- Video Player for Mac
- Best Free Blu-Ray Players for Mac [2024]
Best Free Blu-Ray Players for Mac [2024]
Since Mac doesn’t have a built-in Blu-ray drive, you need an external drive that can play Blu-ray discs along with a third-party media player. We have rounded up the best 9 free Mac Blu-ray player software that you can use to enjoy your Blu-ray movies.
Keep in mind that you need to be aware of whether the player is region-free or locked, as some apps can handle region-locked discs while others cannot. We’ve reviewed various free options to help you select the one that suits your needs best.
Best Free Blu-ray Software for Mac
Things to Keep In Mind
- Compatibility: Make sure the Blu-ray player software and external drive are fully compatible with your Mac.
- Region Coding: Watch out for region codes on Blu-ray discs—they can limit which discs you can play.
- Copy Protection: Some Blu-ray discs come with strong copy protection that might block playback on certain software or drives.
1. Macgo Blu-ray Player
MacGo Blu-ray Player offers two versions: the MacGo Blu-Ray Player and the Macgo Blu-Ray Player Pro. The former should be good enough for people who want Blu-ray disc support. However, if you want BDMV folders, ISO file support, and 4K video compatibility, then it’s worth checking out the MacGo Blu-Ray Player Pro.
The Pro version also supports other formats like MKV, FLV, MOV, and MPEG-4. Both versions have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test them out and see which one you like best. MacGo Blu-ray Player can also play encrypted Blu-ray files. This means you can play any commercial Blu-ray disc.
Rating in App Store: 4.3
Latest update: Oct 12, 2023
Price: Free Trial, $29.95 – $39.95
Pros
- Support for BluFast MX
- Compatible with macOS 10.8 or above.
Cons
- Some users may find it pricey
- Doesn’t support Blu-ray 4K UHD and Blu-ray 3D.
2. VideoByte Blu-ray Player
VideoByte is a region-free Blu-ray player app that’s capable of playing 1080p HD and 4K videos without any problem. It’s compatible with Blu-ray discs, ISO files, folders, and BDMV. Owing to its ability to play files with DRM-protection, you can play Blu-ray discs from anywhere in the world.
It also offers high-quality audio with formats like Dolby, DTS, and AAC. The player is super easy to use, with simple controls for jumping to chapters and picking subtitles or audio tracks. You can try it out with a 30-day free trial, and if you like it, you can buy the full version.
Rating in App Store: Not listed
Latest Update: Not listed
Price: Free trial; $44.95 for a one-time purchase
Pros
- Region-free Blu-ray player
- Supports audio formats like Dolby, DTS, and AAC
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not available on the App Store
3. Leawo Mac Blu-ray Player
Being a free Blu-ray software for Mac, Leawo seamlessly plays any Blu-ray discs and is compatible with DVD players whether they are commercial or conventional. The interface of this app is rather convenient, and not hard to learn.
One of the best things about Leawo is that it’s a region-free Blu-ray player program, which means it can play Blu-ray discs from any region—A, B, or C—without any restrictions. You don’t need to set or change the player region, and it can decrypt any Blu-ray disc and play it directly.
Besides that, Leawo also plays several standard formats, such as MP4 and AVI. However, to play 4K UHD Blu-ray files, you need to upgrade to the premium version.
Rating in App Store: 2.6
Latest update: Dec 14, 2015
Price: free, Premium license costs $44.95/Year or $99.95/Lifetime (single user)
Pros
- Fully compatible with Blu-ray
- Compatible with macOS 10.5.0 or later
- Support for other unusual formats
- Supports all three regional codes
- External track loading
- Supports DVD and ISO
Cons
- Set of features is rather minimal
- Doesn’t support streaming to big screens
4. Elmedia Player - Best Blu-ray player for Mac with Streaming to Smart TVs Feature [Unencrypted Only]
If you’re looking for the best movie experience, one of the most reliable Blu-ray players for Mac you can use is Elmedia Player. This app is packed with great features, including support for external audio and subtitle tracks, playing Blu-ray clips in multiple languages and with different voice overs, and handling almost any video format you throw at it—like MPEG-2, MPEG-4, M2TS, BDMV, DTS, VCD, FLAC, MP4, MKV, PCM, AAC, and more.
Elmedia Player also makes it easy to stream movies on a big screen, and you can even navigate through chapters in MKV files. If you want to learn how to play unencrypted Blu-ray files stored on your Mac, be sure to check out our user guide below.
Rating in App Store: 4.5
Latest update: Mar 28, 2024
Price: free to use, PRO upgrade priced at $19.99
Elmedia player - Blu-ray player for Mac with Streaming to Smart TVs feature
1. First, download and install Elmedia Player on your Mac.
2. To open a Blu-ray folder, there are three things you can do:
- In the menu bar, go to File > Open, select the Blu-ray folder you want to play and click on Open.
- Go to File > Open Blu-ray from Folder in the menu bar. Choose the Blu-ray folder and hit the Open button.
- Drag the Blu-ray folder you want to play and drop it into the Elmedia window, the app’s icon in the Dock, or the playlist.
Pros
- Compatible with almost any format
- Lets you create playlists
- Supports video tuning
- Lets you configure audio
- Subtitle search
- Seamless streaming
- Has an intuitive user interface
- Offers wide range of settings
- Navigating through chapters in MKV files
Cons
- Compatible with macOS only
- Streaming feature is available in the PRO version
5. VLC
Our next Blu-ray player for Mac is widely known to most users. It allows you to seamlessly play Blu-ray disc/folder and ISO files on a computer. Keep in mind, though, that it can’t play region-locked Blu-ray discs. Besides that, the app also supports almost all video/audio formats. The whole set of VLC features is aimed at providing the best possible experience, however, options sometimes take time to find. One of the best things about playing Blu-ray files with VLC is that it’s a free player.
Rating in App Store: 3.6
Latest update: Aug 23, 2024
Price: Free and open-source, offers in-app purchases
Pros
- Supports audio and video customization
- Full Blu-ray support
- Can add and select any subtitle track
- Offers various features
- Completely free and open-source
- Free Blu-ray Player for Mac
Cons
- Difficult streaming options
- Confusing menus.
6. Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player
Aiseesoft is a simple and easy-to-use Blu ray player Mac app that has a stylish and classy UI design. The app is fully compatible with the latest macOS and is available both free and paid. The best thing about this player is that it can play not only encrypted Blu-ray disc, Blu-ray folder, Blu-ray ISO files but also support 4K playback for MP4, MKI, MOV, H.265, TS, and FLV formats. It stands out for its region-free capability, letting you play BD discs from any region.
Rating in App Store: Not listed
Latest Update: Not listed
Price: free trial, the price for a license may vary from $24.96 to $99.00
Pros
- 30-day free trial
- Compatibility with the latest macOS.
- Support for hotkeys
- Exceptional sound quality
- Supports various audio and video formats
Cons
- Does not include a huge number of configuration options
- Paid license required
7. Blu-ray Master
Blu-ray Master is a free Blu-ray software for Mac with an intuitive user interface that supports an impressive set of audio and video formats. The player supports multiple screen modes such as full, half, normal, and double while playing Blu-ray files to provide you complete pleasure from watching a movie.
It’s a region-free player, so you can easily play your Blu-ray files no matter which region they’re from. It also lets you switch audio and subtitles while playing movies.
Rating in App Store: Not listed
Latest Update: Not listed
Price: free, upgrade to Pro costs $40.21
Pros
- Supports a wide range of formats
- Multiple screen modes
- Simple UI
Cons
- Requires upgrading to unlock all features
- Free version doesn’t support 720p HD, 1080p HD, and even 4K
8. DVDFab Player 6 for Mac
DVDFab Player 6 is a convenient choice for 4K Blu-ray playback on both PCs and TVs, offering excellent picture quality. It handles UHD Blu-rays and various formats like HEVC, AVI, and MP4, making it ideal for playing high-definition videos. It also lets you customize the UI skin.
While not free—offering only a 30-day trial—the one-year plan is pricier compared to other options. We recommend you take advantage of the 30-day free trial version to see if it’s the right player for you. Besides being pricey, it can also lower video quality because it uses transcoding technology.
Rating in App Store: Not listed
Latest Update: Not listed
Price: Free trial, $39.99/year, $41.99 Lifetime
Pros
- Supports latest video and audio technologies
- Supports Blu-ray menu
- Customizable playback tool
- Easily recognizes Blu-ray folders and DVDs
- Support for multiple formats (MKV, MP4, FLV, WMA, 3GP, and many more)
- 4K or 1080p Blu-ray disc playback
Cons
- Steep price
- Trial version is limited in features
- No technical support for the free version
9. Wondershare UniConverter
Wondershare UniConverter claims to be a top Blu-ray player for Mac, perfect for users of all skill levels. Thanks to its smooth interface the app boasts about offering the best user experience ever. Wondershare UniConverter easily handles copy-protected DVDs and Blu-ray discs, as well as supports, works with almost any video format, including MP4, TS, DV, AVI, and many others. Among its main advantages is the constant update and support for different platforms.
Rating in App Store: 4.1
Latest update: May 28, 2021
Price: Free trial, $69.99
Pros
- Has a user-friendly interface
- Supports Blu-ray discs with subtitles
- Compatible with macOS 10.10 or later
- Supports more than 1000 video and audio formats
- Free but with a paid subscription
Cons
- High price for the subscription plan
- Limited free trial
Comparison Table
Top features | Macgo Blu-ray Player | VideoByte |
Leawo Mac Blu-ray Player | Elmedia Player | VLC | Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player | Blu-ray Master | DVDFab Player 6 for Mac | Wondershare UniConverter |
Supports most macOS devices | |||||||||
Fully compatible with Blu-ray | |||||||||
Intuitive user interface | |||||||||
Supports Windows OS devices | |||||||||
Subtitle search |
Conclusion
Summing up, we came to the following conclusion. Mac users cannot open and play Blu-ray movies as they are missing the default Blu-ray player or even Blu-ray drive. In this article, we have reviewed several best Blu-ray software for Mac to help you with this issue. Read about key features and other useful information about each of these players and then make your choice.
The best Mac Blu-ray player is the one that meets all your needs, so it’s a good idea to test out several apps before committing to a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, QuickTime player is unable to play Blu-ray on Mac. To fix this issue, you need to search for third-party Blu-ray software for Mac. Make sure you choose one that supports Blu-ray files/folders and ISO files as well as 3D and doesn’t have any issues with the audio-video sync option.
No. Unfortunately, it is impossible, even though your MacBook Pro has an HDMI port and you can connect a Blu-ray player, it will require installing an external Blu-ray player for Mac like Elmedia. With its help, you can seamlessly play Blu-ray files and other formats.
To play 4K Blu-ray on your Mac, try using third-party software like Macgo Blu-ray Player, Leawo Mac Blu-ray Player, or Elmedia Player. Elmedia Player handles MP4, MKV, and more formats with ease, so you’re all set for 4K video playback on Mac.