Top 3 Free Blu-ray Rippers for PC and Mac in 2023
If you are a Blu-ray enthusiast, you probably have a stock of Blu-ray discs at your place. Yes, Blu-ray discs offer high-quality audio and video but require a Blu-ray ripper for backup, conversion, or watching on different devices. So, in this article, we cover the top 3 Blu-ray rippers for PC and Mac, their features, pros, and cons, helping you make an informed choice. Without further ado, let’s dive in now!
What Can the Best Blu-ray Rippers Offer?
Blu-ray rippers are software tools designed to convert physical Blu-ray discs into digital formats. To make sure the converted Blu-ray videos are of high quality, the best Blu-ray rippers should offer a range of critical functionalities that set them apart in the market. Their features should include:
- Rip both private and commercial Blu-ray discs.
- Bypass various protection measures and region codes.
- Support for a variety of video formats, including MP4, MKV, AVI, and more.
In the following section, we’ll present our top three picks for 2023, along with their pros and cons, to help you make an informed choice that aligns with your specific requirements.
Top 1. VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper [Best & Quick]
VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is an excellent ripper for Blu-ray and DVD ripping on both Windows and Mac. It handles 4K UHD videos in formats like MP4, MOV, and MKV, ensuring flexible playback and the highest video quality. What sets it apart is its ability to remove numerous Blu-ray protections, including APS, CSS, ARccOS, CPRM, AACS, BD+, and Cinavia. Moreover, it also delivers a rapid 6X ripping speed, making it excellent at converting Blu-ray and DVD collections.
Pros
- A 6X faster ripping speed.
- Rip both protected and personal Blu-ray and DVD discs with ease.
- Over 300 mainstream video/audio formats.
- High-quality playback.
- Completely compatible with Blu-ray discs, folders, and ISO files.
- Fast and easy DVD ripping.
- Preserves all subtitles and audio tracks for flexible viewing.
Cons
- The free trial may have feature restrictions.
How to Rip Blu-ray with VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper
Here’s a simple guide on how to convert your Blu-ray collection into digital formats using VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper with ease.
Step 1. Launch VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper on your Windows or Mac computer and then insert your Blu-ray disc into the computer’s Blu-ray drive.
Step 2. Click “Load Blu-ray” in the software interface, and then click “Load Blu-ray Disc” to select and load the Blu-ray disc.
Step 3. Choose from the available options, such as “Rip to Video/Audio,” “Rip to DVD Folder,” or “Rip to DVD ISO File.” Once selected, start the ripping process for your Blu-ray disc.
Top 2. VLC [Free]
VLC Media Player is an open-source multimedia player, which is also the best choice for free ripping of copyright-free Blu-ray and DVD. It handles discs from DVDs to VCDs, and even Blu-rays. With hardware decoding technology, VLC ensures fast and stable video playback for an enhanced viewing experience.
However, it is worth noting that VLC does not support direct playback of Blu-ray Discs, which requires a few extra steps to play. Additionally, as an open-source platform, it can’t play encrypted Blu-ray discs. Therefore, if you need to rip commercial Blu-rays, professional Blu-ray rippers like VideoByte may be a better option. When ripping Blu-ray discs, users may find the process relatively slow and encounter difficulties with certain Blu-ray menus.
Pros
- Totally free to use.
- Offers up to 1080p video quality.
- Supports SBS 3D videos for a diverse multimedia experience.
- Provides an ad-free and clean user experience.
Cons
- It cannot play DRM-protected or region-locked discs
- Requires extra operations to play Blu-ray discs.
- It does not play ISO files, limiting its compatibility.
Top 3. Handbrake (Multiple Output Formats Available)
Handbrake is a popular open-source software that allows you to rip DVDs and convert videos to various formats including Blu-ray playing on your computers, mobile phones, TVs, etc. It supports various output formats and provides options for adjusting video and audio settings. Whether you are a beginner or not, feel free to customize the video and audio parameters based on your needs.
However, it is important to note that Handbrake does not support directly ripping commercial Blu-ray discs that are copy-protected. To rip commercial Blu-ray discs, you may need additional software or tools that can bypass the copy protection.
Pros:
- High-quality conversion
- Batch conversion for efficiency
- Free of charge
- Support for creating custom video profiles
- Video filters are available to apply in converted videos
- Common format options for output, including MP4(M4V), MKV, and WEBM
- Chapter selections and markers provide more precise control over the content extraction
Cons:
- UI design seems convoluted
- Conversion failures may occur during the process
- Unable to decrypt protected DVDs or Blu-ray discs.
- Live preview only supports the first four minutes of the video
Final Words
After exploring three different methods of ripping Blu-rays on PC and Mac, we have concluded that VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is the most comprehensive option if you want to rip protected and unprotected Blu-ray discs. It stands out for its powerful ripping features and Blu-ray playback. VLC Media Player also offers a basic rip function for free, but is primarily a multimedia player, and Handbrake is an open-source converter that offers a wide range of output formats.
When comparing these methods in detail, we believe that VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is the best choice for its fast speed and comprehensive features. Don’t hesitate and choose VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper for your high-quality Blu-ray watching experience on your device.