[2024] How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac for Free

I want to convert a collection of recently purchased DVDs to MP4 format on my Mac in preparation for an upcoming trip. However, I'm unsure about the process on my Mac computer.

While Mac's Disk Utility can create an image file from a DVD, it is unable to generate an MP4 file. To convert a DVD to MP4 on Mac, you will need to download and install a third-party DVD ripper. In this regard, we will introduce you to 2024 best free programs that can assist you in ripping DVDs to MP4 on Mac. Where your DVDs are copy-protected or not, you will discover a suitable DVD to MP4 converter for Mac. Please proceed to read the detailed tutorials provided below.

2024 Top 8 Best DVD to MP4 Converters for Mac

Method 1. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free

WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free is a 100% free DVD to MP4 ripper designed to effortlessly convert protected DVDs to MP4 on all Macs. This Mac DVD to MP4 converter gets constantly updated to catch up with the latest DVD encryption techs. In its previous version of 2022, it gets optimized to better cope with your protected Lionsgate DVDs, no playlist obfuscation issue. And if you have any question on DVD to MP4 ripping on Mac, you can Email to its support team, 24/7 service to help you out of any trouble.

• Supported OS: macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave and earlier
• Bypass DVD protections: DVD CSS, UOP, RCE, region code, Sony ARccOS, Disney X-project DRM, fake playlists, etc.
• Supported input sources: DVD disc, DVD folder, ISO image file
• Supported output formats: Mac general video (MP4, MOV, M4V), PC general video (MP4, MPEG, AVI), iTunes (MP4, H.264), YouTube video (MP4, FLV), music (MP3, AAC, AC3), image (PNG), device profiles (iPhone, iPad, Android, Sony, Microsoft), etc.

Unique features:

• Convert copy-protected DVDs to MP4 for free on Mac, inc. DVDs with region codes, structure protection, bad sectors, Disney 99 fake titles, old DVDs, unplayable discs, etc.
• Convert DVDs to MP4 on Mac 5x faster than others with support for Intel QSV and NVIDIA NVENC/Cuda.
• Merge DVD movie titles, cut off trailer/ads, trim, crop, add subtitles, adjust video/audio parameters like video resolution, frame rate, aspect ratio, etc.

* 100% clean and secure, with no adware, malware, spyware, virus at all *

Pros:

• It's able to remove most copy protections from a DVD.
• It will rip DVDs to MP4 at a speed that is 5x faster than other Mac DVD to MP4 converters.
• It's able to rip and copy DVD to various different formats and profiles.

Cons:

• It doesn't support ripping Blu-ray discs.

How to Free Convert DVDs to MP4 on Mac?

First of all, free download and install WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free on your M1/M2 Macs, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, or Mac mini.

Step 1. Load the DVD movie into the free DVD to MP4 converter for Mac.

Put target DVD into the DVD-ROM. Open the software WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free, then click "DVD" button on its top-left corner to load the detailed DVD information. DVD folder and ISO image file input options are also provided next to it. This tool can auto check the right DVD main title for you, which the free Handbrake can't do.

Step 2. Choose MP4 (MPEG4/H264) as the target output.

In the auto pop-up Output Profile window, click Mac General Video --> MP4 Video. You can convert DVD to MP4 in MPEG-4, H.264, and H.265. If you want to keep small size and good quality in the output MP4 file, you can choose to convert DVD to MP4 H.265.

Before beginning to free convert DVD to MP4 on Mac, you can click "Edit" icon to crop, trim, expand the DVD movie video, or add external SRT subtitles to it; or click the wheel-like icon to open the video/audio parameter settings window to make free adjustments to get desired output effects for the MP4 video.

Step 3. Start converting DVD to MP4 file for free.

Click "Browse" button on the bottom to choose a preferred destination folder to save the ripped DVD movie video.

Then tap "RUN" button to start ripping DVD to MP4 video for free without losing quality with this powerful yet free DVD converter.

Tips:

• Utilize "Safe Mode" to resolve any issues that may arise when ripping a copy protected DVD to MP4 on Mac.
• Optimize DVD conversion speed by selecting CPU Core usage (up to 8 cores).
• Select "High Quality Engine" or "Keep Original" for the best video output quality.

Disclaimer: Digiarty Software does not advocate ripping copy-protected DVDs for any commercial purpose and suggests referring to the DVD copyright laws in your countries before doing so. Still have trouble about converting DVD to MP4 on Mac? Please feel free to Email Us >>

WinX review by Techradar experts

Method 2. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac Free with HandBrake

• Supported OS: Current version 1.7.3 can work well on macOS 10.13 and later.
• Bypass DVD copy protection: No, HandBrake can't circumvent DVD copy protection on its own.
• Supported input sources: DVD and Bluray sources, and common multimedia files
• Supported output formats: .MP4(.M4V), .MKV and WebM

If your current Handbrake version is 1.6.0 (released in December, 2022), you're strongly advised to upgrade Handbrake to version 1.7 (released on November 22, 2023). This release has a significant improvement on the core HandBrake engine, including adding Apple VideoToolbox hardware decoding for recent Macs to speed up your Mac DVD to MP4 converting speed with GPU hardware decoding, not the traditional software decoding on Mac. Meanwhile, it extends AV1 hardware encoding to AMD and NVIDIA users and improves performance on AArch64 (ARM) and Apple Silicon devices.

Though the latest version is 1.7.3, there is no substantial improvements on DVD ripping performance, just fixes on some minor bugs. Certainly, we can't blame Handbrake team for the belated yet conventional upgrade, since HandBrake is developed by a small team of volunteers and it is not always possible for them to provide immediate responses.

Pros:

• It's able to rip DVD & Bluray discs to MP4/MKV on Mac.
• It offers tons of filters and settings to customize the MP4 video.
• It's fast and reliable.

Cons:

• It needs libdvdcss to convert protected DVDs to MP4.
• The interface can be a bit overwhelming at times with options and selections.

How to Free Convert a DVD to MP4 with HandBrake?

If you have installed HandBrake on Mac and inserted target DVD into DVD drive. Then let's start converting DVD to MP4 on Mac using Handbrake.

Note: Handbrake doesn't support DVD with copy protections. If you want to use Handbrake to rip a copy-protected DVD to MP4 on Mac, you need to install libdvdcss first. libdvdcss will help Handbrake convert DVDs protected by region codes and CSS. On Mac, the easiest way to install libdvdcss is using Homebrew. If you have installed Homebrew on your Mac, open Terminal and enter "brew install libdvdcss". Then then hit enter to download libdvdcss on Mac.

Not clear enough? Check detailed steps to install libdvdcss on Mac for HandBrake

Step 1. Now open Handbrake and it will present Open Source dialog on launch. What you need to do there is to select the DVD you just insert. After that, HandBrake will start scanning the DVD. There are usually dozens of titles to scan. Once finished, you should use HandBrake's Title control to select the title you want to convert to MP4.

Step 2. Choose a preset, such as Fast 576p25. After you choose a desired preset, click Summary tab and make sure the format is MP4.

Step 3. Under the Video tab, you can adjust the video codec, encoding quality, crop, etc. Here are the general settings recommended for DVD to MP4 ripping:

* Super HQ 480p30 Surround
* Constant Quality: 18-20 RF
* Encoder Preset: Slow; Encoder Level: 3.1

If you still don't know how to set Handbrake for the rip, here we share the best Handbrake DVD to MP4 ripping settings. If you don't need to adjust other settings, now you can click the Browse button to choose a save path for the MP4 output.

Step 4. Click the Start button on the Toolbar to begin converting DVD to MP4 on M1/M2 Mac with HandBrake.

Handbrake review by G2 users

Method 3. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac Free with VLC

• Supported OS: Current version 3.0.20 requires Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later. Note that the first generation of Intel-based Macs equipped with Core Solo or Core Duo processors is no longer supported. Please use VLC older version 2.0.10
• Bypass DVD copy protection: CSS
• Supported input sources: DVD, Blu-ray, Audio CD, SVCD/VCD
• Supported output formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, WebM, MP3, etc.

VLC is a popular media player that can also convert DVDs to MP4 and other formats on M1/M2 Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, or Mac mini. It's a well-known old friend to all of us and it's unnecessary to repeat its a wide range of features. Just talk about its change. Visit its official webpage and we can find that it only gets an update roughly in half a year. In most cases, the update makes little sense. Only in the recent release of 3.0.20, it updates codecs, fixes a FLAC quality issue and resolved audio layout problem on Mac computer. As for DVD decryption, it's still in its infancy. Thus, it's more suitable for ripping unprotected DVDs, without much expectation on ripping speed.

Pros:

• It's able to convert DVDs to MP4 and other formats.
• It's a popular media player and many users already have it installed.

Cons:

• The outputs and settings are limited.
• It doesn't support protected DVDs.
• The speed and quality is not as good as other DVD to MP4 converters for Mac.

How to Rip DVDs to MP4 for Free with VLC?

To get started, download and install VLC on your Mac. Then insert target DVD into your Mac's DVD drive and follow the steps below. Here is a detailed guide on how to convert DVDs to MP4 using VLC:

Step 1. Open VLC, click File menu, and choose Open Disc. Then Open Source window will show up. And here you should see your DVD name. now, click Disable DVD menus. Then you will see the Title/Chapter boxes.

VLC can't convert protected DVDs. But here is a workaround. In order to convert a protected DVD to MP4 on Mac, play the DVD in a DVD player and mark down the correct movie title. Then choose the title/chapter in the VLC settings manually.

Step 2. Check Stream output at the bottom left and then click Settings to open Streaming and Transcoding Options. What you need to do here include:

• Check File and click Browse to specify a save location and a name for your mp4 output.
• Click the Encapsulation Method drop-down box and choose MPEG 4.
• Adjust video/audio settings if necessary.

Then click OK.

Step 3. After you get back to Open Source, click the blue Open button to begin converting DVD to MP4 on Mac with VLC. Generally, it will take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes per half-hour of video.

Using VLC to Rip DVD to MP4 on Mac is too slow?

While VLC is a versatile media player, its DVD ripping capabilities might not be as optimized as dedicated DVD ripping software. As a result, VLC doesn't support GPU acceleration in DVD decoding. In other words, it relies on the CPU to do the intensive ripping tasks. So the DVD to MP4 ripping will be much slower compared to other converters.

Method 4. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with Cisdem Video Converter

• Price: $49.99 lifetime license with free trial
• Supported OS: macOS 10.10 or later
• Bypass DVD copy protection: CSS, RPC, RCE, Disney X-project DRM, UOP, ARccOS, etc.
• Supported input sources: DVD disc, DVD folder, ISO image file
• Supported output formats: MP4, M4V, WMV, MP3, iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Nokia, HTC, iTunes, TV, blackberry, etc.

Cisdem Video Converter is a paid tool for Mac to convert DVDs to MP4, MKV, MOV, H.265 MP4, and various different formats. You can use it to rip protected DVDs to MP4 on Macs. There are also features to trim the video, crop, rotate, apply effects, add watermarks/subtitles, etc. The speed is fast and the quality is good. Compared to other DVD to MP4 converters on the list, it lacks the support for hardware acceleration which can speed up DVD to MP4 conversion a lot. There is no option to save an intact DVD copy in ISO image or Video_TS folder on Mac either.

Pros:

• It's able to remove DVD copy protections.
• It contains functions to convert, edit, download, and more.

Cons:

• It doesn't offer DVD copy features.

Steps to Convert a DVD to MP4 on Mac with Cisdem Video Converter

Step 1. Download and install Cisdem Video Converter on Mac. Then launch it and insert the source DVD into Mac’s optical drive.

Step 2. Find the DVD icon in the Finder and drag it to the DVD to MP4 ripper. It will load the source immediately.

Step 3. Choose the titles, subtitle tracks, and audio tracks that you’d like to keep in the output MP4 video. Then click on the format-choosing icon nearby "Convert all tasks to" and select MP4 as the output format.

Step 4. After all the settings, click the convert button to rip DVDs to MP4 video on Mac.

Cisdem review by sysgeeker

Method 5. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with Movavi Free Video Converter

• Supported OS: macOS 10.10 or later
• Bypass DVD copy protection: No
• Supported input sources: DVD disc
• Supported output formats: MP4, M4V, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, WebM, MPG, VOB, etc.

Movavi Video Converter is a simple and free DVD to MP4 converter for Mac. It offers the essential functions to convert DVDs to MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, M2TS, 180+ formats and 200+ device profiles. The speed and output quality of the free version are acceptable. If you need to speed up the conversion speed and get more editing features, you need to upgrade to its pro version. However, both the free and pro versions don't support protected DVDs. That means you can only convert homemade DVDs to MP4 on Mac using this program.

Pros:

• It's an all-in-one DVD video converter.
• In addition to converting DVD to MP4 on Mac, it offers many other extra features.

Cons:

• It can't convert protected DVDs to MP4.

How to Convert Unprotected DVDs to MP4 on Mac with Movavi Free Video Converter?

Step 1. Download and install this free DVD to MP4 converter on Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, or Mac mini. Then launch it and insert the source DVD into Mac's optical drive.

Step 2. Click the Add Media button, then select Add DVD > Open DVD, and find the VIDEO_TS folder on your DVD.

Step 3. In the Video or Devices tab at the bottom of the video converter interface, find and select MP4 as the output format.

Step 4. Click Save to to specify the folder on your hard drive to save the converted MP4 files. Then click the Convert button to start to rip.

Movavi review by G2 users

Method 6. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with MacX DVD Ripper Free Edition?

• Supported OS: macOS Ventura or earlier
• Bypass DVD copy protection: Region codes, CSS, RPC, RCE, Disney X-project DRM, UOP, ARccOS, etc.
• Supported input sources: DVD, ISO image, Video_TS folder
• Supported output formats: MP4, M4V, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, WebM, MPG, VOB, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, TV, etc.

MacX DVD Ripper Free Edition is a free DVD to MP4 converter for macOS. It's designed to be fast and efficient, and can rip DVDs with copy protections. The free DVD to MP4 converter for Mac also incorporates an array of video editing features, enabling you to trim, crop, and refine your videos prior to conversion. It stands as an excellent option when seeking a dependable, swift, and user-friendly DVD to MP4 ripper equipped with advanced functionalities.

Pros:

• It's able to remove DVD copy protections.
• It's able to convert DVDs to MP4 and others.

Cons:

• It offers limited editing features.

How to Convert DVDs to MP4 on MacOS with MacX DVD Ripper Free Edition?

Step 1. Download and install this free DVD to MP4 converter on Mac. Then launch it and insert the source DVD into Mac's optical drive.

Step 2. Click the DVD button, then select the source DVD. Wait for it to analyze the DVD information and find the DVD title.

Step 3. Once the DVD is loaded, it will then ask you to select an output format. Choose MP4 from the formats list and click OK to continue.

Step 4. In the Destination Folder section, choose a folder on your Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, or Mac mini to save the converted MP4 video. Then click Run to start converting.

MacX review by macworld expert

Method 7. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac Free with FFmpeg?

• Supported OS: macOS, Windows, and Linux
• Bypass DVD copy protection: No
• Supported input sources: ISO image, Video_TS folder
• Supported output formats: AVI, WMV9, DIVX, MP3, MPEG1-2-4, DV, MJPEG, H.263, H.264, 3GPP, AMR, FLV and many others.

FFmpeg, an open-source command-line tool for processing audio and video files, possesses the capability to convert DVD videos (specifically VOB files within the VIDEO_TS folder and DVD ISO image files) into MP4 and various other formats. It offers a multitude of valuable commands and flags, allowing for flexible customization of output files. Nevertheless, FFmpeg lacks the ability to rip protected DVDs to MP4 on Mac due to its absence of DVD decryption functionality. Despite its extensive range of features, FFmpeg can be intimidating for beginners; however, numerous graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for FFmpeg are available online.

Pros:

• It's flexible with tons of codecs.

Cons:

• It c an't convert protected DVDs to MP4.
• It's intimidate to use for novices.

How to Rip DVDs to MP4 on Mac Free with FFmpeg?

Step 1. Go to the official site of FFmpeg. Click on the Apple logo and choose the Static builds for macOS 64-bit. After you're redirected to the evermeet.cx site, choose the download option with the shorter filename, for example, click on the ffmpeg-6.0.7z. Then extract the file and click on the file. You may need to change the settings in the System Preferences in order to open it.

Step 2. Double click the FFmpeg file, and a new Terminal window will open. You will then need to enter in the command to convert a DVD to MP4. You need to know that FFmpeg can't read data from a DVD directly. So you need to import the DVD ISO image or Video_TS folder to Mac, or browse for the DVD files in the Finder and get the .vob file name you want to convert.

Step 3. Now enter the command line and click Enter to start converting the DVD video to MP4 on Mac. Based on the source DVD files, here are some example commands:

ffmpeg -i VTS_01_1.VOB -b:v 1500k -r 30 -vcodec h264 -strict -2 -acodec aac -ar 44100 -f mp4 convert.mp4

ffmpeg -i "concat:VTS_01_1.VOB|VTS_01_2.VOB" -vcodec libx265 new-video-h265.mp4

ffmpeg -i My_DVD.iso -c:v libx265 -c:a libopus -c:s copy output.mp4

FFmpeg review by G2 users

Method 8. How to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac with Uniconverter?

• Supported OS: macOS 10.11 or later
• Bypass DVD copy protection: No
• Supported input sources: DVD, ISO image, IFO files, videos
• Supported output formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, and other 1000 formats.

Wondershare Uniconverter is a comprehensive video converter that provides the capability to convert DVDs into MP4 and various other formats. It encompasses nearly all the features required for converting, editing, recording, playing, and burning videos. In terms of DVD ripping, it employs APEXTRANS technology to ensure swift DVD to MP4 ripping speeds on Mac, while maintaining high quality. Additionally, it allows for DVD movie trimming, cropping, rotation, as well as the addition of watermarks and subtitles. Moreover, video burning to a DVD is also supported.

Nevertheless, Wondershare Uniconverter does not offer support for DVDs or videos with DRM. For converting protected content to MP4 on Mac, alternative options must be considered.

Pros:

• It's an all-in-one video converter.
• It offers fast DVD to MP4 converting speed and high quality.

Cons:

• It can't convert protected DVDs to MP4.

How to Convert DVDs to MP4 on MacOS with Uniconverter?

Step 1. Download and install Uniconverter free trial on your Mac. Insert the DVD you want to convert into your Mac's DVD drive.

Step 2. Launch this DVD to MP4 converter on Mac. Click Converter from the left column, choose "Load DVD" button and select the source DVD. It will then load the DVD data.

Step 3. After the DVD is loaded, click on the "Output Format" drop-down menu on the right side of the software interface. Select Video and then "MP4" from the list of supported video formats. You will need to choose a resolution for it. Do not choose to rip your DVD to MP4 in HD or higher resolution. It doesn't help improve the output quality.

Step 4. Click File Location and choose where to save the output MP4 video. Then click  Start All to start the process of converting DVD to MP4 on Mac. The free version of Uniconverter can only convert 1/3 lenght of the original DVD movie into MP4. You need to purchase the full version to remove the limitations.

Uniconverter review by capterra users

Conclusion Which is the Best Software to Convert DVD to MP4 on Mac?

Each free DVD to MP4 converter for Mac has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. To be specific, HandBrake, VLC, FFmpeg, Movavi Video Converter, and Uniconverter are robust video transcoders with numerous advanced options; however, they are incapable of handling sources with any form of copy protection.

WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free, Cisdem Video Converter, and MacX DVD Ripper Free Edition support protected DVDs, yet each possesses its unique strengths and weaknesses. For instance, WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free and MacX DVD Ripper Free Edition offer limited editing features, whereas Cisdem Video Converter is not available for free.

Therefore, when determining the optimal DVD to MP4 converter for Mac, WinX DVD Ripper Mac Free stands out as it is purposefully designed for DVD conversion, boasting formidable DVD decryption capabilities, rapid processing speeds, and exceptional output quality. The most professional option is often the best choice. Feel free to give it a try!

FAQ about Converting DVDs to MP4 on Mac

1. Can VLC convert a DVD to MP4 on Mac?

Yes, VLC media player can be used to convert a DVD to MP4 format on a Mac, though it can't rip a DVD with copy protection. In Method 3 above, we've showed you how to can convert DVDs to MP4 with VLC.

2. What is the best way to convert DVD to MP4 on Mac?

The best way to convert a DVD to MP4 on Mac depends on what you care or need the most. For example, you may want a fast DVD ripping speed, the DVD decryption ability, convert a DVD to MP4 with customization options, etc, There are several software options available for ripping DVDs, both free and paid. HandBrake, VLC, and WinX DVD Ripper are popular choices. Choose the Mac DVD to MP4 converter that suits your needs and download/install it.

1. Obtain DVD ripping software. Insert the DVD into your Mac computer's DVD drive.
2. Launch the DVD to MP4 ripping software on your Mac and choose the DVD drive as the source to import the DVD contents.
3. Choose MP4 as the output format and adjust various settings if necessary, such as video quality, resolution, audio tracks, subtitles, and more.
4. Once you have set the desired settings, start the conversion process. The software will read the DVD contents and convert them into MP4 format.
5. After the conversion is complete, the software will save the resulting MP4 file to a specified location on your Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, iMac, or Mac mini.

3. Can QuickTime convert DVD to MP4?

No. QuickTime can neither play a DVD or rip a DVD to MP4. However, QuickTime is able to record a DVD and save it in MP4. What you need is to play the DVD movie in another DVD player such as VLC. Then in the QuickTime Player app on your Mac, choose File > New Screen Recording to open Screenshot and display the tools. QuickTime will start to record the DVD movie.

4. Can iMovie or iTunes convert DVDs to MP4?

No, neither iMovie nor iTunes can convert DVD to MP4 or other formats. This is because iMovie and iTunes do not have built-in features to directly convert DVDs. Furthermore, they don't even support DVD formats. If you need to import a DVD into iMovie or iTunes, you need to use third-party software to convert DVDs first.

5. How long does it take to rip a DVD to MP4 on Mac?

The time it takes to rip a DVD to MP4 on a Mac can vary depending on various factors such as the speed of your DVD drive, the processing power of your computer, the settings you choose for the ripping process, the length of the DVD movie, and the specific DVD ripping software you use. In general, it takes anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to rip a standard DVD to MP4 format on Mac. If you want to speed up the DVD to MP4 conversion speed on Mac, you can choose a DVD ripper that supports GPU acceleration or other accelerating tech, such as WinX DVD Ripper or Handbrake.

6. Is it legal to convert DVDs to MP4 on Mac?

The legality of converting DVDs to MP4 on Mac, or any other platform, depends on where you are. Copyright laws vary from country to country, and they govern the copying and distribution of copyrighted material. But in practice, it's safe to convert your personal DVD into MP4 for a safe backup or easier playback, if you don't distribute the MP4 copy for any illegal purpose.