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

The days of storing all our favorite movies on DVDs are quickly coming to an end thanks to the rise of Blu-ray and easy access to online streaming platforms like Netflix. Then how do you deal with your old DVD discs? Converting DVDs to digital formats, such as MKV, is a good choice.

In order to create such a digital collection that you can store locally on your computer or on an external hard drive, you'll need the help of a DVD to MKV converter. Then what freeware should you use? Now, read on to select the ideal MKV DVD Ripper to modernize your media library.

Converting DVD to MKV is a necessity for many people who want to keep their movie collection safe and sound in digital format. There are top 6 tools available that can help you with this task. 

Comparison: Which DVD to MKV Converter is Best for You

 

We'll introduce the six best DVD to MKV converters, including DVDFab DVD Ripper, MakeMKV, HandBrake, Freemake, Uniconveter, and AnyMP4 DVD Ripper. It's time to delve deeper. In this section, we will conduct a comprehensive comparison of these tools, aiming to help you determine which tool is best suited for your specific needs at first.  

DVD to MKV Converter: Our Top 1 Recommendation

 

The six software solutions discussed in the following all demonstrate varying capabilities in converting DVD to MKV. After comprehensive testing across key metrics including cost-effectiveness, ripping speed, output quality, and format compatibility, two tools emerge as our top recommendations. Let's see which one will stand out and become the Top One!

💡Test Environment and Movie Information

• Operating System: Windows 10X64
• System Memory: 16GB
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB
• Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700 CPU
• Source Movie: 8 Mile; 1h50min14s; 6.13GB 

Software	Video/Audio Codec	Output Format	Output Video/Audio	Conversion Time	Output File_Size
DVDFab (Re-encoding)	H264 / AAC	MP4(also support 1000+ video&audio formats)	720*404 AAC 5.1	5min31s	1.91GB
DVDFab (Passthrough)	No Encoding	MKV.Passthrough	720*480 DTS 5.1	1min37s	5.07GB
MakeMKV (Passthrough)	No Encoding	MKV	720*480  AC3 5.1	1min34s	6.01GB

⭐Competitive Edge: Why DVDFab stands out?

DVDFab (Passthrough) delivers a 5.07 GB MKV file in just 1 minute 37 seconds, while maintaining original video quality. In contrast, MakeMKV outputs a 6.01 GB file under similar conditions. That means DVDFab saves 15.6% more storage space per disc, making it a more efficient solution for users who want to preserve quality without wasting disc space.

DVDFab holds a clear advantage in passthrough output by preserving higher-quality audio. While both DVDFab and MakeMKV offer no re-encoding and output in MKV format at 720×480 resolution, DVDFab uses DTS 5.1, which delivers richer, more detailed surround sound compared to MakeMKV's AC3 5.1. This makes DVDFab the better choice for users who prioritize audio fidelity without increasing file size or compromising on efficiency.

🏅Top 1: DVDFab DVD Ripper

DVDFab stands out as a comprehensive digital media solution with several key advantages. Its Advanced decryption ability allows it to bypass protections like CSS, APS, RC, Sony ARccOS, and DADC, ensuring reliable access to a wide range of DVDs and Blu-rays. It also delivers a strong balance of speed and output quality, thanks to smart compression technology and support for high-resolution audio and video formats. With full video re-encoding video re-encoding and a broad selection of output profiles—including MP4, AVI, MOV, and device-specific presets—DVDFab offers exceptional flexibility, making it ideal for playback, editing, or archiving across various platforms and devices.

Convert DVD to MKV with DVDFab DVD Ripper (Windows, Mac)

DVDFab DVD Ripper

This 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.

Free Download

100% safe&clean

Free Download

100% safe&clean

DVDFab DVD Ripping software is one of the best DVD to MKV converters that can rip any type of DVD disc, ISO files and folders to digital formats that runs on any compatible media player. Here are the main features of this tool.

Working System: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 & macOS 10.10 - 14

How to Convert DVD to MKV with DVDFab?

Step 1: Download DVDFab 13 and choose the "Ripper" Module

DVD Ripper is one of the modules of DVDFab 13. So when you launch DVDFab 13, select the "Ripper" module from the left menu. Once there, either insert the DVD disc or click the "Add" button to load your file. Meanwhile, if you want to rip an ISO file or folder, simply use the drag & drop method. 

Step 2: Set the output format as MKV

With the source loaded up, you will see all the input and output information of your video. Here you can choose the titles, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles you to rip to your MKV video. Or you can also add external subtitles by clicking on the dropdown menu for "Subtitle".

Then it's time to select the format. To do this go to the "Choose Other Profile" and select "Format -> Video". You can make full use of the profile "Filter" to pick a MKV formats best for your needs, such as lossless MKV. Passthrough, 3D MKV. 5K, MKV.4K.HDR10.H265.10Bit and so on. Also on this panel, you can click the option of "Device" near "Format" to choose the output preset. 

Step 3: Edit the output video using "Advanced Settings" and "Video Edit" (Optional)

Then it's time to customize the output MKV video. Go to "Advanced Settings" and you can set the video and audio parameters as you want.

Also, you can edit the video with the built-in "Video Edit". With it you can change properties including the audio, speed, brightness, contrast, and saturation, or by cropping and trimming the video. You can also add external subtitles, text or image watermarks, effects to the video.

Step 4: Start to rip DVD to MKV file

After customizing MKV video, you need to select an output directory and click the "Start" button to initiate the DVD to MKV conversion task. Then, you will watch DVD in MKV format on your phone or desktop.

Convert DVD to MKV with MakeMKV (Windows, Mac, Linux)

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

How to Convert DVD to MKV with MakeMKV?

Step 1: Download & Install MakeMKV 

Go to the official website and download the latest version (1.18.1) for Windows, macOS, or Linux; Install and open the application.

Step 2: Insert Your DVD

Put your DVD into your computer's DVD drive; Wait a few seconds for MakeMKV to detect the disc.

Step 3: Open the Disc

In MakeMKV, click the large DVD drive icon to scan the disc; It will read the disc and show the available titles (main movie, extras, menus, etc.).

Step 4: Choose What to Convert

Tick the boxes next to the video titles and audio/subtitle tracks you want.

Tip: Usually, the longest title is the main movie.

You can deselect foreign audio tracks or bonus content.

Step 5: Set Output Folder and Start the Conversion

Choose a destination folder where you want to save the MKV file; Make sure there's enough disk space (DVD movies are usually 4–8 GB); Click the green "Make MKV" button.

Convert DVD to MKV with HandBrake (Windows, Mac, Linux)

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

How to Convert DVD to MKV with HandBrake?

Step 1: Install HandBrake

You need to download HandBrake from https://handbrake.fr and install it on your computer by following the on-screen instructions. (The latest version is 1.9.2)

Step 2: Insert Your DVD and Launch HandBrake

Insert the DVD you want to convert into your computer’s DVD drive and wait a few moments for the system to recognize it.

Open the HandBrake application, and it will attempt to scan the DVD automatically; if not, manually select the DVD drive as the source.

Step 3: Enable DVD Decryption (if needed)

If your DVD is copy-protected (as most commercial ones are), you should install the libdvdcss library—on Windows, download the libdvdcss-2.dll file and place it in the HandBrake folder, and on macOS, install it using the Terminal command brew install libdvdcss.

Step 4: Select the Main Title and the Output Format

Once the disc scan is complete, select the main movie title (usually the longest duration) from the list of available titles shown in HandBrake; In the "Format" dropdown on the main screen, select MKV to ensure your output will be saved in the Matroska video container format.

Step 5: Adjust Video Settings

Under the "Video" tab, choose the codec (typically H.264) and adjust the constant quality slider to around RF 20–23, which balances quality and file size for DVD sources.

Step 6: Configure Audio Tracks and Customize Subtitles

Go to the "Audio" tab and choose which audio tracks to include, removing unwanted ones like commentary or alternate languages if not needed.

In the "Subtitles" tab, you can import external subtitles (like .srt files) or select the subtitle tracks from the DVD, with the option to burn them into the video or keep them switchable.

Step 7: Set the Output Location and Start the Conversion

Click the "Browse" button at the bottom of the window to choose the folder where you want to save the output file and give it a name; Click the green "Start Encode" button at the top to begin the conversion process.

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, including MKV. 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