MakeMKV VS DVDFab: Which Tools Should I Choose to Rip DVDs and Blu-rays

DVD/Blu-ray rippers make DVD backup and playback more convenient on modern devices, and MakeMKV and DVDFab are amongst the most popular software for this purpose. They have strikingly different characteristics but are often compared with each other. MakeMKV vs DVDFab, which one is the better option? In fact, due to different usage scenarios, the answer is varied. The following part demonstrates the differences of the two tools in detail, which may help you make the right decision.

Also Read: HandBrake VS MakeMKV l MakeMKV Alternatives l FFmpeg vs HandBrake l DVDFab Alternative

1. Free or Paid

MakeMKV offers both freeware and shareware functionality. It allows users to unlimitedly convert DVDs for free, and purchase a registration key for Blu-ray conversion and streaming functionality after a 30-days free trial period. The good news is, valid beta licenses can be found on the MakeMKV forum. But the free license only works within a certain period of time. You have to go to the forum for a new active one when the previous license expires.

DVDFab is shareware that offers a 30-day trial. After that, you need to separately buy the DVD Ripper and Blu-ray Ripper tools in it to implement more disc ripping tasks.  

2. Main Features

MakeMKV works as a "transcoder" for users to convert videos from DVDs and Blu-rays including encrypted discs while keeping most information and data (all video and audio tracks, chapters information, meta-information) in disc without any alteration.

Serving as all-in one video processing software, DVDfab not only offers DVD and Blu-ray rippers, but also includes other 25 tools to deal with media file conversion, copy, creation, decryption, etc. DVDFab DVD ripper and Blu-ray ripper are loaded with features. Besides ripping movies from DVDs and CDs, they further enable users to batch convert multiple files, compress videos to smaller file size for mobile devices, edit video clips in a disc, quicken the process with GPU acceleration, extract subtitles, and add meta information. But some of the features require DVDFab extension package.

3. Supported Input/Output Files

Both MakeMKV and DVDFab support DVDs, Blu-ray discs, DVD-video/HD-DVD/Blu-ray files, ISO, and DVD folder. The differences mainly get reflected on their supported output formats.

As the name suggest, MakeMKV can only convert DVDs and Blu-rays to MKV. DVDFab has support for a wide range of video formats and devices, such as MP4, MKV, MOV, M2TS, TS, WebM, and WMV.

4. Video Quality and File size

Ripping content from a disc in MakeMKV is a remuxing process that only changes the video container but doesn’t modify the data in it. There is no decompression or re-compression. You will get the converted file with original quality preserved. But consequently, the output file size will be quite large.

DVDFab, on the other hand, adopts both lossless and lossy compression methods to process DVDs and Blu-rays. There are Fast Speed, Standard, and High Quality conversion options for different demands. You can also only convert main movie, or create 1:1 ISO image from the disc.   

5. Copy Protection Removal

MakeMKV and DVDFab can deal with copy protected DVDs and Blu-ray discs but DVDFab is more capable in terms of this part.
MakeMKV supports region code, AACS, and BD+ decryption.
DVDFab provides broader support for common and the latest copy protection including CSS, APS, region code, Sony DADC, AACS, BD+, BD-J, and more.

6. Supported Platforms

DVDFab and MakeMKV are cross-platform software compatible on Windows and Mac OS. Meanwhile, MakeMKV can also be used on Linux.

Through the MakeMKV vs DVDFab comparison, you must have found that the two programs have their own strong suits. MakeMKV is devoted to DVD and Blu-ray to video flawless conversion while DVDFab expands its ripping functionality to provide users with more options and help achieve more DVD and Blu-ray copy aims.

On balance, if what you want is original video quality, MakeMKV is good enough. Besides, compared with DVDFab, MakeMKV doesn’t have any bells and whistles so the UI is relatively more intuitive and easier to manipulate. If budget is your main concern, we also recommend that you use MakeMKV.

However, if you want to digitize your DVDs and Blu-ray discs to watch them on mobile devices, DVDFab is a nice solution to fast convert movies with smaller file size. For people who often deal with various disc ripping and backup tasks, using a versatile program like DVDFab will help avoid the annoyance of installing many tools for similar purposes, as well.

In addition to MakeMKV and DVDFab, there are also many other good DVD or Blu-ray rippers on the market. For example, this dedicated DVD ripping software - WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro can help you effortlessly convert DVDs (only DVDs, BDs are not supported) to over 300 formats and devices within a few simple clicks away. Like DVDFab, it supports both lossless and lossy conversion, and a good part of this DVD ripper is it features self-explanatory operation.

Here's a quick how-to guide of WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro. Free download it for preparation: