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MakeMKV alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll video and audio converters

Top picks

Common reasons people leave MakeMKV: MKV files are very large because nothing is compressed, and beta builds expire after 60 days and must be re-downloaded. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MakeMKV, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. HandBrake currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1HandBrake logoHandBrakeOpen source—YesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 483.8
2DVDFab logoDVDFabPaid$59.49NoWindows, macOS5 of 564.8
3VLC media player logoVLC media playerOpen source—YesWindows, macOS, Linux +23 of 352.6
  1. HandBrake logo

    1. HandBrakeTop pick

    Best for: Anyone who needs to shrink, convert or batch-encode video files for free

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    83.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from MakeMKV

    Free and open source; compresses discs and files into smaller MP4/MKV, though it can't decrypt Blu-rays.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and needs no account
    • Device and web presets for quick conversions
    • Hardware-accelerated encoding on most GPUs
    • Batch queue and command-line version

    Cons

    • Not an editor: only basic cropping and filters
    • Cannot rip copy-protected discs by itself
    • Many encoder settings can confuse newcomers
    Visit HandBrake Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HandBrake a good MakeMKV alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free, no account
    Checked Nov 8, 2026handbrake.fr(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Nov 8, 2026handbrake.fr(opens source in a new tab)
    macOS requirement
    macOS 10.13 or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026handbrake.fr(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux distribution
    Flatpak via Flathub
    Checked Nov 8, 2026handbrake.fr(opens source in a new tab)
  2. DVDFab logo

    2. DVDFab

    Best for: People who want one paid tool to rip and compress protected DVDs and Blu-rays for any device

    PaidWindows, macOS

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from MakeMKV

    Paid ripper that also compresses to over a thousand formats, with AI upscaling options.

    Pros

    • Rips protected discs and compresses in one step
    • Huge range of output formats and device presets
    • Hardware-accelerated encoding
    • Subtitle OCR to SRT on Windows

    Cons

    • Each module is sold separately, so costs add up
    • No Linux version
    • Subtitle OCR is Windows-only
    Visit DVDFab Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is DVDFab a good MakeMKV alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    DVD Ripper price
    $59.49
    Checked Nov 8, 2026dvdfab.cn(opens source in a new tab)
    Output formats
    1,000+ video and audio formats
    Checked Nov 8, 2026dvdfab.cn(opens source in a new tab)
    Lossless option
    MKV Passthrough
    Checked Nov 8, 2026dvdfab.cn(opens source in a new tab)
    Subtitle OCR
    To SRT, Windows only
    Checked Nov 8, 2026dvdfab.cn(opens source in a new tab)
    DVD Copy price
    $42.50
    Checked Nov 8, 2026dvdfab.cn(opens source in a new tab)
  3. VLC media player logo

    3. VLC media player

    Best for: Anyone who wants one free player that opens almost any file on every device

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    52.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MakeMKV

    Free player that can play or convert unprotected discs if you only need occasional rips.

    Pros

    • Plays nearly every format without extra codecs
    • Free and open source, no ads or tracking
    • Available on desktop and mobile platforms

    Cons

    • Interface looks dated and settings are hard to navigate
    • Library and metadata features are basic
    • HDR and high-end video output lag behind mpv-based players
    Visit VLC media player Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.346
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is VLC media player a good MakeMKV alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tagline
    Plays everything, runs anywhere
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best MakeMKV alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

HandBrake logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for most people

HandBrake

Free and open source; compresses discs and files into smaller MP4/MKV, though it can't decrypt Blu-rays.

VLC media player logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for a free option

VLC media player

Free player that can play or convert unprotected discs if you only need occasional rips.

HandBrake logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for open source

HandBrake

Free and open source; compresses discs and files into smaller MP4/MKV, though it can't decrypt Blu-rays.

DVDFab logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for Mac

DVDFab

Paid ripper that also compresses to over a thousand formats, with AI upscaling options.

HandBrake logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for Windows

HandBrake

Free and open source; compresses discs and files into smaller MP4/MKV, though it can't decrypt Blu-rays.

HandBrake logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for Linux

HandBrake

Free and open source; compresses discs and files into smaller MP4/MKV, though it can't decrypt Blu-rays.

VLC media player logo

Best MakeMKV alternative for iPhone and Android

VLC media player

Free player that can play or convert unprotected discs if you only need occasional rips.

MakeMKV alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to MakeMKV?

HandBrake ranks first right now. Free and open source; compresses discs and files into smaller MP4/MKV, though it can't decrypt Blu-rays. DVDFab and VLC media player follow it in our ranking.

MakeMKV vs HandBrake: what's the difference?

MakeMKV is free with paid plans; HandBrake is free and open source. HandBrake is open source and MakeMKV is not. Both run on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Is MakeMKV free?

MakeMKV is free with paid plans. Blu-ray trial: 30 days. Checked on MakeMKV's own site, November 2026.

Is there a free alternative to MakeMKV?

Yes. HandBrake (open source) and VLC media player (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to MakeMKV?

Yes: HandBrake and VLC media player.

Which MakeMKV alternatives work on Linux?

HandBrake and VLC media player run on Linux.

Why do people switch from MakeMKV?

The complaints we hear most: MKV files are very large because nothing is compressed; beta builds expire after 60 days and must be re-downloaded; linux version is distributed through the forum.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces MakeMKV, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.