XDA argued this month that streaming feels like a quality downgrade after switching back to Blu-ray, and the comments lit up: people who archive their physical collection want clean rips, lossless audio, and a copy that actually plays on their NAS without re-encoding every other tab. The desktop apps that do this have been around for years, but the ones still actively maintained are a smaller list than the search results suggest. We tested seven Blu-ray ripping apps on Windows 11, macOS Sequoia, and Ubuntu 24.04 using a small library of UHD discs, Blu-rays, and DVDs, and ranked them on output quality, supported formats, and whether they kept up with the latest disc protection.
What to look for in a Blu-ray ripping app
Five things matter:
- Disc protection support. AACS, BD+, and Cinavia are the three layers that block straight copies. The picks that work today keep up with the rolling AACS key updates.
- Lossless first. Always rip to lossless MKV first, then transcode if you want a smaller copy. Apps that only emit re-encoded MP4 throw away quality you cannot get back.
- HDR pass-through. UHD discs ship HDR10 or Dolby Vision. The right apps preserve the original profile rather than tone-mapping to SDR.
- Lossless audio. TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, and Atmos tracks should pass through as bit-perfect streams. Apps that only emit AAC are not in the conversation.
- Cross-platform reach. A workflow that lives on Windows only stops working when you switch laptops. The picks below run on at least two of the three desktop OSes.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MakeMKV | Lossless MKV from any disc | Win, Mac, Linux | Yes (beta) | $60 one-time | 4.7 |
| HandBrake | Transcoding after MakeMKV | Win, Mac, Linux | Yes, fully | Free | 4.6 |
| DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper | All-in-one with HDR support | Win, Mac | Trial | $69.99/yr | 4.3 |
| Leawo Blu-ray Ripper | UHD with menu preservation | Win, Mac | Trial | $44.95 one-time | 4.2 |
| AnyDVD HD | Background protection removal | Windows | Trial | $99 one-time | 4.4 |
| VLC Media Player | Quick rip and playback combined | Win, Mac, Linux | Yes, fully | Free | 4.5 |
| DVDFab Passkey | Drive-level decryption shim | Windows | Trial | $44.99/yr | 4.3 |
The 7 best apps for ripping Blu-rays on desktop in 2026
1. MakeMKV, the lossless workhorse
MakeMKV is the app every Blu-ray archive starts with. Insert the disc, open MakeMKV, pick the title and the audio and subtitle streams you want, hit “Make MKV”, and an hour later you have a bit-perfect copy of the disc with every audio track intact. The beta is free while in beta and the key is renewed monthly; the paid license is a one-time purchase that ends the renewal step.
Where it falls short: the UI shows you a wall of titles, audio tracks, and forced-subtitle flags that takes a moment to learn. There is no transcoding, by design.
Pricing:
- Free beta with monthly key.
- Paid: $60 one-time license.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: MakeMKV download
Bottom line: start every Blu-ray rip here. The lossless MKV is the master copy.
2. HandBrake, the transcoder
HandBrake takes the MKV that MakeMKV produced and turns it into a smaller MP4 or MKV with re-encoded video and audio. Use the H.265 10-bit preset for UHD masters, the H.264 1080p preset for older Blu-rays, and the queue to batch a season overnight. HandBrake does not strip protection itself, which is why it is the second step rather than the first.
Where it falls short: the preset names assume you know what they do. The first time you transcode UHD, expect to spend an evening reading the wiki.
Pricing:
- Free, open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: HandBrake download
Bottom line: the master is MakeMKV’s MKV. The Plex-friendly copy is HandBrake’s output.
3. DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper, the all-in-one
DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper combines MakeMKV’s disc cracking with HandBrake’s transcoding under one UI, and adds HDR10 and Dolby Vision pass-through for UHD discs. The presets cover NAS-friendly H.265, Plex-friendly H.264, and device-specific profiles for phones and tablets. AACS key updates ship with the app rather than as a separate beta key.
Where it falls short: subscription pricing has crept up. The “lifetime” option exists but is sales-led. The output is good; the pricing model is what you sit with.
Pricing:
- Free trial.
- Paid: $69.99/yr or $99.99 lifetime, frequent promotional pricing.
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: DVDFab download
Bottom line: the pick when you do not want to chain MakeMKV and HandBrake. The HDR pass-through is the differentiator.
4. Leawo Blu-ray Ripper, menu-aware
Leawo Blu-ray Ripper has the best support for the original disc structure: menus, chapters, and bonus features come over to MKV with their navigation intact. For Blu-rays you actually want to recreate as a navigable disc image, this is the most faithful pick. UHD with HDR is supported in recent builds.
Where it falls short: the UI feels dated next to DVDFab. Some features are surfaced via right-click menus that are easy to miss.
Pricing:
- Free trial.
- Paid: $44.95 one-time.
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: Leawo download
Bottom line: the right pick when the menu structure matters as much as the video.
5. AnyDVD HD, the background remover
AnyDVD HD is a different shape: a Windows driver that sits between the disc and your other software, transparently stripping AACS, BD+, and region codes. With AnyDVD HD running, MakeMKV, HandBrake, and even Windows Explorer see the disc as if it were unprotected. The license is pricey, but for archives where you copy hundreds of discs the workflow is the smoothest on this list.
Where it falls short: Windows only. The license has shifted to subscription on recent builds, with a more expensive lifetime tier still available.
Pricing:
- Trial.
- Paid: $99 one-time or subscription.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: RedFox AnyDVD HD
Bottom line: the pick for high-volume archives. Set it, forget it, copy discs all afternoon.
6. VLC Media Player, the quick path
VLC can convert a disc to a file directly. With the AACS dynamic library installed, VLC will read most consumer Blu-rays and dump a stream to MKV. The output quality is fine, the audio handling is more limited than the dedicated apps, and there is no batch queue. For a one-off rip without installing a second app, VLC is the lazy answer.
Where it falls short: Cinavia protection is not handled. UHD discs are not supported on most builds.
Pricing:
- Free, open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: VLC download
Bottom line: the right pick if you already have VLC installed and just need this one disc on your laptop.
7. DVDFab Passkey, the AnyDVD alternative
DVDFab Passkey is the driver-level decryption shim that mirrors what AnyDVD HD does, with rolling updates that often beat AnyDVD HD to new AACS keys. Pair it with MakeMKV and the workflow becomes “insert disc, click Make MKV, done”. The pricing is friendlier than AnyDVD HD, and Mac builds exist in addition to Windows.
Where it falls short: the installer occasionally trips antivirus heuristics because it runs as a driver. Allowing it through is a one-time step, not a recurring fight.
Pricing:
- Trial.
- Paid: $44.99/yr, occasional lifetime promotions.
Platforms: Windows.
Download: DVDFab Passkey
Bottom line: the budget AnyDVD HD. Paired with MakeMKV, it is the cleanest workflow for a small archive.
How to pick the right one
If you only want one app, install MakeMKV and stop reading.
If you want to shrink the resulting files, chain MakeMKV with HandBrake.
If you want one app that does both ripping and transcoding with HDR support, pay for DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper.
If you care about preserving the disc menus and chapters, use Leawo Blu-ray Ripper.
If your library is hundreds of discs and you want the disc to look unprotected to everything, install AnyDVD HD or DVDFab Passkey and pair it with MakeMKV.
If you only need to rip one disc this weekend, VLC is already on your laptop.
FAQ
What is the best free Blu-ray ripping app? MakeMKV’s beta is free while in beta, with a monthly key rotation. HandBrake is fully free for transcoding after MakeMKV.
Can I rip UHD Blu-rays on Mac? Yes. MakeMKV and DVDFab both support UHD on macOS with a compatible UHD-capable Blu-ray drive. Older Apple Silicon drives may need a USB UHD drive.
Does HandBrake rip Blu-rays? Not directly. HandBrake reads files. Pair it with MakeMKV (or VLC with the AACS library installed) to extract the disc first.
Will these apps preserve Dolby Atmos or DTS-HD audio? MakeMKV and DVDFab both pass through TrueHD/Atmos and DTS-HD MA streams in their lossless rip mode. Always pick the lossless MKV option, then decide if you want to re-encode.
Is there a Blu-ray ripper for Linux? MakeMKV, HandBrake, and VLC all have official Linux builds. The decryption story on Linux relies on the rolling MakeMKV beta key.
Are these apps legal to use? The legal status varies by country and intended use. Many jurisdictions allow personal backups of discs you own. Consult your local copyright law before sharing or distributing ripped content.
