6 Best Free DVD Decoders for Windows XP/10/8/7 [2024 List]

Ann
14/02/2023

BD-DVD Ripper

In the modern era when streaming media is thriving around the globe, there are still numbers of users enjoying purchasing DVD or Blu-rays to enjoy the theatre-like movie streaming experience at home. However, when it comes to the DVD backup or copying requirements, many of you will feel aimless and don’t know how to process it.

Actually, there has professional program concentratively developed to do this for you, which is called DVD decoder. Therefore, this post is about to introduce the 6 best free DVD decoders you can trust to process DVD backup, ripping, or copying on Windows XP/10/8/7 in easy manipulation. Please scroll down and read if you are curious about how they can help. Now, let’s dive into it.

Top 1. VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper

Pros

Easy manipulation for beginners
Clear user interface
Smooth and no-lag performance without occupying much CPU
Fast decoding speed and 1:1 original quality
300+ output formats
Responsive customer support

Cons

Only 5 minutes can be converted under the free trial period

The top-ranking DVD decoder recommended by most users refers to VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper. The program offers powerful decoding ability to rip both homemade and commercial DVD as well as Blu-ray discs to 300+ formats with simple manipulation procedures. With the advanced techniques utilized, the program can run smoothly and stably on Windows 10/8/7 without taking up high CPU and lagging performance. With more sub-features equipped and free trial provided, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper provides professional experience to you.

Features:

Compatible with all types of Blu-ray, DVD discs or ISO files.
Rip DVD and Blu-ray discs to over 300 popular formats in preference.
Lossless quality is ensured to export ripped media.
Full subtitles and audio tracks will be retained.
Basic editing and video adjusting functions are provided to personalize the videos before exporting flexibly.
Accelerated speed is ensured by adopting several GPU acceleration techniques.

Tip: If you get an encrypted DVD or Blu-ray disc wishing to stream on computers without ripping, VideoByte Blu-ray Player can help to play the protected content without decoding it.

Top 2. VLC

Pros

All-in-one program with more functions
Free DVD decoding service without any charge
Easy-using manipulation to decode DVDs
Cross-platform supported

Cons

Slow DVD decoding speed
The decoded media quality is compressed
No editing toolkit provided

Most of you would be familiar with the free media player, VLC. But to our surprises, this program works than how we can imagine – with the free DVD decoder provided inside!

As an open-source program, you won’t need to pay extra charge to access the DVD decoding feature. Simply by inserting the DVD to your computer and load the disc in VLC, it can help convert the disc to MP4 or other popular formats just by clicks. Although it is less efficient as VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, and needs to take a bit long time to complete the DVD decoding, it is still an economical method appropriate for Windows XP/10/8/7 users to try.

Top 3. HandBrake

Pros

Straightforward interface
Entirely free of charge
Detailed decoding settings
Decent output quality

Cons

Long decoding process required
Lack of video editing features
Unavailable to compress video sizes
Limited formats to output DVD videos

With more advanced personalized settings to determine the DVD outputs, the free DVD decided, Handbrake, also brings the convenient decoding method to assist you take full control of the DVD ripping process. Although it lacks the editing features for adjusting the video effects, its straightforward parameter settings panel allows you to personalize the output files in detailed quality settings in preferences, making the DVD videos suitable for streaming on any device with perfect compatibility.

Features:

Numerous tabs are provided to determine encoding settings and output effects.
Audio tracks and subtitles adding are both possible.
Support decoding commercial Blu-ray and DVD discs.

Top 4. MakeMKV

Pros

Original quality to decode DVD in MKV
Easy-using functions
Some encrypted discs supported
Blu-ray decoding supported

Cons

Only MKV as the output format
Windows version only
Unavailable to accelerate the decoding process
Very large file sizes
Slow decoding speed

As a free DVD decoder, MakeMKV functions in the way better than we can imagine. The program can deal with commercial DVDs decoding, and retains lossless quality to assist you getting converted MKV videos without any image quality loss. Although this would result in the large file sizes of the videos, it greatly preserves the original quality and delivers you the best media streaming experience. The easy-using manipulation is also a highlight of MakeMKV – only one tap is required to decode DVDs with it!

Features:

It is compatible with DVD decoding of some types of encrypted discs.
Blu-ray disc decoding is fully compatible.
The image quality will be fully retained losslessly.
The audio tracks and subtitles can be fully detected and selected in preferences.

Top 5. Leawo DVD Ripper (Free Edition)

Pros

Accelerated decoding speed
More popular output formats
Encrypted discs supported
Subtitles and audios detection
Clear interface

Cons

Many advanced tools are not available for free
Lack of Blu-ray compatibility
Only 5-minute ripping available

For users who wish a free DVD decoder to rip DVD clips without any charge, Leawo DVD Ripper has extracted some basic functions off its premium version to provide you the help with the free trial. Unlike many other free DVD decoders such as MakeMKV or VLC, Leawo DVD Ripper still utilized the acceleration techniques to ensure speedy performance in decoding DVDs. More than this, the program is well compatible with the most encrypted methods, assisting you to decode most types of DVDs within one platform conveniently.

Features:

Support decoding encrypted or encryption-free DVDs powerfully.
Acceleration techniques are utilized to ensure speedy performance.
More output formats are provided to select.
Editing tools are equipped (premium version required).
Optimal audios and subtitles selections are provided.

Top 6. WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro (Free Edition)

Pros

Easy-using functions
Smart compression method
Decent output quality
Encrypted DVDs supported
Fast decoding speed

Cons

Free trial limitations existed
Unavailable to decode Blu-rays

Sharing similarities with VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper and Leawo DVD Ripper, WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro provides a free trial version availing you to try the free DVD decoder without any charge on Windows XP/10/8/7. This DVD-oriented decoding program surely brings an effortless process and ideal lossless outputs with guaranteed decoding speed. Its straightforward user interface is also user-friendly for beginners to get started. Also, WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro can well balance the compression ratio, file size, and output quality smartly, assisting you to get the nice outputs without sacrificing your device storage at all.

Features:

Bypass regional codes and other DVD protections in one shot.
Good quality is ensured even after processing the compression.
Acceleration techniques are utilized to ensure faster ripping speed.
Subtitles selecting and adding are both possible.

Final Verdict

Compared among these 6 best free DVD decoders, all of them would have both pros and cons existed. The real-free DVD decoders are normally taking pretty long decoding speed, and without any editing or video adjusting features provided. While for professional DVD decoders such as VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper, the ripping duration may be limited, but their output quality, efficiency, and full editing toolkit (especially VideoByte) will all be provided. Therefore, please determine your selection in preferences according to your own needs.