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Should I use MakeMKV?

One-click converter that turns encrypted discs you own into unencrypted, patents-unencumbered MKV files playable everywhere. - makemkv.com

Worth it. Buy it if you are digitizing a disc collection you own — it is the community standard and effectively free. Skip it if you want small compressed files out of the box or cannot accept the legal gray zone of disc decryption.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~40 public sources; most review snippets were truncated, so quotes are limited.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Beta

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Full license$60 one-time

Best for

  • Archiving owned DVD/Blu-ray/4K collections
  • Home media server builders
  • DataHoarder-style bulk rippers
  • Lossless quality purists

Not for

  • Anyone wanting small, compressed video files out of the box
  • Streamers with no optical drive or discs to rip
  • Buyers needing a legal guarantee — disc decryption is legally gray
  • Teams or businesses — single-user consumer tool, no team licensing

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

License purchasing has intermittently been unavailable; do not assume you can buy today.

medium

Antivirus false positives and lookalike domains (.net) exist — download only from.

medium

Ripping encrypted discs sits in a legal gray area under US Section 1201; know your jurisdiction.

low

Beta pricing has run since roughly 2013; the $60 key is essentially peace of mind, not unlocked features.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Rips DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K UHD discs losslessly to MKV.
  • Free while in beta — effectively years of free use.
  • Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, plus Docker and Unraid.
  • Widely treated as the default UHD ripping tool with LibreDrive drives.
  • Outputs unencrypted MKV playable everywhere.

Cons

  • MKV only, no compression — users pair it with HandBrake for smaller files.
  • Solo project; license sales have gone offline during technical problems.
  • Subtitle and audio-track ordering issues reported on some discs.
  • Some discs hit fatal errors until a beta update ships.
  • Development pace questioned; users wonder if it is near end-of-life.

Sources & method

Analyzed 10/03/2026 - 12 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x3review x5security x1news x3

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 12

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free in beta for years; $60 one-time
  • Ease of use: 4/5. One-click reputation; some track-picking fiddliness
  • Feature depth: 4/5. DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD; but MKV output only
  • Support quality: 3/5. Active user forum; no formal support channels
  • Security posture: 4/5. Independent checks say safe; false positives annoy
  • $60 License price one-time, Windows/Mac/Linux
  • Yes Free tier free while in beta
  • 3 OSes Platforms Windows, Mac, Linux plus Docker/Unraid
  • 2013 Around since beta pricing model unchanged

Pricing

Beta

Free

  • Full DVD/Blu-ray/UHD ripping
  • Free while in beta

Full license

$60 one-time

  • All features permanently
  • Windows, Mac, Linux

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Across Reddit and video forums, MakeMKV is treated as the default disc-ripping tool and praised for reliability, with complaints focused on subtitle quirks, track ordering, and slow development.

“I use MakeMKV normally.”
Reddit, r/makemkv

Alternatives

Compare MakeMKV with each alternative.

  • HandBrake

    Free transcoder for shrinking MakeMKV rips; no decryption.

  • DVDFab

    Paid all-in-one ripper with more output formats.

  • Automatic Ripping Machine

    Open-source batch ripping automation built around MakeMKV.

Full analysis

Based on ~40 public sources; most review snippets were truncated, so quotes are limited.

The default tool for ripping discs you own to lossless MKV; effectively free in beta, $60 to buy, MKV-only and legally gray.

Methodology

Based on ~40 public sources; most review snippets were truncated, so quotes are limited.

Sources

  1. MakeMKV official sitemakemkv.com
    official
  2. MakeMKV - Purchasemakemkv.com
    official
  3. Ripping UHD 4K discs with MakeMKV: instructionsavsforum.com
    review
  4. MakeMKV is FREE while in beta (VideoHelp listing)videohelp.com
    official
  5. MakeMKV (US$60) — Hacker Newsnews.ycombinator.com
    news
  6. MakeMKV is back ONLINE! License cannot be boughtreddit.com
    review
  7. Have we reached end of development for MakeMKV?forum.videohelp.com
    review
  8. After ripping not all subtitles are workingforum.makemkv.com
    review
  9. Compare DVDFab vs. MakeMKVslashdot.org
    review
  10. Is MakeMKV Safe? SmartScreen Warnings Analyzedis-makemkv-safe.pages.dev
    security
  11. Section 1201 Rulemaking (Loc.gov)cdn.loc.gov
    news
  12. MakeMKV beta coverage (2013)betanews.com
    news

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