A Blu-ray ripper is a program that takes the information from a Blu-ray disc and converts it into a file on your computer. Once you have the file on your computer, you can play it just like you would the original disc, burn it to a new Blu-ray, or convert it into a different format. Some Blu-ray rippers allow you to create small files that you can play on your phone or other devices, while others are limited to large high-quality files. Most Blu-ray rippers are available for both Windows and Mac, while some also work on Linux computers.

Pricing for Blu-Ray Rippers

Most Blu-ray rippers come with a fairly steep price tag, but some free options get the job done if you’re willing to put in some extra work. We’ve compiled a list of the best free and paid options to help you choose the best Blu-ray ripper for you.

Be sure to comply with the Digital Millenium Copyright Act when using any Blu-ray copying method.

MakeMKV

MakeMKV is a little rough around the edges, but this app is the gold standard for ripping Blu-rays. It can handle encrypted discs, the overall quality is excellent, and it’s entirely free to use. It isn’t perfect, as it can only output to the MKV format and is very slow, but the results are fantastic when it’s done.

  • Handles encryption with ease.

  • Excellent quality output.

  • Preserves meta data when ripping.

  • Fully functional free trial.

  • Only outputs in MKV.

  • Very large file sizes.

  • Rips slowly.

The biggest concern with MakeMKV is that while the app is free, the ability to rip encoded Blu-rays is only free while the app remains in beta. That means you need to obtain a beta key from the developers to unlock the functionality required to rip encoded discs.

The software has been in beta for around a decade, though, and a new MakeMKV beta key is only a short Google search away, so this remains our top recommendation for the best Blu-ray ripper.

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If you need a different format or smaller files, we recommend pairing MakeMKV with another free app like Handbrake to convert the large MKV files into something more manageable.

VLC

VLC is a great media player that also can rip DVDs and Blu-Rays. It’s open-source software that’s free, so there’s no barrier to entry. Even if it doesn’t end up being your Blu-ray ripper of choice, it’s still a highly competent video player that can handle most video and audio formats.

  • Free to download and use.

  • Doubles as a great media player.

  • Can handle some encrypted blu-rays.

  • Procedure to work with encrypted blu-rays is poorly documented and difficult.

  • Ripping is extremely slow.

  • Doesn’t work with all blu-rays.

The biggest issue with VLC is that, as open-source software, it doesn’t come with the ability to play encrypted Blu-ray discs, let alone rip them. You need to jump through some hoops to add the ability to play encrypted Blu-ray discs, and even then, you’ll find that the ripping process is pretty slow and that VLC can’t handle some Blu-ray menus.

If you’re willing to put in the work to get this free app up and running, it doubles as a great way to play Blu-rays on Windows 10.

EaseFab LosslessCopy

LosslessCopy from EaseFab is a highly competent Blu-ray ripper capable of reading and converting encrypted discs, does the job with lightning speed, and has a price tag to reflect that. It does offer a free trial, but it’s minimal. If you want to rip an entire TV show or movie, you’ll have to pay for a yearly subscription or lifetime license.

  • Handles all encrypted Blu-rays.

  • Fast ripping and encoding.

  • Free trial.

  • Full version is expensive.

  • Cumbersome interface.

The killer feature here is quality without sacrificing speed. As the name implies, this app can rip your Blu-rays to lossless MKV format with flawless quality. Unlike our favorite free options MakeMKV, which moves glacially, LosslessCopy can do the job in about five minutes.

This software is an excellent option if you’re willing to pay for speed, although the cumbersome interface does make it a bit difficult to work with at first.

AnyMP4 Blu-ray Ripper

AnyMP4 is a premium Blu-ray ripper that ticks all the right boxes. Like most premium Blu-ray ripper apps, it’s capable of handling encrypted discs. It also has one of the most competent converters built-in, providing you with the choice of over 500 audio and video formats and fine control over file size and quality.

  • Vast choice of 500+ formats.

  • Very fast ripping and encoding.

  • Additional tools like video compression and a GIF maker.

  • Free version is very limited.

  • Expensive.

In terms of quality, AnyMP4 can rip and convert both standard Blu-rays and UHD 4K Blu-rays without any loss in quality if you choose the correct settings. You can opt for a lossless format like MKV or retain a 4K resolution with some loss in fidelity if you require smaller file sizes.

The ripping and encoding processes are relatively fast, in line with what you should expect from a premium app. This app is a rather expensive option, with only a minimal free trial available, but the options and quality you get are worth the price.

Handbrake

Handbrake is a fantastic free Blu-ray ripping app that also works with DVDs. It provides many output options, quick settings for specific formats and devices, and it’s completely free.

  • Totally free to download and use.

  • Tons of output options.

  • Open source.

  • Can’t handle encryption, so it’s useless on many Blu-rays.

  • Too complicated for some users.

The catch with Handbrake is that it can’t handle encryption. That means it doesn’t work with most commercial Blu-ray discs. You can still use it to compress or change the format of movies or shows you’ve ripped with another app, but Handbrake itself can only rip unencrypted Blu-rays.

DVDFab Blu-Ray Ripper

DVDFab is an excellent pick if you’re looking for a premium option. It isn’t cheap, and you have to pay more if you want to take advantage of the upscaling feature, but it is an excellent choice if you’re looking to move away from the headaches and extra work often associated with free software.

  • Handles most encryption.

  • Upscale to 4K.

  • Encodes to a lot of common formats.

  • Lots of complicated options.

  • Upscaling feature requires separate purchase.

  • Expensive.

While this software isn’t cheap, it provides value. It’s capable of handling most encrypted discs with ease, it gives a ton of options for encoding to various file formats, and you have a lot of freedom to adjust the quality of your videos versus the file size.

If you’re ripping standard Blu-rays, you can even add their Enlarger AI to upscale to 4K video.

VideoSolo

VideoSolo is another premium Blu-ray ripper that provides the ability to read and convert most encrypted discs. It features an intuitive process that’s pretty easy to pick up and get started with, although it’s bogged down somewhat by a cumbersome interface that makes more advanced options challenging to understand or access.

  • Handles all encrypted Blu-rays.

  • Easy to use.

  • Supports lots of video and audio formats.

  • Expensive.

  • Cumbersome interface.

As a premium app, VideoSolo gives you a ton of options when ripping and converting your Blu-rays, including support for all of the most popular video and audio formats. You can choose your format and settings or choose presets that are designed for specific hardware.

This ripper also supports ripping and encoding UHD 4K Blu-ray discs without losing any quality if you aren’t afraid of large file sizes.

CloneBD

CloneBD is a simple Blu-ray ripping app that’s easy to use yet offers many output options. The catch is that it can’t handle encrypted Blu-ray discs, so it’s only valid if you’re trying to rip unprotected Blu-rays. This premium app is a bit on the pricey side for lacking decryption functionality, but it’s a decent option if you’re looking to clone unprotected discs.

  • Paid version can create a variety of file types.

  • Limited free version available.

  • Full version requires a fee to use.

  • Can’t handle encrypted blu-rays.

  • Expensive.

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