How to Convert DVD to Digital with 7 Effective Ways [2026]

Want to play your DVD library on Smart TVs or a home theater with original quality? You need the help of DVD ripper software on your computer. This article will introduce 7 simple methods for converting DVDs to digital, making it convenient for you to manage, and you no longer have to rely on a drive to play. You can also scroll down directly to section 8 to view the comparison table and preview their pros and cons before learning the operation. Now, let's get started.

1. Convert DVD to Digital with VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper 🔥

On the market, all professional DVD ripping software requires paying to access the full functions. Compared with those free options, such programs are able to maintain a higher quality and provide a stable performance to convert DVDs to digital at a faster speed. VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper featured heavily and stands out from them.

This software provides both a free version and an upgraded option to access the DVD conversion. It enables you to unlock popular protections and region codes easily. It is compatible with ripping all types of DVD discs to 300+ video/audio formats like MP4, MKV, MP3, etc. VideoByte is one of the few tools capable of fully preserving 6-Channel 5.1 surround sound, getting a theater experience in the home.

Besides, you can enjoy a lossless DVD to digital service that supports 1080p & 4K resolution, maintaining both video resolution and audio effects at a 1:1 ratio while optimizing all metadata for platforms like Plex and Emby. It allows you to keep or select audio tracks/subtitles and edit your DVD videos with its flexible editor. What's more, because of its hardware acceleration techs, it can offer high-quality output at a 6X faster speed, enabling you to rip DVDs to digital formats within minutes, but without occupying a high CPU at all.

Step 1. Load your DVDs. Click the "Load DVD" in the upper left corner to load your disks.

Step 2. Choose the output format and path. Click on the lower left corner to choose the output format you need and the location you want to save to.

Step 3. Start ripping. After setting details, tap the "Rip All" button to start ripping.

For myself, the reason why I recommend this tool is that I have converted a broken homemade DVD to MP4 successfully. The DVD recorded my friend's wedding had been stored for so many years that it had minor surface scratches. When I found it frozen on my player, I chose VideoByte to back up the physical disc. It can fix blank sectors of the broken disc and restore a lively playback.

On the other hand, for good compatibility and easy management, we recommend you choose the most common DVD-to-digital format - MP4. In all, it's better to choose MP4 (H.265) to save more high-quality movies on limited hard drive space.

2. Convert DVD to Digital Free with VLC Player

If you desire the best free DVD ripper software for PC, VLC is recommended. Instead of being a simple media player, VLC is also a software to help you convert DVD Video and Video CD/VCD to digital formats with its hidden DVD digitization tool. Note that though it doesn't require installing extra extensions to process the DVD conversion, VLC can hardly deal with some protected DVDs. And you have to be relaxed with the output quality and speed – it will compress the image quality to about 720p. If you accept all of this, follow the steps below to convert a normal DVD to digital ones.

Step 1. After inserting your DVD disc into the computer drive, open VLC and go to “Media” > “Convert / Save…” > “Disc” and select opening the DVD disc you just inserted.

Step 2. After selecting the disc location, hit the “Convert / Save” icon, then you will be turned to the “Convert” window.

Step 3. Now, simply select the output format in “Profile” and set the output folder for preserving the converted files in the “Destination” section. Then you are able to hit the “Start” icon to process converting DVD to digital.

Compared with VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, VLC would take much longer to complete the conversion and cannot convert all types of DVDs. So just wait patiently for its completion, or try VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper for faster conversion.

3. Convert DVD to Digital with MakeMKV

Another free software available to transfer DVD to digital on computers is MakeMKV. If you have targeted MKV as the output format to save the converted DVD media files, the software is absolutely your choice. You are able to install the BETA version of MakeMKV to access the DVD-related functionality freely. But the BETA key needs to be upgraded, and you may not get it in time.

Compared with VLC, the output quality is higher with MakeMKV as it would not compress the video files at all. But this also means that you are making digital copies of DVDs with larger sizes. Besides, for streaming or converting Blu-ray content, you still require a license key to activate the full features.

Here guides you through how to convert DVD to digital freely via MakeMKV:

Step 1. When you have installed MakeMKV on your computer, launch it and also insert your DVD disc into the drive to enable the software to detect it.

Step 2. In MakeMKV, select “Open DVD Disc” to load DVD content.

Step 3. Now, select the titles with the audio tracks and subtitles you desire to convert to digital. Additionally, you are able to customize the output folder to save the converted files to an exact folder as you like.

Step 4. Simply hit the “Make MKV” icon, and then MakeMKV will start converting the DVD videos to digital for you.

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How to Convert DVD to MKV on Mac/Windows

4. Convert DVD to Digital with Handbrake

For homemade DVD digitalizing demands, Handbrake is also a considerable choice for you. Unlike MakeMKV, Handbrake provides optional output formats to select. But for converting the encrypted DVDs, you would be required to install extra components to process the conversion, and the operation would be much more complicated. Hence, it would be more hassle-free to convert free DVD to digital via Handbrake. Here is how it works:

Step 1. Install and launch the Handbrake on your computer. Meanwhile, insert a DVD and select “Source Selection” in Handbrake to let the software detect it.

Step 2. When the DVD titles are loaded in Handbrake, select those you need to convert to digital. Additionally, the software also allows you to adjust the video/audio settings, such as selecting the output quality according to your own requirements.

Step 3. Now, you are also allowed to set up an exact folder to save the converted video files by hitting the “Browse” button.

Step 4. Next, simply hit the “Start Encode” button on the top menu bar and Handbrake will work to convert DVD to digital right away.

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How to Rip Blu-ray with HandBrake

5. Convert DVD to Digital with Online tools

Normally, you cannot convert DVDs to digital format using online tools. However, you can convert VOB files from CDs (storing movie data) to MP4. CloudConvert is a well-known online converter. You can follow the steps below to operate.

Step 1. Please visit the official website of CloudConvert. Select VOB in the input format options and MP4 in the output options.

Step 2. Add VOB files from the computer to it. Make some adjustments if necessary.

Step 3. Start conversion, wait for upload and conversion.

The success rate of online tools is very low. You'd better use professional DVD Ripper, like VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper.

6. Convert DVD to Digital with Walmart DVD Transfer Service

If you are looking for a professional and effortless solution to convert DVD to digital, you can try Walmart DVD Transfer Service, which is offered by Walmart’s partner, YesVideo. It provides very professional techniques for digitizing DVD content to common video formats like MPEG1, MPEG2, AVI, Quicktime, and WMV in 3-4 weeks.

To access DVD to digital services, you can place an order on its website online or at your nearest Walmart Photo department. It might be costly at a starting price of $15.96, but you don’t need to do anything by yourself. You just need to pay for the service and wait for the digital files. Additionally, it also offers a bonus that you can download digital DVD copies from MemoryCloud in 60 days.

Next, let’s see how to convert DVD to digital with Walmart DVD Transfer Service in the following.

Step 1. To start, please gather the DVD files you want to transfer, and then create your order on Walmart Photo online or at Walmart directly. You can also customize the output digital video via DVDs or USB.

Step 2. Send your DVD media via two methods.

• The first option is to bring your media with the order confirmation printout to the nearest Walmart Photo department for assistance.
• The second option is to mail your packed media with your shipping document. Attach the UPS prepaid label and drop off the package at the nearest UPS location. Your preferred shipping services are supported as well.

Step 3. Receiving your digital DVD files.

• For those who choose the first option, you will receive a notification from Walmart, telling you your order is ready to pick up at the designated Walmart.
• For those who choose the second option, you will get an email about a shipping notification to your home when your order is ready.

Compared with VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, which also provides professional DVD to digital conversion, Walmart DVD Transfer Service takes longer and costs more. VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, on the other hand, is more affordable and efficient for converting DVDs to digital.

7. Convert DVD to Digital with VUDU (Fandango at Home) [Mobile]

Some of you may still wonder how to convert a DVD collection to digital on mobile phones, since the methods above are all available on computers. No worry, using VUDU (officially rebranded as Fandango at Home in 2024) to convert DVDs to digital and play the files on its platform, so you can then enjoy your DVD movies on one site directly. However, due to a lack of a native app on iOS, iPhone users can only use the ripping function through an unstable web browser. And the output quality is limited to 1080p or SD instead of 4K UHD. Here you can view the guide:

Step 1. Download the app or visit the official website (https://athome.fandango.com/content/account/d2d) for iPhone users.

Step 2. When you are asked to give permissions to VUDU, just select Allow.

Step 3. Choose to scan the code on your DVD discs following the instructions and convert them to digital. Now, you can watch your DVD movies on your phone.

A Comparison of the 7 Methods

FAQs of DVD to Digital

Conclusion

To freely convert DVD to digital, you now get 6 ways to do it on computers without hassle. By comparison, the most professional DVD digitalizing software, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper performs much better to help. But if you still want a completely free option and are willing to sacrifice certain things such as speed, quality, etc., VLC, MakeMKV, VUDU, and Handbrake are all able to help. Simply select the ideal pick based on your own requirements.