

Updated · Oct 13, 2022
Updated: October 05,2022
Want to burn DVDs but aren’t sure where to start? We’ve got what you need!
We tested the best DVD burning software on the market and found 12 leading programs.
There are apps for Windows and iOS and you can burn everything from CDs to Blu-rays.
Our quick overviews, full reviews, and guides will teach you everything about DVD burning software!
WinX DVD Author – Most capable of burning different video file types
Ashampoo® Burning Studio FREE – Highly suitable for burning audio CDs
DVDStyler – Best Mac DVD burn software free of charge
Wondershare DVD Creator – Excels at supporting various disc types
BurnAware Free – Best for low system performance impact
ImgBurn – Top ease of use
CDBurnerXP – Optimal disc spanning features
InfraRecorder – Leading tool for burning dual-layer discs
DeepBurner Free – Frontrunner for managing ISO images
Anyburn – Best for bootable USB drives
Nero Burning ROM – Peerless disc encryption
True Burner – Best free CD/DVD burning software
Lots of file formats
Free Windows program
DVD authoring features
WinX DVD Author is an entirely free DVD burning software compatible with Windows. It lets you burn a wide variety of video formats to a DVD. It effortlessly converts file types such as MP4, AVI, VOB, MOV, etc.
Meanwhile, you can add custom menus and subtitles and even change the aspect ratio of your final DVD video. Users can also burn VOB and ISO files. The latter can contain game data, not just videos.
Although WinX DVD Author does not copy existing DVD contents like its ripper counterpart, its primary feature allows you to transform the most popular file types into a DVD format you can watch on most players.
Furthermore, you can use a premade ISO or the VOB and VIDEO_TS folder structures. As such, DVDs you have copied or sourced elsewhere are supported. On the flip side, you can create VOB files from other video formats for future burnings.
Depending on your discs and hardware, you can set your DVD output to DVD±R/±RW, DVD DL+R, and DVD DL±RW.
As an authoring tool, you have control over the final DVD. This includes the core PAL or NTSC format selection, TV aspect ratios, and editing capabilities.
Furthermore, the encoding engine allows you to opt for the highest possible quality or a lower setting, which speeds up its already fast processing time. Most systems can finish within an hour.
You may include subtitles in the SRT format and add a DVD menu to add a professional feel. This start screen lets you access the various chapters or featurettes instead of playing automatically. The template is easy to manipulate, and you can add a background image and music.
One handy feature is the YouTube downloader. Simply enter a URL, and the video will download and is then accessible like any other file.
Overall, WinX is very easy to navigate, and it will automatically detect your DVD writer and discs and proceed with the burning.
The software stands out for being free and open source. Moreover, the installer is clean of bundled software and other bloat.
WinX DVD Author has almost everything you need to create professional DVDs from an endless list of input formats. What it lacks are Blu-ray and limited data DVD support. Nonetheless, WinX is still one of the best free DVD burning software options!
Free Windows program
Supports Blu-ray
Burn data-only DVDs
Ashampoo is a very versatile burning suite now in its 23rd edition. It lets you burn regular DVDs, higher-quality Blu-rays, and audio CDs. Meanwhile, it can rip existing discs to your computer and copy them to a new disc. Beyond audio CD, DVD, and Blu-ray compliant outputs for players, you can create any data disc for storage purposes.
Its user-friendly interface has seven main options. 1) Burn data, 2) backup and restore to rip discs to your computer, and then restore these to a new disc.
You also get the convenience of 3) straight copying a disc in one process without maintaining any files on your hard drive. However, you will need two disc drives to use this method. There are 4) music and 5) movie options for creating audio CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray compliant discs from your chosen sources.
Moreover, creating a 6) disc image will save it to your PC for watching on your computer or future burning.
What’s more, you can 7) erase a rewritable disc, so it's empty and ready for burning a new project.
The audio options are particularly impressive for free DVD burning software. Users can rip CDs in MP3, WMA, and WAV formats to their computers. Likewise, convert these three file formats from your PC and burn them to an audio CD compliant disc for playback on a CD player.
Its range of movie options is also impressive. You can burn 720p or 1080p DVD-compliant discs. In addition, you can burn VCD and SVCD films on regular CDs to play on some DVD players, older game consoles, and dedicated VCD players.
Best of all is its ability to burn Blu-rays in just a few clicks!
If you’re using your burning software for data backups, Ashampoo has an excellent password protection feature. Moreover, the disc spanning option links multiple discs into one project, so it doesn’t matter if you run out of space on one, pop the next disc in, and the process carries on seamlessly.
The core Burning Studio is free for Windows, but you can upgrade to the premium Burning Studio 23 for a one-off $49.99 or $29.99 fee, depending on the current sale. This includes extra features like disc scratch protection, a video editor, and a car radio module.
It’s fully compatible with Windows 11, creates audiobooks, can search the web for DVD or CD covers, and has many other features.
The free version nonetheless gets the job done if looking for the basics.
To conclude, Ashampoo is a popular and feature-rich free DVD burner with even more features if you go premium. Its only letdown is it comes bundled with other annoying software, but you can easily uncheck this.
Supports iOS and Linux
Open source and free
Includes DVD menu templates
DVDStyler tops our list as the best DVD burner for Mac. Moreover, Linux and Windows users can benefit from its numerous video file support and authoring software tools.
Firstly, the Mac DVD burning app can take your AVI, MOV, MP4, MPEG, OGG, WMV, and other file types and ready them for a DVD player compliant disc. These can be on your main or external hard drive. Although a downside is that you cannot create audio CDs or even data discs, creating your own DVD menu is a plus.
You can choose from many impressive templates and make them your own, adding graphics, buttons, text, images, and other objects wherever you desire. You can also add background music to the start menu.
Another unique feature is the ability to add audio tracks to your movie, including formats such as MP2, MP3, and AC-3.
Overall processing and burning time is fast, with VOB and MPEG not requiring re-encoding, which is lengthy otherwise.
DVDStyler is a free DVD burner for Mac and other operating systems, but the tradeoff is limited features and some annoying bundled software. However, you can easily uncheck this when installing.
The software is open-source, so you can find tweaked versions that offer more functionality.
In conclusion, Mac and Linux users will be pleased to find software that works for them. Just remember, this is for burning and authoring DVDs only and is a basic piece of software. Its user interface is also a little dated.
And while you can use it on Windows, we wouldn’t recommend it. There are many other Windows options with better features to choose from.
Low system requirements
Free and premium versions
Supports Blu-ray
Modern computers are robust, though many users aren’t likely burning DVDs anymore. Therefore, it’s wise to point out that BurnAware is exceptionally lightweight with minimal impact on system performance that suits older machines.
There isn’t much BurnAware can’t do, which reflects just the free version. It supports DVDs, Blu-rays, and audio CDs. This includes bootable discs, such as Windows installer or recovery tools. Furthermore, you can re-write and erase discs.
Like a lot of free software, there are some bundled extras that you probably won’t want, but with a keen eye, you can uncheck these and stick with the core burner program.
After that, simply select the preferred format: data discs, DVD, Blu-ray, Audio, or MP3 discs.
You can also choose from premade disc images for fast burning and no re-encoding. Plus, did we mention burning itself is fast?
BurnAware’s extras include the ability to rip discs to your computer or make copies. The video converter ensures files on your PC can become usable in whatever disc format you choose. Moreover, there’s a video downloader tool to pull clips from the web, though its success is hit or miss.
Our favorite extra is the ability to recover data from damaged or unreadable discs, which is a godsend at times of need.
If you want the premium version, it's $29.95 for a lifetime license for a single user or $39.95 per user for professionals.
To conclude, BurnAware is entirely usable as a free DVD maker for Windows 10, is simple to navigate, and has low CPU usage. For most people, it’s a no-brainer.
Burn DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray
Easy to use
Fast burn speed
ImgBurn is a regularly updated free DVD burning software for Windows 10. It does a stellar job working with DVDs, Blu-rays, and CDs. In addition, it can create ISO files that act like virtual DVDs. Both can be burned to disc at a later date or kept on your system.
It’s a feature-rich program and is more accessible than most when navigating its settings and interface. Moreover, noteworthy features include checking disc integrity. Modes include reading a disc or ripping it to a disc image. You can also build a new disc from existing files or images, write to an existing disc, and check content verification.
Its unique queuing system lets you burn several discs in sequence or burn discs between multiple drives. It also has little impact on system performance, allowing you to burn Blu-ray content in the background without even noticing.
ImgBurn caters to numerous disc images, such as BIN, CCD, CDI, CUE, DVD, and other popular formats.
It can also burn audio CDs from an endless list of audio file types: AAC, MP3, MP4, MPC, WAV, WMA, and others.
ImgBurn is a free DVD burner for Windows 10 or earlier, but developers accept donations. It is not an open-source project, but it’s regularly updated.
You get all the basics for every disc type, though it lacks authoring and menus. You should also keep an eye out for unwanted software it tries to sneak in during installation. The site itself is also a bit cluttered with ads and unrelated software.
Convenient portable version
Supports disc spanning
Burn DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray
Don’t let the name fool you. Even though this DVD burner software for Windows dates back to the XP operating system, it works perfectly well on newer systems. And It has adopted Blu-ray as its high-definition solution.
The straightforward interface is beginner-friendly and comes portable, meaning you don’t need to install it on multiple machines.
CDBurnerXP will not rip every kind of disc, though audio CDs and data discs are fair game. You can also erase data from rewritable discs to free up space.
The Data Disc option lets you create ISO images for later, be that standard data discs, MP3 collections, or video collections, though they aren’t player compatible.
You will need to choose the Audio Disc or Video option for DVDs or Blu-ray. You can also select any kind of ISO from your computer and burn it to the appropriate disc.
It was great to see the disc spanning feature, which links two or more discs if the project is extensive. This process is easy to follow with onscreen prompts.
The main downside is that there’s no video conversion, but overall, it has an excellent interface that nobody will struggle with.
CDBurnerXP is one of the best DVD burning software for Windows 10 available for free.
If you need a competent Windows burner that allows large data backup, this is the choice for you, thanks to its excellent disc-spanning features.
Open source and free
Convenient portable version
Supports dual-layer DVDs
InfraRecorder immediately gets a star removed due to its lack of modern compatibility. It currently only works on Windows 7 or below, which is a shame because it has superb dual-layer burning. The tech-savvy could probably use a virtual Windows 7 environment, but it might not be worth the hassle.
On the other hand, it has some pretty solid features that give any of the top DVD burning softwares a run for its money. It remains open-source with an active community of users.
Core features include ripping DVDs and CDs, creating discs with any kind of data, burning DVDs and audio CDs, and freezing discs to prevent rewrites. Alternatively, it supports disc rewriting.
While its star feature is dual-layer support, it’s also worth noting that it has a portable installer to jump machines without long installation times.
It lacks capabilities to check projects and disc integrity, and since it’s so old, don’t expect any official support.
InfraRecorder is a free DVD burning software.
This is a superb choice if operating with Windows 7 and requiring dual-layer disc burning. Otherwise, there are many different options to cater to modern operating systems.
Easy to use
Convenient portable version
Includes disc label creator
Though DeepBurner is entirely in sync with the Windows 10, it’s a letdown that it doesn’t support Blu-ray. It isn’t packed with unwanted addons or spyware and takes the lead in managing ISO images. Here are its main features.
If you want to back up any files or data, your first option is to create a data DVD or CD. You can also turn files from your PC into ISO images for future burns.
Audio CDs are fully compatible with CD players thanks to their inbuilt converter. Meanwhile, video DVDs are also easy to create.
Secondly, it functions as a disc copier, so whatever disc you put into your optical disc drive can be replicated.
Most impressively, it supports bootable DVDs and CDs. Moreover, you can make the entire software portable by putting it onto a USB flash drive.
You also get basic label creation for free.
Despite all the great features of this free DVD burn software, if you want to unlock all its authoring tools and better video editing and conversion capabilities, you will need to fork out between $23.95 and $28.95 for premium versions. There is also a separate free tool called Deep Ripper that rips audio CDs to your PC.
DeepBurner has a lot going for it as a free program, though its lack of Blu-ray support and fees might elicit hesitancy, especially now that Windows 10 has its own burning software.
While not difficult to use, the interface is relatively outdated and could use a refresh.
Supports Blu-ray
Creates bootable USB drive
Small installer
This Windows 11 compatible software to burn DVDs gets its name because that’s not all it burns. It has stood out for years for its simple method of creating bootable USB drives. Not only for operating systems and recovery tools but also for itself, allowing you to take it anywhere you want to burn discs and media on the fly.
It’s an entirely free application whether you’re a home user or a commercial business. In addition, it’s a tiny file that has next to no system impact.
So, what can it accomplish? You’ll be pleased to know that Blu-rays are a go, though you’ll need the existing files as it cannot convert them. The same goes for DVDs – you’ll need the image or folders first.
It can convert the most popular audio files into an audio CD player compliant disc for regular playback. Secondly, it can rip an audio CD into files like MP3s, WAVs, and FLACS for use on your PC.
It also works as image burning software converting one image file format like DMG into another like ISO.
As far as ripping goes, you can copy any disc using the sector-by-sector method, which results in fewer errors. So, if you have a film you want to clone rather than take from your computer, AnyBurn boasts an excellent all-around solution.
Furthermore, if you aren’t ready to burn right away, you can turn these into disc images to use later or simply playback from your hard drive.
AnyBurn is free forever and continues to receive support with its newest release in January 2022. Even business owners can pick up the software for free.
If you want a well-rounded free Blu-ray burning software that excels in creating bootable USB drives, AnyBurn is our top pick.
Encrypts your DVDs
Built-in cover designer
Free premium trial
Nero has been a long-running name in the DVD burning world, but now it stands out for ensuring your content is secure. Using encryption, you can protect your data or films so nobody else but you get access.
Technicalities aside, 256-bit encryption is about as strong as you can get, and before you can open your disc, you’ll need to enter a password when burning.
As well as unique encryption, Nero is one of the most comprehensive pro DVD burning software solutions on the market. You can rip CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays onto your computer. In addition, these can be copied straight to your blank disc. The process loses no quality.
Furthermore, you can create all of the above from existing computer files. This includes regular audio and video files or premade ISO or other images without the need for conversion.
Nero is also great for authoring. It uses Gracenote technology to find music album covers automatically. Secondly, there is a cover designer for CDs and DVDs so that you can make designs or import covers and art from elsewhere.
Perhaps the biggest downside is paying $55.95 or $44.95 for a license. However, you can test the software for 15 days if you provide your email address. You only get a 100MB burn limit for the trial period, which is frustrating.
With a sleek modern design, great authoring, an editing suite, and ripping, copying, and burning of all major disc types, Nero is one of the best professional DVD burner software. It gets an extra star for adding encryption and password protection that suits both individuals and commercial users.
Supports Blu-ray
Creates bootable discs
Free for personal/commercial use
Our pick for overall best DVD burning software free of charge is True Burner. This is thanks to its broad range of features. Off the bat, it's free for single home users and businesses and covers CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays with ease.
It’s both a copier and a burner, so you can rip discs and re-burn them until your heart desires. As well as player-compliant video and music, you can also create bootable discs and data discs.
Furthermore, disc images like ISOs and UDFs can quickly be burned into workable discs if already on your computer.
Its impressively small 3MB installer and little CPU usage means you can run projects in the background while multitasking. Above all, its speed at burning rivals its premium counterparts.
Its interface isn’t glamorous, but it’s also not as outdated as many other burning tools still in action since the early 2000s. Nobody should have trouble getting started.
To top it off, it verifies discs for errors and lets you erase or rewrite discs that support these actions.
True Burner is a lifetime free software application without a premium version.
All True Burner misses is authoring and video editing tools, but it’s easily one of the best for a small free program.
You can use DVD burning software with compatible hardware to quickly burn DVDs or Blu-rays from the content on your computer. If you want to physically backup videos or other files onto such discs, this is the type of software needed.
Burning refers to the laser technology that physically burns the information onto a disc. In other words, DVD burning is creating a DVD or other types of optical discs, like audio CDs. Experts call this writing while rewriting is when the device and disc support overwriting of existing data on a disc.
There is a basic DVD burner for Windows 10 that lets you copy files from your computer to a disc. More advanced software allows you to make discs compliant with DVD, Blu-ray, and CD and for more obscure tech like VCD players.
Software often includes features like converting video and audio files to agreeable formats and custom title menus and chapters for DVDs, similar to the movies you buy from the store.
The speed and versatility of DVD burning often depend on the DVD burner and the disk type. You should expect quality software to provide a user-friendly interface that helps prepare and initiate the burning process.
Choosing from the top DVD burning software can be more complex than imagined. Here’s what you should consider.
Fortunately, the best CD/DVD burning software often is free unless you want unnecessary extras. In addition, so-called pro DVD burning software rarely exceeds $60 for a lifetime license. So, if you’re serious, pricing should never be an issue.
One of the most critical questions you must ask is, what are you trying to burn? DVDs, Blu-rays, audio CDs, or simply data? Therefore, does the software in question support these options?
Just because you have a series of video files doesn’t mean they are compatible with DVDs. In fact, most computer and phone video formats are not compatible. Check if it supports your file format. For example, if you want MP4 DVD burning software, it’s best to go for a program like WinX DVD Author or DVDStyler for Mac users.
Most software will be able to create compliant DVDs, but what about editing your video and adding extras like menus and chapters? For such, you want to look out for the best DVD creator software. It should offer an editing suite to cut, mix, and match different video clips. Plus, numerous options for adding title menus and other graphics to give a professional result.
It’s one thing to burn an optical disc from files already on your computer, but what about straight-copying a disc to another? Not all software supports copying discs or ripping them, so keep this in mind.
While there is undoubtedly an abundance of choices for Windows, software to burn DVDs on Mac is also available.
In addition, you must check your DVD drive itself for compatibility. If it only reads, you won’t be able to write DVDs, and if it only accepts CDs, then DVDs are out of the question. Fortunately, you can pick up fully-fledged DVD rewriters with CD support at a reasonable price. External USB versions are also available.
The types of blank or rewritable discs can be pretty confusing. If you are new to software to burn DVDs, it is best to leave the disc buying until last. You will need to check that the discs are compatible with your drive and software. Common formats include:
DVD±R/±RW, DVD+R DL, and DVD DL±RW. These allow for straight to DVD and rewriting.
Security is not necessarily crucial for DVDs and CDs, but if you’re making confidential data discs, such as backups for work, then security is essential. Some software comes with password protection, while others add strong encryption to help prevent hackers from gaining access to a disc’s data.
Whether you need something quick and simple to burn a CD or DVD or an elaborate video editor and authoring tool for a professional look, we tested the best free and premium burning software available for 2022.
Yes, Windows 10 comes with a DVD burning tool, though it’s far from the best DVD burning software free users can find. It’s also useless on Mac.
It covers the basics, including creating data discs for storage, DVD, Blu-ray, and audio discs. It’s surprisingly easy to use and pops up a dialog window when you insert blank media. On the other hand, there are no extras, like authoring or editing tools - you can’t even find covers, and it lacks support for some popular file types.
It also can’t rip DVDs, though you can rip audio CDs via Windows Media Player.
There is an endless amount of software to burn DVDs and other discs on your desktop PC, laptop, or Mac. We nailed down the top 12, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
From our testing and other DVD burner software reviews, WinX DVD Author is currently the fastest.
Importantly, your DVD drive and system performance play a role, but most people can burn a 4.3 GB DVD within an hour.
MP4 is not a native format for DVDs or Blu-ray, so converting is a must to ensure a player compliant burned disc. Several of the programs on our list can accomplish this, but WinX DVD Author is the best DVD burning software for this on our list.
Not only can it burn MP4s but also many other formats with ease, thanks to a tremendous in-built encoder and editor.
Keelan Balderson
A qualified journalist and longtime web content writer, Keelan has a passion for exploring information and learning new things. If he's not writing or pushing his own brands, you'll find him watching pro wrestling or trying not to rant about politics online.
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