For |
| DVDFab DVD Copy | Windows & Mac | DVD disc, ISO file, folder | DVD disc, ISO file, folder | Yes | Any user needing full DVD-to-ISO backup |
| Free ISO Creator | Windows | CD-ROM, DVD, or folder | ISO 9660 CD image | No | Quick CD/DVD backups |
| Free WinISO Maker | Windows | CD drive or ISO file | ISO or bootable CD image | No | Editing older CD images |
| FlashCrest ISO Maker | Windows | DVD, CD, or folder | Joliet / ISO 9660 image | No | Simple ISO creation tasks |
| Magic ISO Maker | Windows | DVD/CD or other image file | ISO or bootable CD/DVD image | No | Legacy ISO editing and conversion |
🎯Comparison Table Takeaways:
- If you need a modern, feature-rich solution that works on the latest Windows and Mac systems and including encrypted discs, DVDFab DVD Copy offers the most versatility and advanced functions.
- For users working with older CDs or DVDs on legacy Windows versions, tools like Free ISO Creator, Free WinISO Maker, FlashCrest ISO Maker, and Magic ISO Maker remain handy for quick, basic ISO creation tasks.
- Keep in mind that most traditional free tools don't support Blu-ray, lack decryption abilities, and may not function on the newest operating systems.
- Before choosing, consider your source disc type, your system version, and whether you need extra features like decryption, batch processing, or editing—these factors will help you find the ISO maker that best matches your needs.
FAQs
No. Windows 10 and 11 let you mount or burn existing ISO files, but they can't create new ISO images from folders or discs. To make ISO files, you'll need a third-party ISO maker such as DVDFab DVD Copy, which support full disc to ISO conversion on both Windows and Mac.
An ISO file is a digital copy of a disc's content. A bootable ISO includes extra boot data that lets your computer start directly from it. In addition to containing an exact copy of data from a physical disc, it also has the necessary startup information for a computer to boot (start up) from this image instead of its regular operating system when it's burned onto a USB drive or CD/DVD. This feature is often used for installing new operating systems or running live versions of an OS directly from the media without installation.
What Is the Best ISO Maker for Mac?
Most ISO makers are built for Windows, but DVDFab DVD Copy stands out as one of the few full-featured ISO makers available on Mac. It lets you copy DVDs to ISO image files or folders. During testing, it worked reliably on macOS Sonoma, supporting GPU acceleration for faster processing.
If you prefer a simpler option, you can also use the Disk Utility app built into macOS to create basic ISO files from folders or optical discs, though it lacks compression, decryption, and customization features.
Conclusion
After testing and comparing these ISO makers, I found that each tool fits a different use case. DVDFab DVD Copy performs the best overall, while lightweight tools like Free ISO Creator and Magic ISO Maker remain useful for simple, unprotected backups on older systems. For daily use on Windows or macOS, I recommend DVDFab DVD Copy for its balance of reliability, usability, and advanced features.
To convert a DVD to an ISO image, you can rely on dedicated ripping software like DVDFab DVD Copy to simplify the process. To begin, simply insert the disc, select a specific copy mode to prioritize the core content, and choose ISO as the output format to start the backup. Alternatively, Mac users can utilize the built-in Disk Utility to create a .cdr disc image from the physical media, which can then be converted into a standard .iso file using a simple command in the Terminal.
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