You may have listened to the DVD Shrink software but not used it. Nowadays, it has been replaced by much more modern software because it has not been updated in many years. However, people are prone to using free software to back up their DVD collection and it is free of charge. This article will give a detailed DVD Shrink review to help you know it more clearly.

- Part 1. DVD Shrink Quick Review
- Part 2. How We Test and Verdict
- Part 3. Full Review: What We Like about DVD Shrink
- Part 4. Full Review: What We Don't Like about DVD Shrink
- Part 5. Best Alternative of DVD Shrink
Part 1. DVD Shrink Quick Review

DVD Shrink is a well-known freeware designed to back up DVD video discs. In the year of mid-2000s, it earned significant popularity because of its user-friendly interface and efficient DVD compression capabilities, and many people have used it. As its name suggests, it can compress DVD size to free up more storage space. It is available on Windows 10/8/7.
Features
- Back up the entire DVD or choose part of the DVD movie to compress.
- Produce physical copies to recreate DVDs.
- Allow decryption of old DVDs on older versions of Windows operating systems.
Part 2. How We Test and Verdict
Does DVD Shrink still work on modern operating systems?
DVD Shrink, once a widely used freeware DVD transcoder for Windows, is no longer maintained and does not support newer DVDs or operating systems. Last updated in 2004, it is incompatible with current copy protection methods and modern operating systems.
Can DVD Shrink handle copy protection?
DVD Shrink can manage some older DVD copy protections but is not equipped to bypass modern copy protection systems such as ARccOS, CPRM, and AACS, because the software's development was discontinued in 2005.
How much does DVD Shrink cost?
As a freeware, DVD Shrink is free to everyone.
Above are the three frequently asked questions about DVD Shrink. You may also have many other questions about it. Is it a good choice to rip DVDs? Is it easy to use? How about its output quality?...
How We Test
As part of the selection process, our team conducts a detailed analysis of consumer demand and product appeal.
The Blu-ray Master content team has carefully tested each software reviewed in this article.
Our team pays close attention to essential factors like compatibility, ease of use, processing speed, output quality, and more.
Most importantly, we gather and analyze feedback on the Blu-ray Master software and its competitors.
Verdict
The result of the DVD Shrink test is that it is a good tool for old Windows users to back up DVDs, but it is now obsolete by more advanced and effective modern DVD processing alternatives.
Part 3. Full Review: What We Like about DVD Shrink
Now, follow us to see the results of the DVD Shrink review. Here are the advantages that we like.
Ease of Use:
It provides a clear and intuitive interface, which enables professionals and beginners to easily master its various functions. Some people think its interface is unattractive. But it doesn't matter.
Price:
It is free and anyone can use it to back up their DVD collections. If you just occasionally back up one DVD movie, or want to back up DVDs without costing money, it would be your best choice.
Processing Speed:
The ripping speed of DVD Shrink is influenced by many factors, including computer hard drives and compression settings. From our tests, it can efficiently compress some DVDs, though the processing speed can vary. Overall, the speed is quite decent.
DVD Compression Ability:
One of its standout features is that it can compress dual-layer DVDs (DVD-9) to single-layer DVDs (DVD-5), which enables you to free up DVD storage space.
Re-authoring Functionality:
The re-authoring feature allows you to manage the content of DVDs by removing unwanted elements such as additional language tracks or bonus features.
Part 4. Full Review: What We Don't Like about DVD Shrink
It is not updated for decades of years, and it is inevitably out of date. Let's see the limitations of DVD Shrink.
Update Problem:
A significant limitation of DVD Shrink is its lack of updates. Consequently, it fails to support current DVD copy protection methods. Many modern DVDs utilize advanced protections that DVD Shrink is unable to handle. But it can compress DVDs of different DVD region codes.
Output Quality:
Using DVD Shrink to compress DVDs often leads to a noticeable decline in video quality, particularly when the file size is reduced substantially.
Security Risks:
Since the official DVD Shrink website is no longer operational, downloading the software from third-party sources has the risk of malware or other unwanted programs.
Part 5. Best Alternative of DVD Shrink

Though DVD Shrink is free of charge and performs decent in ripping DVDs, the shortcomings are that it is no longer updated and lacks advanced settings. So, we want to recommend one DVD Shrink alternative, Blu-ray Master DVD Ripper, to help you rip and back up DVDs.
Blu-ray Master DVD Ripper is one outstanding DVD-ripping software with a clear and intuitive interface. It is capable of ripping DVD discs, folders, and ISO files into digital formats, including MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, etc. With advanced decryption technologies, it can remove the latest DVD copy protections to back them up. Moreover, it can analyze and rip damaged DVDs.
Free Download
For Windows
Secure Download
Free Download
for macOS
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Features
- Clear and intuitive interface.
- Provide 500+ video, audio, and device presets.
- Editing tools for adjusting video effects.
- Load DVD-R, DVD-RW, and other DVD types.
- Rip DVDs with copy protection and DVD region codes.
DVD Shrink | Blu-ray Master DVD Ripper | |
Compatibility | Windows 10/8/7 | Windows 11/10/8/7, macOS 10.12 or later |
Ease of Use | ||
Price | Free. | Free trial version with limited functions. |
Decryption | Region codes and old copy protection. | Region codes and latest copy protection. |
Output Quality | Lose quality. | Lossless |
Ripping Speed | Medium | Quick |
Other Settings | ![]() | ![]() |
Conclusion
In today's DVD Shrink review, we analyze this software from multiple aspects. All in all, DVD Shrink is a good choice for ripping and backing up DVDs for free on old Windows computers. However, its restrictions are also obvious, such as update problems, and damaged output quality. You can use it for free or try its advanced alternative, Blu-ray Master DVD Ripper, to back up your DVDs.