Posted by Chris Ellison - May 12, 2025 | Contact Author
5 Best MakeMKV Alternatives: Top Blu-ray/DVD Rippers like MakeMKV
"Does anybody have a recommendation for an alternative to makemkv on Mac if a movie isn't ripping on there? I'm trying to use MakeMKV to rip a Disney movie DVD, but it's failed."
"I'm looking for best alternative to MakeMKV to rip commercial Blu-ray discs to not only MKV, but also to other popular video formats like MP4, MOV, etc. so that I can watch my favorite movies on my iPhone 11. Any suggestions?"
MakeMKV is one of the popularly used tools for converting DVD and Blu-ray discs on Windows, macOS and Linux. However, many users have experienced MakeMKV not working, MakeMKV down and other common MakeMKV issues. Beyond that, MakeMKV enables you to only rip encrypted discs to MKV format, which is somewhat frustrated for those who want to play the movie on the mobile devices. According to our analytics, a lot of users look for MakeMKV alternative owing to several limitations and drawbacks listed below:
- ● MakeMKV only converts discs to MKV format.
- ● The output MKV file is always in large size and it's not universally supported by all devices or media players.
- ● There is no preview window to check if you are converting the right file.
- ● No basic editing function.
- ● No ready-made preset profiles for portable devices.
- ● It takes a long time to copy DVDs.
- ● DVD audio cannot be ripped using the software.
- ● May get error messages like no disc found; forced subtitle won't show up; RPC protection cannot be bypassed, etc.
Therefore, it's never too much to prepare yourself with MakeMKV alternatives for Windows and Mac computers. After all, there are times when MakeMKV will fail your tasks, or perform slower than expected. When MakeMKV is acting up or you need additional features, the following 5 top alternatives to MakeMKV we single out can make your digital life easier.
The 5 Best MakeMKV Alternatives for Mac/Windows/Linux (Free and Paid)
1. DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper (The Best MakeMKV Alternative for Windows and Mac)
DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper tops out list of the best MakeMKV alternatives due to its poweful Blu-ray/DVD decrypting feature, rich output formats and speed. It handles all the Blu-rays and DVDs that you may have, whether it is a new release, 99-title, 2D/3D, UHD 4K, scratched, regional, Japanese, or workout discs. Besides discs, it can also work with BDMV folder, Video_TS folder and ISO image files. It also supports drag-and-drop, which is much more interactive.
Besides remuxing your DVD/Blu-ray to MKV just like MakeMKV, DumboFab Blu-ray ripper can also convert your Blu-ray/DVD to MP4, AVI, MOV, WMV, H.265, H.264, and any other popular video and audio formats at a blazing speed. Moreover, novices can directly benefit from its 200+ optimized device presets, which is convenient for those who don't know what format or settings you need for your device.
As a full-featured Blu-ray ripping tool, this MakeMKV alternative software also allows you to adjust settings like video/audio codecs, bit rate, dimensions, frame rate, audio sample rate, etc. to compress huge Blu-ray or DVD movie to smaller files while keeping excellent quality. And it also comes with a built-in video editor, which allows you to trim, crop, cut, adding effects, adding subtitles, remove/replace audio track and others.
You can download a free trial version of this software, but you'll have to pay an annual subscription fee to use it for ripping Blu-ray or DVD discs longer than three minutes. Having to pay for Blu-ray ripping software isn't all bad though. It means you don't have to contend with in-app ads and upsells, and you get advanced features you wouldn't find in free Blu-ray rippers. Plus, DumboFab Blu-ray Ripper's price tag is fairly low, and we definitely think it's worth it.
Pros:✚ Intuitive and easy to use, suitable for both beginners and advanced users. |
Cons:━ It can't work on Linux OS now. |
2. HandBrake
HandBrake would be the best free alternative to MakeMKV for multi-platform. It's an open source application for the purpose of converting MPEG video/DVD-Video to MP4 and MKV container format. Moreover, it has presets for iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Android. What makes users disappointed is that it can only rip unencrypted DVDs. If you want to use Handbrake to rip encrypted DVDs, you need to download and install libdvdcss or VLC. But even with libdvdcss being installed, HandBrake only decrypts and rips some certain DVDs with CSS. To rip any copy protected DVD freely, you need a more powerful alternative.installed.
When it comes to the Blu-ray discs, Handbrake converts neither encrypted physical Blu-ray Disc nor decrypted commercial Blu-ray movies in BDMV file structure. That means you can also use Handbrake to convert unprotected Blu-rays to MP4 videos or smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, etc. with customized settings.
Pros:✚ Free, open-source and support multi-platform. |
Cons:━ Only rip some certain DVDs with CSS. |
3. VLC Media Player
VLC is a popular and free media player that can also be used a free alternative to MakeMKV for DVD ripping. It can convert DVDs to MP4, H.264, H.265, WMV, WebM, and more without needing extra codec packs. VLC is a great option if you just need to rip a couple of DVDs and don't want to download anything new.
The catch: VLC isn't perfect for ripping. It can only rip CSS-protected and regional DVDs, so it won't work for more complexly protected discs. Also, you don't have much control over the conversion process, such as adjusting resolution, bitrate, frame rate, deinterlacing, volume, and other settings. VLC doesn't offer as many conversion options as others, and some features are a bit hidden and not easy to find.
As a player-focused tool, VLC might fall short at times for conversion tasks. Errors such as VLC ripped DVD are out of order, content cannot be ripped, non-UDF mastered DVD not supported by VLC, software crashing during ripping process crop up every now and then. Besides, the converted files sometimes endure serious quality loss, unbearable for 4k Blu-ray movie lovers.
Pros:✚ Free and open-source |
Cons:━ Only rip some certain DVDs. |
4. Leawo Blu-ray Ripper
Like the above professional Blu-ray ripping solutions, Leawo Blu-ray Ripper can be also used as a MakeMKV alternative to handle Blu-ray dics. It has the same full ripping features to copy Blu-ray disc or the Blu-ray folders into any video formats with no quality loss. Powered by its excellent decryption technology, it easily removes common Blu-ray copy protections and region codes that block the copy of the disc. Multiple additional ripping functions are easy in touch, including subtitle and audio tracks selecting, 2D to 3D converting and practical video editing. It is suitable for Windows users while providing a counterpart for Mac users. You can use to replace MakeMKV for ripping Blu-ray dics but it doesn't offer the lossless MKV file as the output.
Moreover, to use the full version on one computer for one year, you'll pay $44.95. And for lifetime licence, you'll pay $99.95 which is much more expensive than other Blu-ray ripping tools on the market.
Pros:✚ Easy to use in a straightforward program interface. |
Cons:━ Unable to recognize ISO file (Windows version) or forced subtitles (if there is). |
5. Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter is a multi-functional yet free MakeMKV alternative for Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8 and Windows 10. It is able to convert videos among a wide range of video formats, rip unprotected DVDs to common formats/devices as well as burn DVDs. That's really a pity that Freemake doesn't accompany with a Mac version, thus people have to seek for a Freemake alternative for Mac. In addition, most users complained on CNET saying that Freemake Video Converter is full of adware and possible malware. Be careful if you want to use it.
The basic version with branding is free. To remove branding, it's $5 per week, $10 per month, or $299 for unlimited access. These prices sound very steep, but you get 80% off your first payment, which is a clear driver to go with the unlimited option ($59.95 with the discount).
Pros:✚ 4K possible |
Cons:━ Free version is unusable |
FAQs about MakeMKV and MakeMKV Alternatives
Is MakeMKV no longer free?
MakeMKV is free while the software is in beta, and you can use the full functions of MakeMKV for 30 days. After 30 days' evaluation period expires, you can only use MakeMKV to convert or stream DVD and AVCHD discs for free. Streaming or converting Blu-ray discs is shareware functionality and requires a MakeMKV registration key or MakeMKV beta code. You can get its temporary beta key for free or buy the full activation/lifetime key for $50.
Why is MakeMKV not reading Blu-ray?
While all features (including Blu-ray decryption and processing) are free during beta, some Blu-ray and DVD discs are not fully supported. Meanwhile, the ability to convert or stream Blu-ray discs is shareware functionality. So you can always use it free to rip DVD discs. But for Blu-rays, you will have to pay for an activation key after a 30 day trial period. Or, MakeMKV will stop reading Blu-ray discs.
Is MakeMKV better than HandBrake?
Both tools have unique strengths that cater to different users' needs. While MakeMKV stands out in preserving original quality, HandBrake offers flexibility in customization and file compression benefits.
Conclusion
We've evaluated the best five MakeMKV alternatives program based on functionalities and features that each software owns. Of course, which program utility you employ to rip and convert your Blu-rays or DVDs is best determined by your actual needs, the platform of your machine and basically your budget. With these factors in mind, you should get the suitable ripper as well as converter in hand.
