7 Best Ways to Convert DVD to MP4 on a Mac [2024]

Although we've largely moved away from physical media, there are still a lot of DVDs out there. These discs will eventually wear out over time, and making an MP4 backup of them is important. This is especially true if you've previously burned any family videos onto a DVD. A good Mac DVD-to-MP4 conversion will keep your memories safe for a long time. If you are wondering how to convert a DVD to MP4 on a Mac, this post will help you discover some great tools that will allow you to do so.

Movavi Video Converter lets you convert a DVD to MP4 just in a few clicks. The app uses the SuperSpeed technology, which allows for lightning-fast conversion. You can also convert multiple files in batch. In addition to conversion, the program offers advanced features, such as online subtitle searches, compression, and basic editing tools. 

The process to rip from DVD to MP4 on a Mac is simple. 

1. Download and run the app.
2. Click Add Media > Add DVD > Open DVD and import your DVDs to the program.
3. Open the Video tab and select the output format.
4. Hit Convert.

Check out the full guide to learn more details.

Read the step-by-step guide

VLC is one of the most popular media players in the world. Because it supports nearly every file format ever made, it has become a standard download for users of Mac and Windows and comes pre-installed on most Linux distributions. You will no doubt find it worthy of replacing QuickTime as your media player of choice on your own Mac. But VLC is more than just a media player. It can also rip from DVD video folders and convert the result to MPEG-4 (MP4) format, or nearly any other format you want. Because it is useful as far more than a DVD ripper, this free download makes an excellent choice when you need a DVD-to-MP4 converter for free on a Mac. Here's how to convert DVD to MP4 on a Mac with VLC:

1. After downloading the software from the VideoLan website, open the DMG file and install it into your applications folder.
   Go to the VideoLan website

2. From the menu bar, open the File menu and select the Open Disk option. Next, switch to the Disc tab and press the Open VIDEO_TS / BDMV Folder button. A dialog will open that will let you browse to your DVD drive and select the “VIDEO_TS” folder.

3. At the bottom of the dialog, you'll see a checkbox marked Streaming/Saving. Select the checkbox and the Settings option will become enabled. Open that.

4. Click on the Save as File button to select where you'd like your converted DVD to go.

5. To start the conversion process, simple click on the OK button and wait for the conversion to finish. You'll then be able to browse to the destination folder and find your video.

You can read more about what makes VLC a great media player below:

VLC review by TechRadar

As the use of physical media has declined over the years, HandBrake has rebranded itself as more of a general video conversion tool, but this long-time open source product was originally designed for Macs to rip DVD to MP4 files. This means you'll find several DVD-specific features in this program that you might not find in other non-commercial software. Available as freeware for a Mac, Handbrake makes an excellent choice for those looking to use a Mac to rip a DVD to a more modern format. You'll find step-by-step instructions to convert DVD to MP4 on a Mac below:

1. You'll find the HandBrake installer on the program's website. After you've downloaded and installed it, launch the program.
   Go to the HandBrake website

2. Look for the Open Source button on the top left of the screen once the program starts up. Press and select the contents of your DVD drive.

3. Near the top of the screen, you'll see a text field that lists a destination. Next to the text field is a Browse button. Click on that button to select the location you'd like to save your converted file to.

4. Underneath the destination text field is a dropdown list that allows you to select a preset for saving your file. Choose the one that best suits your needs.

5. The lower half of the HandBrake screen has several tabs that will allow you to adjust your output settings. Browse these and make any changes you want to customize your conversion.

6. Back at the top of the screen, you'll see the Start Encode button. Press that button to begin the conversion process.

You can read more about HandBrake's DVD conversion features below:

TechRadar review of HandBrake

QuickTime comes pre-installed on every Mac for free, and you may have heard that the MP4 format is actually based on the QuickTime format, so it would seem like the perfect tool to convert a DVD to MP4 on a Mac for free. Unfortunately, the number of media file formats that QuickTime supports is limited, and VOB files, which are used by DVDs to encode video, are not included in that list. So while QuickTime can make an excellent MP4 converter on a Mac for some file formats, you'll have to look elsewhere when looking for Mac DVD converters. Thankfully, there are some great free options on this list that will convert DVD to MP4. VLC even makes a great replacement media player for QuickTime, due to its extensive media codec support, and it can rip from DVD to MP4 on a Mac.

To read user reviews of the program, follow the link below.

Reviews on MacUpdate

Without a doubt, the WinX DVD Ripper is very popular. With over 70 million users over the past 12 years, you’ve probably already heard about this software. It has one key purpose: to rip DVD files into a wide variety of popular, viewable formats – like MP4. With this software, you’ll be able to utilize its acceleration technology to quickly convert DVDs and view them on a wide range of devices. The free trial version comes with a five-minute time limit, so if you’re looking to rip a longer DVD, you’ll need to purchase the full version.

Convert from VOB to MP4 using WinX DVD Ripper Platinum by using these steps:

1. Download and install the WinX DVD Ripper Platinum software to your Mac. If you want to convert more than five minutes, you’ll need to purchase the full version of the software.
   Go to the WinX DVD Ripper Platinum download page

2. Click the Load DVD button and insert your DVD into the drive. You can also click the Load DVD button and select DVD Folder from the tabs and find your VOB file. Click OK.

3. From the Output Profile menu, select MP4 Video and then click Done.

4. Click the blue Run button on the bottom right corner of the interface.

You can read more about WinX DVD Ripper's free version at the link below:

Like HandBrake, this software is specially designed for Macs to rip DVD to MP4. There is a paid version, but the free version is very capable. In addition to ripping DVDs, MacX gives a basic editor for creating effects, resizing the video, and adding subtitles. To use your Mac to convert DVD to MP4 with MacX DVD Ripper, follow these simple steps:

1. Download the software from the MacX DVD Ripper Free web page. After you have installed it, open it up.
   Go to the MacX DVD Ripper website

2. Click on the DVD button to load the DVD that you want to convert.

3. You'll now be presented with a dialog that asks you to choose an output profile. Choose the MP4 preset that matches your target device.

4. Look in the lower part of the screen for the section that shows the destination. Change that location to your own desired output directory.

5. Press the Run button in the lower right corner of the window to start the conversion.

You can read more about the different versions of MacX DVD Ripper below:

Macworld review of MacX DVD Ripper

The app lets you convert DVDs to popular video and audio at a high speed. Xilisoft offers conversion profiles for various multimedia devices. The Bitrate Calculator feature allows you to set the size of your output file. In addition, the program provides editing tools, including cropping, merging, splitting, applying effects, and more. 

Here’s how to convert DVDs using Xilisoft DVD to Video Ultimate.

1. Download the installation file, then install and launch the app. 
   Visit the Xilisoft website

2. Click Add Files and import the files for conversion. 

3. Hit Profile and select the desired format from the drop-down list. 

4. Check the files you want to convert and click Convert Checked Items.

Follow the link below to read a review of Xilisoft DVD to Video Ultimate.

Video Pedia review of Xilisoft DVD to Video Ultimate

You can find a more detailed description of what is it like to use Movavi Video Converter at the link below:

Movavi Video Converter review by Top Ten Reviews

At the core, a DVD-to-MP4 converter for a Mac is just like any other video conversion software. This means that you'll want to look for the same set of features that make video conversion software worth using. The biggest thing is to look for software that is both easy to use when you want it to be, and powerful when you need it to be. This means that the best DVD-to-MP4 converter for a Mac is going to have a lot of presets to let you choose an output format without much technical knowledge. It will also have a lot of settings, so you can tweak those presets to match your exact specifications if the need arises.