Easily Rip DVD with Handbrake [Alternatives Included]
If you usually convert various video files, you have probably encountered HandBrake. Handbrake is an open-source video converter tool widely used for converting media into different formats.
But did you know it’s also a powerful solution for ripping DVDs? If you don’t, the answer is yes. With that, if you’re considering Handbrake a solution to digitize your old DVD collection or back up important media, HandBrake makes the process simple. Below, we’ll guide you through the steps to rip a DVD with HandBrake, and we’ll also introduce some alternative tools that offer similar functionality. Let’s get started!

Part 1. Introduction to Using a DVD Ripper
When talking about ripping DVDs, the usual question being asked is, why rip them and what’s the best DVD ripper to use.
Nowadays, everything is digitalized, from streaming movies to storing photos and DVDs have slowly become obsolete. Many people still have large DVD collections, but DVDs can be bulky and prone to damage, like scratches or wear and tear. That's where ripping comes in. Ripping a DVD allows you to convert the physical disc’s contents into a digital format, making it easier to store, organize, and play on various devices.
The following are the reasons why you should rip your DVDs:
Convenience
DVDs take up physical space, and having a digital version of them means you can access your movies or videos from anywhere without the need for a DVD player. By ripping your DVDs, you can easily store and access your favorite films on your computer and other devices.
Preservation
When not stored properly, there’s a tendency for your DVDs will be damaged, and when run over time, they deteriorate. Therefore, ripping them will allow you to have a backup copy that can last indefinitely, ensuring that your movies and important content are protected.
Flexibility
When you rip DVDs, it gives you the flexibility to convert them into different file formats, such as MP4, MKV, or AVI, depending on the device or platform you want to use for playback.
Now, when choosing a DVD ripper, consider these two things:
• First, choose a DVD ripper that contains all the video formats that you need when converting DVDs.
• The second one, choose a DVD ripper that can handle encryption because some DVDs are copy-protected.
Part 2. Rip DVD with HandBrake
HandBrake is a popular open-source video conversion tool that supports a wide range of most used video formats. With its rich support for varying audio and video formats, HandBrake makes it easy and efficient to rip DVDs and Blu-rays into digital files. So, when you use the HandBrake DVD Ripper, you can easily convert your physical discs into digital files for convenient storage and playback on multiple devices.
Main Function:
• Converts DVDs into digital video files for easy storage and playback.
• Supports video and audio formats like MP4, MKV, FLV, MOV, AVI, and WebM for video and AAC, MP3, FLAC, M4A, ALAC, WAV, and AC3 for audio.
• Can read videos from older source formats.
• Make videos playable on multiple platforms.
• Restores old and low-quality videos.
• Allows customization of video quality, resolution, and file size.
Steps on how to rip DVD with HandBrake:
Step 1: First, you need to download and install the HandBrake on your computer device.
Step 2: Next, launch the tool, insert your DVD into the DVD-ROM, and select your DVD under Source Selection. The tool will then start scanning the DVD movie titles.

Step 3: Once you have the DVD open, select the title you want to rip by going to the Title’s drop-down menu.

Step 4: Next, you will need to decide on the quality of your output file. You simply have to click the Preset button and customize your settings. There are presets for everything you need: Apple TV, Android phone, PlayStation, and many more.

Step 5: Once you've chosen a name and preset, it’s now time to rip the DVD by clicking the Start Encode button at the top of the window. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom that tells you how much time you have left to rip.

Higher-quality ripping will take longer, so you should let your computer run for a while.
When you rip DVDs with Handbrake and it’s encrypted, you should install libdvdcss to bypass copy protection. For Windows users, download libdvdcss and place it in HandBrake's installation folder. Meanwhile, Mac users can install it using Homebrew by typing brew install libdvdcss in Terminal. With libdvdcss installed, HandBrake can rip most copy-protected DVDs without any issues.
Part 3. Alternatives to HandBrake DVD Ripper
Despite HandBrake DVD Ripper's powerful features, others find it lacking some important features, like direct conversion with encrypted DVDs. With that, here are the following alternatives that you can try on:
FVC picked Video Converter Ultimate
First on the list as one of the best Handbrake DVD Ripper alternatives is the FVC picked Video Converter Ultimate. This is a full-featured converter tool that supports a number of widely used video output formats, including MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and more. With this, users can rip DVDs to the format that best suits their needs. Moreover, it has a built-in editing feature that they can use to further enhance the DVD content before ripping it.

Price:
1 Month License: $14.50
Lifetime License: $49.96
Business License: $119.00
Pros
- Supports more than 1000 formats and devices, such as MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, AVI, MP3, AAC, GIF, iPhone, Samsung, and Apple TV.
- Offers fast DVD ripping with hardware acceleration NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD.
- User-friendly interface, easy for beginners to use.
- Includes basic video editing features.
- Allows adjustment of video quality and effects before ripping.
- Works on both Windows and MacOS.
Cons
- The full feature is not available in the free version.
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum
WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is an excellent alternative to HandBrake DVD Ripper. With its fast ripping feature and superb support for converting DVDs into various video output formats, this tool only proves how versatile and powerful it is compared to HandBrake. Moreover, with its ability to handle a large number of discs, it’s indeed a great option for anyone looking to back up their DVD collection efficiently.

Price:
1 Year Subscription: $39.95
Lifetime Plan: $59.95
4 in 1 Bundle: $89.95
Pros
- Can rip DVD files that have copy protection.
- Supports AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, FLV, MPEG, and MP3 output formats.
- Provides high-quality output with no crashes.
Cons
- The user interface might be a little overwhelming for new users.
- The editing features are limited.
WonderFox DVD ripper
The last alternative you can try is the WonderFox DVD Ripper. This tool effectively converts DVDs into various popular video formats and offers fast ripping speeds for the speedy process of ripping DVDs into digital videos. On average, it takes about 20 minutes to convert a 120-minute DVD to AVI with no quality loss and even less time for MPG.

Price:
Single License: $29.95
Lifetime License: $39.95
Family License: $69.95
Pros
- Fast DVD ripping speed.
- Can rip audio from concert DVDs and DVD music.
- Has built-in video editing features.
Cons
- It may lack some advanced editing features compared to other tools.
- The user interface might be a little overwhelming for beginners.
Part 4. FAQs about Ripping DVDs with HandBrake
Why won't my HandBrake rip DVDs?
While HandBrake is designed to really rip DVDs, there are times that it doesn’t work for particular DVDs. But don’t fret. It happens quite sometimes! The usual reason for this is that, some DVD has copy protection. When a DVD is encrypted with copy protection, HandBrake can’t rip it. When you encounter this kind of problem, install libdvdcss on your computer. This library will allow HandBrake to bypass encryption and rip most copy-protected DVDs hassle-free.
Is the VLC DVD player safe to use?
Yes. It is safe to use the VLC Media Player. So you don’t need to worry when you directly play DVDs to it. VLC is proven to be safe. In fact, it is used by a number of people, allowing them to convert any videos, including DVDs, into a digital file format.
Is it possible for HandBrake to rip Disney DVDs?
Yes, it is possible. HandBrake can rip Disney DVDs as long as they are not encrypted. But despite this, you can still rip them. You just need to download and install libdvdcss to bypass this protection and allow HandBrake to rip the DVD easily.
What happens when you rip a DVD?
When you rip a DVD, you are basically extracting the video, audio, and other content from the disc and converting it into a digital format. This process allows you to store, edit, or play the content on various devices without needing the physical DVD. The data is typically converted into formats like MP4 or MKV, and copy protection can be bypassed using tools like libdvdcss if needed.
Conclusion
That’s it! There’s no reason for you to infinitely store your DVDs. And now that you know how to rip DVDs with HandBrake. Follow the guide and take note of the tips in this guide. Also, don’t forget to try the alternative tools that have the same features as HandBrake but offer easier steps and additional functionalities.
Are you ready to rip your DVDs? Start it now!