5 Best DVD Menu Creators for Making DVD Menus [Free and Paid]

Nowadays, smartphones offer superior video quality, making home film creation and family memory preservation accessible to all. Free DVD menu creators are crucial for enjoying and sharing videos on a larger scale. These tools support diverse formats, enabling users to customize menus and create professional DVDs with personalized features, enhancing playback control and usability. Here, we'll explore the top 5 DVD menu maker software and how to utilize them effectively.

Considerations for Choosing the Best DVD Menu Creator

When choosing a DVD menu creator, users should carefully evaluate different aspects to ensure it meets their specific requirements and provides the desired functionality and quality for their projects. This table can help you have a glance at our best DVD menu maker suggestions.

Key Factors

When choosing a DVD menu creator, consider the following factors to make a well-informed decision and choose the right one.

1. OS Compatibility: Ensure the DVD menu creator supports your macOS or Windows to avoid compatibility issues.
2. Ease-of-use: It should offer a simple interface, making it accessible for beginners to understand and use features like ripping and burning quickly.
3. Features: Look for one that offers more than basic burning capabilities, such as HD file compression, and subtitle addition.
4. Speed: Choose software that promises rapid burning speeds. This is ideal for efficiently creating multiple discs without prolonged waiting times.
5. Security: Choose a tool with encryption and security measures to protect your files and discs from unauthorized access and data breaches.

5 Best & Free DVD Menu Creator for Windows and Mac

DVDFab DVD Creator

DVDFab DVD Creator stands out as a top choice for DVD Menu Creator for creating DVDs with stylish menus from various popular video formats. It supports formats like AVI, MP4, MKV, and more, offering options to burn to DVD discs, ISO files, or folders. Before initiating the burning process, you can adjust settings such as output quality, volume label, TV standard (NTSC/PAL), aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), and playback mode.

Key Functions and Pros:

• Convert movies to folders, ISO, or blank disc for a variety of playback and storage options
• Offers customizable menu templates to enhance homemade DVDs
• Customize menu elements like background, text, and playback buttons
• Utilizes advanced GPU acceleration for rapid DVD creation

Cons:

• Incompatible with Linux computers

How to make a DVD Menu Using DVDFab DVD Creator

Step 1: Launch DVDFab software and load your videos

Download DVDFab program and choose the Creator module. Tap the Add button to import your video file. 

Step 2: Use the free templates to customize your menu

Tap the Menu Settings button to access DVD menu customization options using templates. The current background features a starry sky template. Choose the template that best suits your DVD content to enhance its appeal and navigation experience for viewers. Customize the navigation menu's font, size, and color to enhance control over DVD playback. 

Return to the main interface to select audio tracks and subtitles, and preview videos using the Play icon. Access Advanced Settings to choose output size, quality, menu properties, and playback mode preferences.

Step 3: Start to Create your DVD

Insert a blank DVD disc into the optical drive after personalizing your DVD menu. Or save the DVD on your hard drive as a DVD folder or ISO file.

TMPGEnc Authoring Works

TMPGEnc Authoring Works 7 is a fabulous DVD menu maker that excels with high-quality menus in DVD, Blu-ray, and AVCHD creation. It features a powerful authoring engine with advanced encoding and Smart Rendering for fast, lossless output. Updates include broad format support, an enhanced cut editor, hard-coded subtitle insertion, Vulkan hardware acceleration, and improved menu and chapter settings for enhanced flexibility.

Functions and Pros:

• Choose from a vast selection of templates tailored to DVD authoring needs
• Customize menus with comprehensive effects and design options
• Adjust menu display and destination settings with customization options
• Support for audio scrubbing and fast-forward playback during editing
• The Smart Rendering function enables ultra-fast output with excellent quality preservation

Cons:

• Works only on Windows 10/11 (64-bit) with adequate resources, potentially limiting use on older or less powerful computers
• Mastering advanced features may require time and effort

How to make a DVD Menu Using TMPGEnc Authoring Works

Step 1: Install the software, choose your desired output format, and initiate a new project by tapping the Start New Project button.

Step 2: Load your video files into the software according to the prompts provided on-screen.

Step 3: Tap the Menu button to access the Menu Wizard window. Choose the aspect ratio and menu creation mode. Select from pre-designed templates for quick DVD menu creation, or opt for custom menus by manually selecting layouts and adding items. This provides flexibility and ease in creating personalized DVD menus.

Step 4: Select the desired settings and tap Next to proceed with your DVD authoring process.

Step 5: Set actions for disc insertion and track playback end. Then, finalize your settings by clicking the Finish button.

Step 6: Close the DVD Wizard window to access and edit your menu pages as needed.

Step 7: Use the Simulation feature to preview the appearance and functionality of your DVD menu on an actual DVD player.

DVDStyler

DVDStyler is an open-source, free DVD Menu Creator designed to create DVDs with professional menus. It supports multicore processors, has an intuitive interface, and a large selection of pre-made templates. Users can import background images, customize menu elements like text, photos, and buttons, and utilize DVD scripting for navigation. This DVD menu maker is ideal for those who prioritize DVD menu aesthetics.

Key Functions:

• Convert diverse video formats into DVDs for standard disc playback
• Choose from ready-made or customized DVD menu layouts
• Include multiple subtitles and audio options for an enhanced viewing experience.
• Create dynamic photo slideshows to complement your DVD content
• Provides professional templates that ensure polished results regardless of user expertise

Cons:

• The version and menu templates of this free utility are out of date
• DVD creation and burning processes are slower than expected

How to make a DVD Menu for Free Using DVDStyler

Step 1: Download and install DVDStyler, a free DVD menu creator compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux OS.

Step 2: Run DVDStyler and create a new project. Then, specify DVD format, TV standard, aspect ratio, title post command, and click OK to proceed.

Step 3: Choose a DVD menu template with main and title selection menus. If none suit, close the window with No template.

Step 4: Drag and drop your video files into the management box located at the interface's bottom.

Step 5: Double-click or right-click and select Properties to customize DVD menu backgrounds with images, videos, or audio files.

Step 6: Navigate to the Buttons tab and drag the desired DVD menu buttons from the left column to the interface. Then, customize actions and appearance by double-clicking.

Step 7: Click the red Burn button to burn your DVD project. Before doing so, ensure you check the Preview option for VLC media player viewing.

Freemake DVD Menu maker

Freemake Video Converter integrates video conversion with basic DVD authoring, offering template menus and customizable backgrounds alongside a simple video editor for subtitles, trimming, and audio tracks. While this free DVD maker simplifies DVD menu creation, it lacks advanced features like adding menu background music (BGM) and customizing buttons, making it suitable for only basic DVD creation needs.

Key Functions:

• Create DVDs with custom menus using Freemake's intuitive interface
• Choose from professional or custom-designed DVD backgrounds
• Freemake simplifies DVD menu creation with chapters quickly
• Supports over 500 video and image formats for versatility

Cons:

• Contrary to its name, it offers only a one-time free trial
• Unless you buy the Freemake Mega Pack, the creations will have a watermark

How to make a DVD Menu Using Freemake DVD Menu Maker

Step 1: Download the Freemake DVD Menu Maker and launch it on your computer system.

Step 2: Use the Add Video button to select and import videos for DVD burning.

Step 3: Click “to DVD” on the toolbar for DVD output settings. Select No menu to start DVD creation without templates.

Step 4: Or choose a DVD menu type from free templates or customize with “Use custom background” for an image. Save changes by clicking OK.

Step 5: Click the Convert button to burn a DVD, incorporating your customized menu design into the final disc creation process.

GiliSoft Movie DVD Creator

GiliSoft Movie DVD Creator effortlessly transforms personal and collected movies into DVD format. It supports DVD burning, DVD folders, and ISO file exports. The software allows you to create DVD menus and provides stylish menu templates, background customization with pictures and music, video clipping, menu and opening clip addition, and subtitle and audio track inclusion for personalized DVD creation.

Key Functions and Pros:

• Supports a vast range of video formats without additional codecs required
• Convert videos to DVD, DVD folders, and ISO files
• Automatically adjust output size and quality settings for optimal DVD creation
• Ensures high-quality DVD output, optimizing storage and picture clarity
• Includes video editing tools like cropping, trimming, and adjusting effects

Cons:

• May experience occasional slowdowns or errors during the DVD creation process
• Price could be considered expensive compared to simpler or free DVD creation software

How to make a DVD Menu Using GiliSoft Movie DVD Creator

Step 1: Place a blank DVD in the DVD writer and add videos to the software by clicking the Add Files button.

Step 2: Customize DVD menu settings according to your preferences, or skip this step.

Step 3: Choose the type of DVD disc (e.g., DVD-5, DVD-9) for burning.

Step 4: Select Output Type and specify DVD writer as the output destination for the converted videos.

Step 5: Begin the process of converting and burning videos to the DVD disc by clicking Start.

FAQs

What's the best DVD creator for DVD Menus?

While many DVD menu Creators exist, DVDFab DVD Creator distinguishes itself with a wide array of menu templates, robust customization features, and rapid burning speeds. It offers users flexibility and efficiency in creating DVDs with professional-quality menus tailored to their preferences and needs.

Can iDVD still be used to create DVD Menu on Mac?

iDVD was a DVD authoring software for Mac users, enabling the creation of DVD movies, music compilations, and digital photo slideshows. It's widely used on older versions like Lion and Mountain Lion, but it's no longer supported on newer macOS versions like Sierra, High Sierra, and Mojave.

The Bottom Line

All in all, selecting the best DVD menu creator hinges on individual priorities. DVDStyler excels with its cost-effective, feature-rich solution, while TMPGEnc stands out for its user-friendly interface and solid technical support, which is ideal for novices. For comprehensive capabilities beyond menu creation, DVDFab DVD Creator offers top-notch features, catering to diverse project needs and skill levels. Each DVD Menu Maker ensures visually engaging menus that elevate the viewing experience according to specific preferences and requirements.