We've singled out the best 3 free Mac-compatible DVD to MP4 converters, namely MacX DVD Ripper Free, HandBrake, and iSuper DVD Ripper. Read our reviews and find a favorite tool to use.
The process to rip from DVD to MP4 on Mac is the same as the paid version: Download and install the free version of the Movavi Video Converter. Go to the Movavi Free Video Converter website. Launch the software and then click on Add Media, followed by Add DVD, and then Open DVD. MacX Video Converter Pro 6.5.6 macOS. MacX Video Converter Pro is an excellent all-in-one toolkit that works as an HD video converter, video editor, screen recorder, and slideshow maker. It lets you convert 4K HD/SD videos to MP4, AVI, MPEG, FLV, MOV, WMV, MKV, MP3, etc., for playback on QuickTime, iPhone, iPad, or Android flawlessly, and for. MacX Free DVD to MP4 Converter for Mac is designed for Mac users to free rip any DVD, including copy protected DVD movies to MP4, H.264, FLV, MP3 on Mac OS X. Download free Mac DVD to MP4 ripper software on Mac OS X EL Capitan, Yosemite and Marvericks now. MacX Free DVD to MP4 Converter for Mac is an innovative yet free DVD to MP4 ripper software for Mac users without any functional limitation or watermark. It is able to convert DVDs including copy protected DVD movies to MP4, FLV, MP3 music on Mac with fast speed and high quality.
In this regard, MacX DVD Ripper is an ideal option, especially if you do not have prior experience with ripping DVD on Mac. It is not only easy to use but with the MacX DVD Ripper Pro, but you will also be able to convert DVDs to all the major video formats. It has in-built presets that make it easy for you to convert videos for your Apple devices.
Want to convert DVD to MP4 on Mac for free for later tranferring to iPhone, iPad, Android, or disc-free Xbox One S? Congratulations, you're in the right place where you can find the best 3 free DVD to MP4 converters for macOS Big Sur and earlier.
Now, let's check the specific details of these Mac DVD rippers on aspects of ripping function, output quality, ripping speed, DVD decryption capability, etc., with a desire to help you single out the most suitable tool.
Best 3 Free DVD to MP4 Converters for Mac
MacX DVD Ripper Free
MacX DVD Ripper Free is the one in a million in the current Mac DVD ripper freeware market. It can free convert DVD to MP4, MOV, M4V, H264, H265, Apple TV, iTunes, MP3, ACC and more such that playing back DVD content on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, iMovie, Xbox One S, PS5/4, Android, NAS just like takes candy from a baby.
If you're looking for a DVD to MP4 converter for Windows, click here.
Oriented as a cutting-edge all-rounder, it can ingest whatever you feed it, 99-title DVD, bad sector DVD, region code DVD, fake playlist DVD, scratched DVD, workout DVD, Japanese DVD....
And you'll be badly pleased by the resulting MP4 quality - almost identical to the original DVD quality. That attributes to its ripping algorithm, De-interlacing tech and High Quality Engine. Even some physically damaged unplayable DVDs can regain the crisp image thanks to the auto repair tech during ripping.
It's an all-sided powerhouse, and even has Intel/Nvidia/AMD GPU hardware acceleration to quicken DVD to MP4 ripping speed up to 47x real-time faster, and to offload the compute burden from CPU to GPU to avoid 90% CPU use, overheating, software half crash issues.
Its official website is home to a wealth of tutorials, from a very basic introduction to DVD ripping, to advanced skills like copy DVD main title/full title, choose soft/forced subtitles, add external subtitles to DVD, trim/cut off clips, remove unwanted black borders, rip soundtracks from DVD, etc.
How to Free Rip DVD to MP4 on Mac
The tutorial below will show you how easy it is to free convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with MacX DVD Ripper Free.
Preparatory work:
- Download MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free. It is fully compatible with macOS Big Sur and earlier. Then install it on your Mac computer.
- Insert the source DVD into your computer's DVD-ROM drive. If there's no built-in drive, connect an external drive.
Free Dvd To Mp4 Software
Step 1. Run it, and click 'DVD Disc' to import the DVD you just insert.
Step 2. Choose 'MP4 Video' from Mac General Video as Output format. You'll find two MP4 Video profiles. The differences come in video codec. One is MPEG4, the other is H.264.
Step 3. Click 'Browse' button in output setting area and select a destination folder to save your converted MP4 video.
Step 4. Click 'RUN' to start the DVD to MP4 conversion. You can view the conversion progress and are able to cancel the converting process at anytime.
Notice: We only advocates copying and ripping DVDs under the concept of Fair Use and does not encourage any illegal reproduction or distribution of copyrighted content. Please abide by the local DVD copyright law before doing it.
Handbrake
Handbrake is a free open source DVD ripper for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It can free rip DVD to MP4 and MKV, with the ready-made profiles for Android, Apple, Roku, etc.
But if you plan to rip encrypted DVDs to MP4 using Handbrake, you have to download and install libdvdcss to partner with it. Otherwise, you will encounter errors, such as no valid title found. HandBrake itself is unable to deal with copy-protected DVDs.
How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with Free HandBrake
Step 1. Download and install HandBrake on your Mac. The latest HandBrake version is compatible with macOS 10.11 and later.
Step 2. Click Open Source button to load the source DVD.
Step 3. Select a movie title for later ripping.
Macx Free Dvd To Mp4 Converter For Mac Free
Step 4. Choose a preset and make sure the format is set to MP4.
Step 5. Specify a file name and a save path for the resulting MP4 file.
Step 6. Click Start on the toolbar to begin converting DVD to MP4.
For more detailed guide and troubleshooting tips, you can check 'How to Convert DVD to MP4 with Handbrake'.
iSuper DVD Ripper
iSuper DVD Ripper is the best free DVD to MP4 ripper on the Mac Store. Besides MP4, it can also rip DVD to MOV, MKV, FLV, M4V, AAC, MP3, and more video/audio formats. And there are some basic video editing features. It can merge multiple videos into one, cut video, add text or image watermark, and adjust brightness, saturation, hue, and contrast.
Note: Just like other DVD rippers in the Mac Store, iSuper DVD Ripper isn't available to rip encrypted DVDs to MP4.
How to Convert DVD to MP4 with iSuper DVD Ripper
Step 1. Download iSuper DVD Ripper from Mac Store and install it on your computer. (macOS 10.7 or later is supported)
Step 2. Click Load Disc button to import your DVD.
Step 3. Choose a MP4 profile.
Step 4. Click Browse to select a destination.
Step 5. Click Convert to begin ripping DVD to MP4.
Verdict: All the tools mentioned above can rip DVD to MP4 on Mac for free. All have their own virtues and drawbacks. But if you wanna pursue a feature-packed DVD converter that can convert protected DVD to MP4 on Mac, no doubt MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free is the best.
With the rapid rise of streaming services, it’s time to digitalize your DVD collections. By doing so, you will be able to play your DVD movies on iPhone, iPad, Samsung Tablets, or any other portable devices and put them on the cloud. Moreover, ripping DVDs to media files can save your room space. This article points out the tips you should consider, and lists the top 5 free DVD ripper for Mac, together with the best alternative to free ones.
Best DVD Ripper for Mac (Support DRM-ed DVD)
Use Cisdem Video Converter- the powerful DVD ripping software for Mac to:
- Rip movie DVD to MP4/HD MP4/HEVC MP4, MOV, AVI MKV, M4V, etc.
- Extract audio from DVD to MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, etc.
- Convert DVDs to optimized presets for iPhone, iPad, HUAWEI, MI, PS4, etc.
- Rip DVD/DVD folder/ISO to digital formats
- Remove DVD copy protection like Region Code, CSS, etc.
- Convert video & audio files between 300+ digital formats
- Download videos from 1000+ websites, YouTube.com included
- Edit (trim, crop, apply effects, etc.) and merge DVD videos
- Advanced settings to change the output file codec, quality, bitrate, etc.
- Preview DVD movies via built-in video player
- 30X faster speed
- >> 4 Tips to Choose the Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac
- >> Top 5 Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac
- >> Where Free DVD Ripping Software for Mac Fall Short?
- >> Perfect Alternative- The Robust yet Simple DVD Ripper for Mac
4 Tips to Choose the Best Free DVD Ripper for Mac
There is a vast variety of free DVD ripper software on the market. Each of them has a common advantage, which is to help you rip DVD for free. But it's not enough, and more aspects you should take into consideration while choosing a free DVD ripper for Mac. I've sorted out several tips below for your reference.
1. DVD Ripping Speed - DVD videos are usually in large sizes and need to spend some time to convert. Using a super-fast free Mac DVD ripper will save you a lot of time.
2. The Output Quality - To enjoy the high-definition video is of great pleasure. Or else, not only your eyes may get hurt, but also the annoying jumpy and mosaics will also bother you.
3. Supported Format - The output format compatible with your digital player device is another point you should take in. The more output options, the better the DVD ripper.
4. Additional Customization Features- It will be the icing on the cake if a free DVD ripper lets you configure the output parameters and edit DVD videos before ripping them out.
Top 5 Best Free DVD Rippers for Mac
#1 HandBrake
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.11 or later
HandBrake is an open-source video transcoder. It's the most welcomed free DVD ripper for Mac and Windows. The app was produced by Eric Petit and originally designed for ripping movies from DVD.
Today, Handbrake allows you to rip non-protected DVDs, Blu-ray to MP4, MKV, and universal device presets like iPhone, iPod, Apple TV (2/3), Android Tablet, etc. But this free Mac DVD ripper can only output MP4 or MKV video files. If you wish to make the ripped video compatible with other formats such as AVI, MOV, MPEG, MP3, etc., HandBrake can't help.
Its ripping speed depends on the files upload. For a small file, it won’t take too long. For a large one, it maybe takes a long time. The final quality is not bad. If you are not hurrying to get your converted video, you could take it.
#2 MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition
Macx Free Dvd To Mp4 Converter For Mac Software
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.6 or above
MacX offers a free DVD ripper for Mac users. The free version can rip DVD movies to MP4, MOV, M4V, MP3, AAC, AC3, Apple TV, and iTunes.
But Compares with its paid version, it's unable to back up & rip the latest copy-protected DVDs for free, and rip DVDs for some hot devices, like iPad Pro, iPhone (11/Pro/Max), Android, Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC, PS4, etc.
If you can bear the limited output formats and unsatisfying speed, this Mac DVD ripper free is a decent option. Anyway, it can meet your basic DVD ripping necessary.
Note: MacX seems to have given up upgrading and promoting DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition. The download link on its official website has been replaced by MacX DVD Ripper Pro (the paid program). To download the free version, you are able to find it on some app download sites like softonic.com, download3k.com, etc.
#3 ffmpegX
OS Platform: OS X 10.7 to 10.14 (OS X 10.3 to 10.7 version available on official site)
ffmpegX is an open resource free DVD ripper for Mac. It was first to run on Linux, and later it can be compiled under most operating systems, including Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, AmigaOS.
ffmpegX is a very experimental and developer-driven project. It supports the most popular formats except HD video. Based on the customers' review, its output quality is not too bad. The components mpeg2enc (mpeg-2 encoder and multiplexer), mencorder (mpeg-4 encoder with subtitles support), myplayer are not distributed with ffmpegX and must be self-installed.
This free DVD ripping software for Mac has not been updated for over 10 years. When you start encoding, it's prone to failure. Meanwhile, ffmpegX doesn't recognize a DVD disk device, just a DVD folder & VOB file, and can't remove any DVD decryption.
#4 MacTheRipper
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher
MTR (named MacTheRipper) is the Mac’s oldest and smartest DVD - backup application, now greater than ever. The speed of the MTR is ok. It merely takes a few minutes to rip a small DVD.
However, this free DVD ripper for Mac is unstable, especially on Sierra, High Sierra version, and later versions. It may be crashing, shut down by itself, or failure to launch. And the output quality will not as good as you think.
Note: MacTheRipper is no longer free currently. For example version 5.0.0.5 is a paid upgrade. Licensed owners of version 4.3 who donated within the last 365 days can upgrade for free. But for those who donated more than 365 days ago should upgrade for $10. The last free version is MacTheRipper 2.6.6, which only supports Mac OS X 10.6 Leopard or older.
#5 VLC
OS Platform: Mac OS X 10.7.5 or above
VLC, coming from a non-profit organization composed of volunteers, is dedicated to the development and promotion of open-source multimedia solutions. It can also run on Windows, Android, and Ubuntu. The initial function of this free DVD ripper for Mac is to play media files in various formats and resolutions. Through improvements, VLC began to support audio and video transcoding to help you convert videos and DVDs.
However, VLC free Mac DVD ripper can't process multiple videos, DVD folders, or ISO images in batches and won’t defeat any kind of DRM. And you have to accept the fact that the video ripped by VLC will cause quality degradation.
Note: If you agree with its concept and its effort in developing VLC, don't forget to donate $5.00 on its page.
Where Free DVD Ripping Software for Mac Fall Short?
From the above introductions, we can judge that the free DVD ripper for Mac has obvious shortcomings, for example:
- Can't retain high-quality output
- The speed is not always fast
- Limited output formats and profiles
- No further video editing feature
- Can't rip DRM encrypted DVDs, like Handbrake and VLC
- Stop update, like MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition
- Not free in the new versions, such as MacTheRipper
- Difficult for the novice, such as FFmpeg
It seems that no free Mac DVD ripper meets the criteria mentioned in part 1, but paid one does. Therefore, you are better off using the commercial and effective DVD ripper instead.
Perfect Alternative- The Robust yet Simple DVD Ripper for Mac
Cisdem Video Converter is the best alternative to the free DVD ripper Mac. It's a highly interactive program that delivers lossless ripping of media content at an ultra-fast speed and obtains high-quality possible results. It provides a free trial version for you to test its performance before purchasing. The trial version can rip the first 5 minutes of the DVD. If your DVD video is less than 5 minutes, it will convert half of the content.
Best DVD Ripper for Mac
- Rip general or copyrighted DVD to mainstream video/audio formats
- Rip movie or music DVD to ready-made presets for all popular devices
- Adjust the frame rate, resolution, bit rate, etc. of DVD video
- Edit DVD video with trimming, cropping, subtitles, watermarks, and more
- Convert digital video from one format to another
- Download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and other 1000+ sites
- Rip DVDs, convert & download videos in batches
- Crisp and easy-to-use interface
- Available on OS X 10.10 or higher, including macOS Big Sur
How to Rip DVD via the Best Alternative to Free DVD Ripper for Mac:
Step 1. Launch Cisdem Video Converter
After installation, run the software. You will see 3 tabs for different functions. The second tab is for DVD ripping.
Step 2. Import DVD videos
Insert your DVD into the Mac slot. Its icon will appear in the sidebar of the Finder app. Then you have two ways to add the DVD disc:
- Straightly drag the DVD or VIDEO-TS folder to the interface of Cisdem Mac DVD ripper.
- Navigate to 'File' > 'Add DVD' in the menu bar to import your DVD content.
Step 3. Configure output profiles
Click the format icon to open the output file panel. All the output formats have been already divided into various categories. For example, if you desire to play the DVD movie on your iPhone, you can go to 'Apple Device' > 'iPhone', and choose your phone model. Or select the universal format- MP4, just head over to 'General Video' > 'MP4 Video'.
For getting better video/audio quality, click icon to open a window, and tweak the output parameter settings.
Step 4. Choose titles and languages
A DVD movie may contain multiple titles, audio languages, and subtitle languages. You can manually choose what you want.
Macx Free Dvd To Mp4 Converter For Mac Pro
Step 5. Rip DVD to digital files
Hit button at the lower right corner to begin ripping your DVD to MP4, Apple TV, or other formats.
Pro tip: edit your DVD videos
Convert Mp4 To Dvd Format
Click button to find your ripped videos. Drag-n-drop them to the “convert” interface.
Convert Mp4 To Dvd Mac Free
Click button, and you'll able to edit the DVD movies by rotating, adding 3D effects, and external subtitles & audio.
Macx Free Dvd To Mp4 Converter For Mac Computers
Bottom line
These are the 5 free DVD rippers for Mac and alternative. If you only want to rip DVD to a common-used format without editing feature, I recommend Handbrake, MacX DVD Ripper Mac Free Edition, and VLC for beginners. For users who are using OS X 10.6 or lower, MacTheRipper 2.6.6 and ffmpegX are nice options. To make everything easy and efficient, an all-in-one DVD ripping software for Mac like Cisdem Video Converter is the best choice, which can rip copy-protected DVDs as well.