Best Blu-Ray Rippers for Mac & Windows [Free & Paid] in 2026
Physical Blu-ray discs are slowly becoming archival objects, but the bitrate on a 1080p or 4K UHD disc still beats almost every streaming service in 2026. Netflix’s top-tier 4K stream tops out around 25 Mbps. A 4K UHD Blu-ray runs at 80-128 Mbps. If you own the disc, ripping a digital copy gets you better quality than any subscription stream and lets you watch on any device without a player.
I have ripped close to 400 Blu-ray and DVD discs over the years — TV box sets, anime, films I cannot get streaming because the studio sat on the rights, and my partner’s irrationally large Criterion Collection. The eight tools below cover both Mac and Windows in 2026, and each one handles the AACS / BD+ / Cinavia copy protection that real Blu-ray discs ship with. Pricing is current as of June 2026.
Quick verdict: If you want one tool, it is MakeMKV — free, lossless, the standard archival ripper. Pair it with HandBrake when you want a smaller H.264 / H.265 file. If you want one app to do everything (rip + transcode + menu preservation + 4K UHD support), DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is the premium pick. For Mac users who do not want to mess with two tools, MacX or Cisdem. For Windows-only users on a budget, WinX DVD Ripper Platinum.
Best Blu-ray Rippers in 2026
Eight rippers made the cut after testing on real Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs. Pricing is current as of June 2026.
| Ripper | Best for | Free tier? | Paid (2026) | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MakeMKV | Archival lossless rip | Yes (beta key) | $60 lifetime Pro | Win · Mac · Linux |
| HandBrake | Re-encode lossless rips | Yes (FOSS) | — | Win · Mac · Linux |
| DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper | All-in-one premium | 30-day trial | $59.99/yr · $99.99 lifetime | Win · Mac |
| Leawo Blu-ray Ripper | Value paid pick | Yes (limited) | $44.95/yr · $89.95 lifetime | Win · Mac |
| AnyMP4 Blu-ray Ripper | Hardware-accelerated rips | Yes (limited) | $45.96/yr · $79.96 lifetime | Win · Mac |
| WinX DVD Ripper | Windows-only DVD focus | Yes (5-min cap) | $39.95/yr · $59.95 lifetime | Win |
| MacX Blu-ray Video Converter | Mac-only Digiarty pick | Yes (limited) | $39.95/yr · $59.95 lifetime | Mac |
| Cisdem Video Converter | Mac multi-tool | 30% trial | $59.99/yr · $79.99 lifetime | Mac |
MakeMKV
MakeMKV is the only Blu-ray ripper I keep installed permanently — free during the perpetual beta, lossless output, and it handles every disc I have thrown at it including 4K UHD with the right drive.
What is good: Truly lossless rip — every video, audio, and subtitle track is preserved in the output MKV; one of the few rippers that handles UHD AACS 2.0 properly with a compatible flashed drive; the beta key is renewed periodically and works in perpetuity for personal use; supports Linux natively which the other paid rippers do not.
What is broken: Beta-key model is unusual (you fetch a new key from the forum every couple of months); does NOT compress the output — a single 4K UHD movie rips to 60-90 GB; the UI is genuinely ugly and feels like it has not been updated since 2008; Pro license is $60 if you want to support development.
Under the hood: Direct decryption + remux to MKV at the container level. No transcoding, no quality loss. Built on libdvdcss / libbdplus / libaacs. Engineered by GuinpinSoft (Russian developer, but with Latvia-based corporate vehicle).
What should be better: A modern UI overhaul — the engine is the best on this list and the wrapper looks like Winamp 2.
HandBrake
HandBrake is the open-source video transcoder that pairs with MakeMKV — take the 60GB lossless rip and compress it to a 4-12GB H.265 file you can put on Plex or Apple TV.
What is good: Free under GPLv2; cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux); presets for every device including Apple TV 4K, iPhone, Plex Direct Play, and Roku; queue mode lets you batch-encode an entire TV season overnight; CRF (constant rate factor) encoding gives consistent visual quality regardless of source.
What is broken: Cannot rip directly from a copy-protected disc on its own (you need MakeMKV first to remove protection); the preset names are not super intuitive for beginners; iOS / Android / mobile-first encoding presets are buried under the device menu.
Under the hood: Multiple encoder backends: x264 (CPU), x265 (CPU), Apple VideoToolbox, NVIDIA NVENC, Intel QSV, AMD VCN. Container output to MP4 or MKV. Audio passthrough for AC3, DTS, TrueHD, Atmos.
What should be better: Native Blu-ray decryption — keeping it free of CSS / AACS support is a deliberate choice the project has made for legal reasons, but the tool has to live alongside MakeMKV as a result.
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is the most-featured commercial ripper — handles 4K UHD with active key updates, preserves Blu-ray menu structure, and bundles HD audio passthrough.
What is good: Updated weekly with new disc keys (matters for new releases that ship with the latest AACS revisions); 4K UHD ripping with full menu preservation; cloud GPU acceleration option; 200+ output presets including HEVC HDR; CinaviaRemoval add-on (paid extra) for Cinavia-encoded discs.
What is broken: Most expensive option here at $99.99 lifetime + add-ons; UI is cluttered with upsell prompts; weekly auto-updates can break workflows when the schema changes; Cinavia removal is paid separately at $59.99.
Under the hood: Proprietary AACS / BD+ / RC handling with cloud-fetched key database. Hardware acceleration via Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF.
What should be better: Bundle Cinavia removal into the base license — selling it separately at $59.99 feels predatory for users who already paid the full price.
Leawo Blu-ray Ripper
Leawo Blu-ray Ripper is the best value on this list — about half the lifetime price of DVDFab with most of the same features and a cleaner UI.
What is good: $89.95 lifetime is half the DVDFab equivalent; 6X conversion speed claim is roughly real on a modern Intel/AMD desktop with hardware accel; preserves chapter markers and forced subtitles; supports both Blu-ray and DVD in one app.
What is broken: Cinavia is not handled (you need a hardware solution for that); 4K UHD AACS 2.0 support is patchy on the newest discs; mobile-friendly presets are slightly behind DVDFab’s; promo banner in the desktop app is loud.
Under the hood: Custom decryption stack with disc key database; H.264 / H.265 encoders via FFmpeg-derived pipeline; hardware acceleration via Intel QSV and NVIDIA CUDA.
What should be better: Public weekly key-update cadence the way DVDFab maintains — Leawo does update but the schedule is opaque.
AnyMP4 Blu-ray Ripper
AnyMP4 Blu-ray Ripper is a clean Mac-and-Windows option from a shop that has been making video tools for over a decade — strong on hardware-accelerated 8K output and easy to use.
What is good: Both Mac and Windows builds at the same price point; hardware acceleration via Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, and Apple Metal on M-series Macs; 8K output presets (mostly used for AI upscaling workflows); 30-day money-back guarantee.
What is broken: Free trial limits you to ripping the first 5 minutes per disc; 4K UHD support requires a separate add-on at full price; smaller community / forum presence than MakeMKV or DVDFab so troubleshooting is on you.
Under the hood: FFmpeg-derived encoder pipeline with custom decryption layer; hardware acceleration through standard SDKs.
What should be better: Bundle 4K UHD into the base license tier — gating it behind a separate purchase is a friction tax.
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is the Windows-only DVD-focused tool from Digiarty — strongest with old DVD libraries, less ideal for modern UHD Blu-ray.
What is good: $39.95/yr or $59.95 lifetime is the cheapest paid Windows option; DVD region-code handling is best-in-class for vintage discs; GPU acceleration via Intel/NVIDIA/AMD; extremely lightweight installer.
What is broken: DVD-focused — Blu-ray support is more limited than Leawo or DVDFab; Mac users have to use the separate MacX product; lifetime license has been quietly converted to subscription-default in their checkout flow (you can switch back manually).
Under the hood: Custom DVD decryption engine; FFmpeg-derived encoder chain with Intel QSV / NVIDIA NVENC / AMD AMF acceleration.
What should be better: Better UHD Blu-ray support to match DVDFab — currently it is a DVD-first product trying to do Blu-ray as a side feature.
MacX Blu-ray Video Converter Pro
MacX Blu-ray Video Converter Pro is the Mac sibling of WinX — built for macOS and tuned for M-series Apple Silicon hardware acceleration.
What is good: Native Apple Silicon support via Metal; preserves chapter and subtitle metadata; conversion to 320+ device profiles; same Digiarty company as WinX so the codebase is mature.
What is broken: Subscription-by-default checkout (lifetime is a manual switch); UI is dated relative to Cisdem; Mac-only means Windows family members need a separate license.
Under the hood: Apple Silicon-native build with VideoToolbox + Metal acceleration. Custom DVD/Blu-ray decryption stack.
What should be better: Match Cisdem’s modern Mac UI — Digiarty’s macOS apps still look like 2018.
Cisdem Video Converter
Cisdem Video Converter is the Mac multi-purpose pick — it does Blu-ray, DVD, online video downloads, and standard video conversion in one app with a modern UI.
What is good: Cleanest Mac UI of any ripper on this list; multi-function (DVD/Blu-ray + online video downloader + general transcoder) means one app instead of three; Apple Silicon native; reasonable lifetime pricing at $79.99.
What is broken: Less specialized for pure Blu-ray ripping than MakeMKV — feature breadth versus depth tradeoff; smaller Cinavia / UHD AACS 2.0 coverage than DVDFab; the all-in-one bundling means you pay for features you may not need.
Under the hood: Native Apple Silicon build with VideoToolbox / Metal acceleration; supports HEVC, AV1, and ProRes outputs natively.
What should be better: A standalone Blu-ray-only tier at half the price for Mac users who do not need the YouTube downloader.
How to Rip a Blu-ray Disc Step by Step
The free workflow that I run on every disc: 1) Open MakeMKV, insert disc, choose the longest title (the main feature) plus the audio and subtitle tracks you want, save the MKV. 2) Open the MKV in HandBrake, pick a preset (Apple TV 4K HEVC for 4K, Fast 1080p30 for streaming to phones), let it transcode. The lossless MKV from step 1 stays as your archival master; the smaller HandBrake output is what you put on Plex / Apple TV / your phone.
If you want a single-app experience and you are willing to pay, DVDFab does both steps in one workflow with menus preserved. The tradeoff is a non-standard MKV output and weekly forced updates.
Is Ripping Blu-rays Legal?
In the US, ripping a Blu-ray you own is technically a violation of the DMCA’s anti-circumvention clause even for personal-use backups, though the EFF has argued for a personal-use exemption for years. Most countries in the EU permit personal-use copies under fair-use / private-copying clauses (France, Germany, Sweden — yes; UK — no). The tools above are sold for legitimate use cases like ripping discs you own to a media library; using them on rented or library discs is not legal anywhere. Check your local copyright law before starting, especially if you plan to share the rips.
The Call
Pick MakeMKV today. Even if you eventually move to a paid tool, the lossless MKVs you rip with MakeMKV are future-proof archival masters — you can re-encode them to next year’s codec without losing quality. Add HandBrake when you need to send a copy to a phone or stream over a slow connection. Add DVDFab if you want menus preserved or if you have a stack of newly released 4K UHD discs that MakeMKV is still adding key support for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free Blu-ray ripper in 2026?
MakeMKV is the best free Blu-ray ripper. It produces lossless MKV output, handles every copy-protection scheme on standard Blu-rays (and 4K UHD with a compatible drive), and the beta key is renewed periodically so it stays free in practice. Pair it with HandBrake to compress the output if needed.
How do I rip a 4K UHD Blu-ray?
You need a Blu-ray drive that has been flashed with friendly firmware (LG WH16NS40, ASUS BW-16D1HT, or Pioneer BDR-S12 are the common picks) plus MakeMKV with an active beta key or Pro license. DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper supports 4K UHD with regular drives but charges a premium for the feature.
Will Blu-ray ripping software bypass DRM?
Yes — that is the entire point of a Blu-ray ripper. Every paid ripper (DVDFab, Leawo, AnyMP4, WinX, MacX, Cisdem) and the free MakeMKV decrypt AACS, BD+, and BD-Live as part of the rip process. HandBrake on its own does not bypass DRM, which is why it pairs with MakeMKV.
How long does it take to rip a Blu-ray?
A standard 1080p Blu-ray takes 30-60 minutes to rip losslessly with MakeMKV depending on disc speed. A 4K UHD Blu-ray takes 60-120 minutes. If you re-encode the rip with HandBrake to H.265, add another 20-90 minutes depending on your hardware and chosen quality. GPU acceleration (Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, Apple Metal) cuts encode time roughly in half.
How big is a ripped Blu-ray file?
A lossless rip of a 1080p Blu-ray is typically 20-40 GB. A 4K UHD Blu-ray rip is 50-100 GB. Re-encoded with HandBrake at a sensible quality (CRF 22 for H.265), you can shrink a 1080p rip to 4-8 GB and a 4K UHD rip to 12-25 GB while keeping the visual quality nearly indistinguishable for normal viewing distances.
Do I need a special drive to rip Blu-rays?
For standard 1080p Blu-ray, any USB Blu-ray drive works. For 4K UHD Blu-ray, you need either a flashed drive with friendly firmware or DVDFab’s UHD ripping mode (which uses a different decryption path). The LG WH16NS40 internal and the ASUS BW-16D1X-U external are the two most reliable flashed drives in 2026.
MakeMKV vs HandBrake — which one do I need?
You need both if you start with a Blu-ray. MakeMKV decrypts and rips the disc to a lossless MKV. HandBrake then re-encodes that MKV into a smaller, device-friendly file. HandBrake on its own cannot read a copy-protected disc — it works on files. Most users keep both installed and use them in sequence.
Is it worth ripping Blu-rays in 2026?
Yes if you own a meaningful disc collection. Streaming bitrates still trail Blu-ray quality (Netflix 4K caps around 25 Mbps, a 4K UHD disc averages 100 Mbps), and rights expire on streaming so movies disappear. Ripping turns one-time disc purchases into a permanent personal library you can play on any device, including in places without internet (planes, road trips).
