How to Convert MP4 to DVD Format for Free on Windows, Mac & Online

Recent discussions on Reddit and Apple Support communities reveal a common question: we convert MP4 to DVD only to find our discs unplayable on standard home players due to incorrect MPEG-2 encoding or region-locked video standards. As modern computers have phased out built-in authoring tools like Windows DVD Maker, we need to choose an MP4 to DVD converter that handles complex encoding, aspect ratios, and menu creation without sacrificing quality.

This guide is here to help. I've carefully selected and reviewed 10 tested MP4 to DVD converters for both Windows and Mac, providing a mix of free, open-source, and premium options. And you'll find a detailed look at each program's features and drawbacks, along with step-by-step instructions for burning your videos to DVD.

Quick Summary: Choosing the Right MP4 to DVD Tool

To ensure reliable results, I conducted a performance test using a 1.5GB MP4 file (H.264/AAC/1080p) on Windows 11 with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (1.80 GHz) and 16GB RAM, converting it to a DVD-5. My test focused on encoding efficiency, MPEG-2 output quality, and success rate.

My Picks of MP4 to DVD Converter:

💡DVDFab DVD Creator is the most reliable MP4 to DVD converter, delivering Lossless MPEG-2 quality with a 100% success rate. In my tests, it maintained perfect stability and the resulting disc played flawlessly on both modern and legacy DVD players. Featuring GPU acceleration and professional menus, it efficiently manages chapters and video editing for a seamless authoring experience on any optical media.

💡DVDStyler is a good free choice for manual disc authoring. While it created playable disc at zero cost, stability was a concern, requiring three attempts to complete the burn. However, once successfully authored, the output disc passed our playback test with functional menus. It remains a capable, though slower, option for patient users.

Essential Prep: What You Need Before Converting

To successfully successfully convert MP4 to DVD, ensure you have the following components ready:

• MP4 Video Files: The source digital files you intend to burn onto the disc.
• Blank Recordable DVDs: Choose a DVD-R for a permanent, one-time burn, or a DVD-RW if you wish to erase and reuse the disc later.
• DVD Burner Drive: An internal optical drive or an external USB DVD Super Multi Drive if your computer lacks a built-in one.
• DVD Authoring Software: Professional tools like DVDFab DVD Creator is required to encode the MP4 into the proper MPEG-2 format and create the necessary VOB directory structure.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD with DVDFab DVD Creator

• OS: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & macOS 10.13 - 15.x.
• Input: MKV, MP4, AVI, M2TS, MOV, WMV, FLV, M4V, VOB, and more.
• Output: DVD-9, DVD-5, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL, ISO, Folder

DVDFab DVD Creator is a high-performance disc authoring solution designed to convert MP4 to DVD with professional-grade precision. It supports a vast array of input formats beyond MP4, including MKV, AVI, and MOV, transforming them into standard DVD-Video formats compatible with any standalone player. The software utilizes a powerful MPEG-2 encoding engine that balances file compression with visual fidelity, ensuring your optical media maintains high resolution and stable frame rates.

During my test, its standout feature was the seamless integration of GPU hardware acceleration, which utilized my AMD Ryzen's resources to achieve conversion speeds significantly faster than open-source alternatives. Beyond simple burning, the tool provides an intuitive DVD menu creator with customizable templates, allowing me to personalize background assets and navigation widgets. I found the built-in bitrate calculator particularly useful, as it automatically optimizes video quality to fit perfectly within the storage limits of a DVD-5 or DVD-9 disc.

Key Features:

• Support various digital input formats
• Burn to DVD-9/-5, DVD±R/RW, and dual-layer discs
• Merge multiple videos into one DVD and set playback order
• Create stylish DVD menus, choose audio tracks, and add external subtitles
• Batch convert multiple videos to DVDs using GPU hardware acceleration
• Preview the output video before converting MP4 to DVD format
• Access built-in video and chapter editing tools for customizing your DVD

Video Guide:

📌Detailed Guide

Step 1: Launch DVDFab DVD Creator and Load MP4 Videos

Download DVDFab from the official website or just click the following Download Button.

After launching the software, let's select the "Creator" module first and choose the module of DVD Creator. Then, click on the "Add" button to load your source MP4 video files, or simply drag and drop them to the main interface.

Step 2: Customize Your Own DVD and Make DVD Menu

After DVDFab finishes analyzing your file(s), the Name, Runtime, Audio, Subtitle information will be displayed on the main interface. You can choose your preferred audio tracks and subtitle language, or add external subtitles. Additionally, clicking "None" will cancel the subtitles.

There are three options to customize your DVD: Advanced Settings, Menu Settings, and Video Edit. Using the first option, you can set the output DVD name, type (DVD-5 or DVD-9), and video resolution, such as "Same as the source" or "Fit to Disc". You can also set the Menu Properties and Playback Mode.

💡TV Standard (Region):

• NTSC (720×480 @ 29.97/23.976 fps) for North America/Japan.
• PAL (720×576 @ 25 fps) for Europe/most of Asia/Oceania.

This ensures broad player compatibility in your region. 

💡Aspect Ratio: Choose 16:9 for widescreen footage; 4:3 only for legacy material. If you see hard letterbox bars in the preview, use Crop in Video Edit to remove them before authoring.

Click "Menu Settings" to access the built-in DVD menu creator. You can choose a menu template and personalize all elements, including background images, text font, color, and size, as well as thumbnails and playback buttons like Play/Pause and Previous/Next.

If you want to edit your videos before conversion, DVDFab DVD Creator has you covered with its built-in editor. You can crop footage, adjust effects, add watermarks, customize subtitles.

Step 3: Select an Output Directory and Start to Convert MP4 to DVD

Move to the bottom of the main interface to select an output directory. There are three options:

• Burn to Disc: Instant Playback for DVD Players
• Save as DVD folder: store DVD structure files on PC for future burning
• Create ISO Image: Generate universal files for virtual drives/cloud storage

Finally, click the "Start" button to initiate the MP4 to DVD process. The advanced GPU acceleration technology ensures you a 50x faster DVD burning speed.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD Free with DVDStyler

• OS: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Input: MKV, MP4, AVI, and more.
• Output: DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and Dual Layer (DL) discs.

DVDStyler is a free, open-source DVD authoring tool that allows users to convert MP4 to DVDs with interactive menus. It's cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) and is especially favored by hobbyists and semi-professional video editors for its simplicity, flexibility, and robust feature set - despite being free. Unlike basic disc burners, DVDStyler focuses on DVD menu creation, video organization, and full disc authoring, enable users design custom layouts, add multiple titles, and create multilingual menus.

During my testing, I found that DVDStyler provides an impressive level of manual control over the VOB file structure, though it lacks modern UI and hardware acceleration. On my AMD Ryzen system, the encoding process was slower than premium alternatives, and as noted in my benchmark, the software experienced two stability issues before successfully completing the burn. 

Key Features:

• Completely free without ads or watermarks
• Drag-and-drop menu editor with templates or fully custom designs
• Compatible with AVI, MP4, MOV, MPEG, WMV, and more

Cons:

• Encoding speed can be slower compared to paid software
• The interface is outdated and unintuitive to some users

📌Detailed Guide:

Step 1: Open DVDStyler and Create a New Project

Go to the official website (https://www.dvdstyler.org) or its SourceForge page to download the installer for your OS and complete the setup.

When DVDStyler opens, choose "Create a New Project." Here you can set the DVD format to NTSC or PAL, pick the aspect ratio (4:3 for standard or 16:9 for widescreen) and select the disc capacity (4.7 GB or 8.5 GB).

Step 2: Add MP4 Video Titles

Drag and drop your MP4 files directly into the project window; each file becomes a separate title on the DVD. You can also define chapter points manually or let the program create them automatically, which makes navigation easier for viewers.

Step 3: Design the DVD Menu

Next, choose a pre-made template or replace the background with your own image or video. You can also adjust the text and buttons to create a personalized look.

Step 4: Preview and Start burning

Click Preview to simulate the DVD playback. Test menu navigation and chapters to ensure everything works as intended.

After selecting the output path, click the red Burn button. DVDStyler will convert the MP4 file to MPEG-2 DVD-Video format and create the disc.

How to Use Zamzar to Convert MP4 to DVD Online

Zamzar is a popular web-based file conversion platform that supports over 1200 different file conversions with varying formats. One of the many conversion options available on Zamzar is the ability to convert MP4 files to DVD compatible. This online MP4 to DVD converters work best with small files and simple "DVD-compatible" outputs.

However，expect limits on file size and speed, minimal or no menu authoring, no direct disc burning, possible quotas or watermarks, and privacy considerations. I recommend it solely for "format-only" tasks because it cannot generate the IFO and BUP files necessary for a standard DVD directory structure. If your goal is a physical disc that plays in a home theater system, you'll need a free DVD burning software.

👍Pros:

• Supports a wide range of video and audio formats
• Intuitive 3-Step Workflow: Upload, Convert, Download

👎Cons:

• Outputs ISO/VIDEO_TS files only; no physical disc or menu creation
• Must provide email to receive download links
• Files are retained for 24 hours for free users and 30 days for paid one
• There is a size limit: free users are limited to 50MB

Detailed Guide on Converting MP4 to DVD-compatible Format Online with Zamzar

Step 1: Open any browser to visit the Zamzar website and sign in to your account.
 
Step 2: Click on the "Choose Files" button and select the MP4 file you want to convert, or drag and drop the file into the upload area. Zamzar also supports uploading files from URL, Dropbox, Google Drive or directly linking the file.

Step 3: After the video is uploaded, choose "DVD" as the desired output format from the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Click on the "Convert Now" button. Then provide your email address to get the link to the converted file.

Step 5: Once the conversion is complete, a download link will be provided. Click the link to download your DVD-compatible file.

💡If you provide an email address, Zamzar will send you the download link once the conversion is done.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD with Other Tools

Wondershare DVD Creator

Wondershare DVD Creator is a versatile disc authoring solution that strikes a balance between professional utility and creative expression. It supports over 150 video formats, including MP4, MKV, and HEVC, ensuring seamless conversion to DVD-Video standards. The software is particularly noted for its integrated video editor and photo slideshow maker, which allow users to enhance their optical media projects before burning. 

During my evaluation, I found the interface exceptionally user-friendly, featuring a "one-click" burning mode that is perfect for beginners. The library of static and dynamic menu templates is impressive. However, while it is stable, the encoding speed lacks the raw power of DVDFab's GPU acceleration on larger 4K files. The software requires a paid license for full functionality, and the trial version adds a watermark to output videos.

Key Features:

• Batch convert multiple MP4 files to DVD, ISO, or DVD folder
• Utilize video editing tools to trim video, add watermarks, subtitles and more
• Personalize DVDs with complimentary templates and adjustable parameters such as Aspect Qatio and TV standard

Cons:

• The user interface can be confusing and less intuitive
• It sometimes "lags" during processing and seems to freeze
• The software runs slower when converting larger video files to DVD

How to Convert MP4 to DVD with Wondershare DVD Creator?

Step 1: Launch the program and click "Create a DVD Video Disc." Drag your MP4 files into the "Source" tab.

Step 2: Click the "Pencil" icon next to the video thumbnail to crop, trim, or add subtitles to your footage.

Step 3: Switch to the "Menu" tab. Choose a template from the right panel and customize the background image or music.

Step 4: Go to the "Preview" tab to check the navigation. Finally, click "Burn," set your TV Standard as NTSC or PAL, and start the process.

EaseFab DVD Creator

EaseFab DVD Creator is a lightweight yet effective tool to convert MP4 to DVD. It focuses on the core essentials of the burning process, supporting a wide variety of input formats including MP4, MOV, and MKV. By converting these digital files into the standard DVD-Video format, it ensures that your home movies are readable by any standard DVD player. 

During my practical assessment, EaseFab stood out for its low system resource consumption. Unlike more bloated multimedia suites, it ran smoothly on older hardware without causing system lag. The built-in video editor is basic but functional for quick trims. My main critique is that the menu templates are somewhat dated and users can only burn 3-minute DVD with the software's trial version.

How to Transfer MP4 to DVD with EaseFab DVD Creator?

Step 1: Download and launch EaseFab DVD Creator from its official website. Click the "Add files" button to browse your computer hard disc and add the MP4 files you want to burn to DVD.

Step 2: After loading the MP4 files, you can customize the DVD menus or edit videos based on your needs. You can choose from different themes from the menu, or download more from the website. The toolbar on the left allows you to adjust the aspect ratio, crop the video, add a watermark and more.

Step 3: After all settings, click the "Burn" button to select the output parameters like DVD Type, Output Path and Copy Number. Hit "Burn" again to start burning your MP4 videos to DVD.

Leawo DVD Creator

Leawo DVD Creator is a reliable tool designed to convert MP4 to DVD while offering high creative flexibility. It supports over 180 video formats, including MP4, MKV, and AVI, for burning onto DVD-5 or DVD-9 discs. This DVD burning software for Windows 10 software features an internal DVD menu creator with more than 40 templates, and it allows users to convert 2D videos into immersive 3D DVDs. 

In my practical evaluation, the 2D-to-3D conversion feature was a unique highlight that added extra value for home theater fans. The interface is clean, making it very easy to adjust bitrate and aspect ratios (16:9 or 4:3). However, I noticed the encoding speed is average and only five minutes of content can be converted before purchase. The installation package often includes modules for other Leawo products. 

How to Create DVD from MP4 with Leawo DVD Creator?

Step 1: The burning, ripping and copying features of Leawo are all integrated in the Prof. Media installer. So download and launch the latest version of Leawo 13.0.0.6 on your computer. Then prepare the video files and put a blank playable disc into your drive.

Step 2: Click "Add Video" to import the MP4 video to the program's main interface. Or, drag the MP4 file directly to the program.

Step 3: Set up the disc menu by either DIYing your own disc menu or selecting a template from the library (built-in or online) in the right column.

By clicking on the video window, you can preview it only, or do things like crop it, add effect and watermark.

Step 4: After selecting the templates, tap the "Burn" button at the upper-right corner to initiate the DVD burning process. Then, confirm other options like "Burn to", "Disc Label", and "Save to".

Aiseesoft DVD Creator

Aiseesoft DVD Creator converts MP4 videos to DVDs on Windows and Mac, picture slideshows and audio files to DVD-compatible formats (ISO/folder or physical disc). You can select the main audio track from a multi-language source (AC3, MP3, AAC) and add SRT, SUB, and ASS as multiple subtitles for DVD files. Additionally, there are more than 20 templates with customizable backgrounds, text and buttons for you to download.

During my testing, I found the software to be easy to navigate, with a logical workflow that suits beginners. The video editor allows for adjusting brightness and watermarks, and the system remained stable. It lacks the top-tier GPU acceleration of DVDFab for massive DVD files. Additionally, users should note that subtitles are often "burned-in" when outputting to ISO or folders, making them non-switchable during playback.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD Video with Aiseesoft DVD Creator?

Step 1: Download, install, and launch Aiseesoft DVD Creator. Then click "Add Files" to load the MP4 file into the program. Remember to prepare a blank DVD and put it into the drive. Or just save the movie as an ISO image file or folder.

Step 2: The main interface of Aiseesoft shows all the features and configurations. Move to the top menu bar to edit the video:

• Adjust video duration by dragging the timeline or entering the exact start/end time
• Fine-tune brightness, contrast and saturation to correct underexposed clips
• Add text or image watermarks (e.g. copyright tags) that can be resized and positioned

Step 3: The next step is to manage audio and subtitles:

• Setting the default audio track or importing auxiliary audio files for bilingual DVDs
• Embed hard-coded subtitles directly in the video stream. Note that you cannot toggle subtitles on/off during playback.

Step 4: Aiseesoft provides a library of downloadable menu templates for specialized themes.

• You need to visit the Menu Templates Center or click on Online Templates within the software to select and download a theme.
• Go to the "Preferences window, find the online menu settings and load the downloaded file into the folder.

Step 5: After previewing your file, tap "Burn" to convert MP4 to ISO or DVD folder.

Freemake Video Converter

Freemake is a popular MP4 to DVD converter for Windows. It supports DVD and Blu-ray disc creation and over 60 video formats, allowing you to convert videos, photos, music, and other types of files into DVD compatible formats. 

In my testing, Freemake was  easy to use, though it feels more like a converter than a professional authoring suite. The interface is clean, but the stability was inconsistent; the software occasionally stalled when processing high-resolution 1080p files. However, the free edition adds a Freemake watermark on burned videos, and some advanced menu customization features require a paid Gold Pack.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD Free with Freemake?

Step 1: Download and install Freemake Video Converter on your Windows computer. Open the software and click "+Video" to add MP4 files or drag and drop files directly into the program window.

Step 2: Select "to DVD" on the formats bar. Add the option to your Favorites for regular use if desired. Review and adjust conversion parameters in the new software window if necessary. These parameters can include the DVD title, menu type, volume, aspect ratio, encoding system, and audio codec.

Step 3: Click "Convert" to begin the MP4 to DVD creation. Insert a blank DVD-R or RW into your DVD-ROM drive and select it as the destination.

MacX Video Converter 

MacX Video Converter is a multifunctional video converter and DVD maker designed exclusively for macOS capable of converting 420 formats and devices, including DVDs. Beyond video conversion, it provides basic video editing, screen recording and online video download functions. 

Its DVD menu creator is quite basic, offering fewer customization options. My experience showed that while it is perfect for quick, high-quality burns, it may not satisfy those looking for complex interactive menu logic.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD Video with MacX Video Converter?

Step 1: Install and launch the MacX Video Converter on you Mac computer. Click on the "Video" button that appears at the top, browse and select the MP4 file you want to convert.

Step 2: After the video has loaded, click the file in the preview window and select the output DVD profile from the drop-down list.

Step 3: Choose the output folder where you want to save the converted files by clicking the "Browse" button. Once everything is set as per your preference, click the "RUN" button to convert your MP4 file to DVD.

Movavi Video Converter

Movavi Video Converter is a versatile tool that can convert 180+ video files, including MP4 formats at high speed. This comprehensive software not only can convert MP4 to DVD-compatible format in high quality but it also allows customization like adding subtitles and watermarks, cropping, trimming, and more.

In my testing, the software's SuperSpeed mode provided nearly instant conversions for standard MP4 files. However, it is important to note that Movavi is primarily a converter; you will still need a separate DVD burning software to write the resulting files onto a physical disc. Additionally, the DVD menu creator is extremely limited, lacking the professional templates.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD with Movavi Video Converter?

Step 1: Open Movavi Video Converter, click on "Add Media", and then hit "Add Video" to choose the MP4 files you want to convert.

Step 2: After adding your files, navigate to the Video tab and select the "DVD-Compatible Video" preset group. Here you can set your desired standard and quality. Additional parameters like frame size and Frame Rate can be adjusted by clicking the "Cogwheel" button.

💡Quality / Bitrate mode:

• For < 70–90 min: use CBR ~7–8 Mbps video for simplicity and high quality.
• For longer videos: choose VBR (2-pass) with Average ~5–6 Mbps, Max 8–9.5 Mbps to fit a DVD-5.
• If targeting DVD-9, you can raise the average by ~1–1.5 Mbps.

Step 3: Click on the "Save to" button to specify the output location and then click "Convert" to create a DVD-compatible format from your MP4 file.

Any Video Converter

Any Video Converter (AVC) is a multifunctional video processing software that integrates video conversion, screen recording and DVD burning. It comes with DVD authoring function which allows users to burn MP4 video to DVD to create playable discs. 

During my evaluation, I found AVC to be a practical tool for basic MPEG-2 encoding, though the user experience requires some caution. A significant point for users is that the free version often includes bundled extra software, so you must pay close attention during the installation process to opt out of unwanted add-ons. 

How to Burn MP4 to DVD with Any Video Converter?

💡 Note: Any Video Converter Free does not include DVD Burning. If you need to convert MP4 to a DVD-Video disc (with or without menu templates), you must use AVC Pro or Ultimate.

Step 1: Open the software and go to the Toolkits section on the main interface. Click on "DVD Burning" to enter the burning interface.

Step 2: Click Add Video to import your MP4 files, or drag and drop them directly into the software.

Step 3: On the right-hand side, configure the output settings:

• Burn Location: Choose to save as a DVD5 (4.7GB) or DVD9 (8.5GB) file.
• TV Standard: Select NTSC or PAL based on your region.
• Aspect Ratio: Choose 4:3 or 16:9 according to your preference.

Step 4: Below the output settings, you will find nine DVD menu templates categorized by themes. However, note that the text and options in the menu cannot be customized.

Step 5: After completing the settings, click "Burn Now" in the upper right corner to start the burning process.

DigitalOfficePro MP4 to DVD Online Converter

DigitalOfficePro MP4 to DVD Online Converter is a browser-based converter that turns MP4 into DVD-compatible format without installing software. It's part of DigitalOfficePro's online suite.

How to Convert MP4 to DVD with DigitalOfficePro MP4 to DVD Online Converter

Step 1: Open the MP4 to DVD page and upload your MP4. 

Step 2: Choose the DVD output (select NTSC/PAL if offered), then start the conversion. 

Step 3: Download the DVD-compatible file and import it into your authoring/burning tool to create a disc, folder, or ISO.

Comparison of the 12 Ways to Convert MP4 to DVD

We have shared detailed insights into the top MP4 to DVD converters. If you're deciding which one fits your needs, focus on these criteria: OS & Watermark, Menu controls, Outputs, Batch/GPU speed, Formats & TV standard (NTSC/PAL).

Final Verdict

Choosing the ideal MP4 to DVD converter might seem challenging at first, but our curated list of top-tier tools simplifies the decision-making process. When making your decision, prioritize key factors like OS compatibility, conversion speed, and bonus features such as customizable and dynamic menus. By evaluating these aspects against your project requirements, you can confidently select the best solution for creating professional-quality DVDs from your MP4 files.