Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Rundown
- Best Overall: Pioneer BDR-XD05B at Amazon, “Slim and lightweight Blu-ray writer that offers a great experience in a design that’s just 8.2 ounces.”
- Runner-Up, Best Overall:Pioneer BDR-XS06 at Amazon, “Offers fast write speeds alongside an auto quiet mode to reduce noise.”
- Best Splurge: OWC Mercury Pro at Amazon, “It’s capable of writing M-DISC DVDs and M-DISC Blu-rays, but it can also burn and play regular Blu-ray Discs.”
- Best Write Speeds: ASUS BW-16D1X-U at Amazon, “This beautifully designed device is packed with features and is more powerful than most external Blu-ray drives.”
- Best Budget:MthsTec Ultra Slim at Amazon, “Supports speeds up to 10x faster (5Gbps) over USB 2.0 (480Mbps) and no AC adaptor or drivers are required.”
- Best for Macs: Sea Tech at Amazon, “A plug-and-play package that’s just 15.2 ounces and measures 8 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches.”
- Best Design:Pioneer BDR-XU03 at Amazon, “Works with BDXL discs, Blu-ray discs and is backward compatible with DVD and CDs.”
Our Top Picks
With Blu-ray here for the long haul it’s important to understand a few things about what makes the best Blu-ray player software for your computer. Video & Audio: Quality Matters The best Blu-ray player software can read a variety of discs, not just Blu-ray. Best Blu-ray Ripper 2018 to Rip Blu-rays Easily. Looking for a really good Blu-ray ripper in 2018? List of 2017-2018 best Blu-ray ripping software gathers the top Blu-ray rippers 2018 in the world that will convert and rip Blu-rays homemade/protected smoothly and easily with good results. Selection of the best external desktop Blu-ray drives from top companies such as Pioneer, Sea Tech, LG, Asus and more. The inclusion of Toast Lite Software allows quick and easy burning from a Windows or Mac computer, although Blu-ray playback requires the separate purchase of additional software. Both portable and fast, the Pioneer offers.
Best Overall: Pioneer BDR-XD05B
4.6
Released in 2015, Pioneer’s BDR-XD05B is a clamshell-designed (opens from the top) slim and lightweight Blu-ray writer that offers a great experience in a design that’s just 8.2 ounces. Measuring 5.24 x 5.24 x .58 inches, the XD05B offers premium and proprietary features such as PowerRead and PureRead to assist in the delivery of smoother playback of both DVDs and CDs. The Pioneer will handle write speed at 6x for a Blu-ray on one quad-layer BDXL disc that can store the equivalent of around 27 DVDs.
The inclusion of Auto Quiet mode allows for the reduction in disc rotation speed to reduce noise. It switches between both quiet and performance modes depending on your needs. Pioneer includes CyberLink software for Windows, which allows for Blu-ray playback. Unfortunately, the BDR-XD05B is only compatible with Windows software leaving Mac fans to look at alternative options for Blu-ray writing and playback.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Pioneer BDR-XS06
The Pioneer BDR-XS06 external Blu-ray writer is a solid piece of technology that offers fast write speeds alongside an auto quiet mode to reduce noise. Auto quiet mode assists in noise reduction while listening to music or watching movies, as well as when setting it too high for faster data transfer.
Measuring 5.31 x 5.31 x .71 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces, the Pioneer is powered solely by USB connection via a computer. The drive itself supports BDXL format with storage for more data in the form of 156 percent more capacity than a 50GB dual-layer Blu-ray disc.
The inclusion of Toast Lite Software allows quick and easy burning from a Windows or Mac computer, although Blu-ray playback requires the separate purchase of additional software. Both portable and fast, the Pioneer offers 6x BDR on single and dual-layer discs as well as 4x max write speed on BD-R triple and quad-layer discs.
Best Splurge: OWC Mercury Pro 16X Blu-ray, 16X DVD, 48X CD Read/Write solution
If it’s speed you crave, the OWC Mercury Pro delivers, reaching write speeds up to 16X. It’s capable of writing M-DISC DVDs and M-DISC Blu-rays, but it can also burn and play regular Blu-ray Discs.
Housed in a single piece of aluminum, this drive has a sleek, but solid design and impressive build quality. On the back, you’ll find access to the USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0), power and Kensington lock slot connections. Along with the drive, you get applications including Smile DiskLabel and ProSoft Data Backup for Mac and NovaBackup for PC. While they aren’t the latest and greatest versions, they will serve you well nonetheless.
Best Write Speeds: ASUS Computer International Direct ASUS BW-16D1X-U
Measuring 9.6 x 2.5 x 6.5 inches, this beautifully designed device is packed with features and is more powerful than most external Blu-ray drives. The Mac- and Windows-compatible device can write up to 16X with BDXL support that supports data storage up to 128 GB. Using USB 3.0 technology, it enables data transfer rates up to 10 times faster than those offered by a USB 2.0 connection. On top of that, it doesn’t just read and write to Blu-ray discs; it also reads and writes to both DVD and CD optical media discs.
But what sets this drive apart from others? It comes equipped with CyberLink Power2Go8 software designed to streamline the burning process and protect private files, plus professional data backup software to ensure all your precious files are backed up sufficiently.
Blu Ray Reader Software
Best Budget: MthsTec Ultra Slim
The MthsTec Ultra Slim external Blu-ray player and DVD burner combo drive offers up a fantastic value (and a host of features). It weighs 10 ounces and measures 5.9 x 5.6 x 0.6-inches, making it par for the course in the Blu-ray external drive world. Fortunately, its size hides its extensive feature set.
Connecting to a computer via USB 3.0, the MthsTec supports speeds up to 10x faster (5Gbps) over USB 2.0 (480Mbps) and no AC adaptor or drivers are required. Overall write speed is set for a standard 6x (plus an 8x DVD-Max write speed), which means the MthsTec is backward compatible with older technology.
Best for Macs: Sea Tech
While all the Blu-ray external drives support Windows 7 to Windows 10 software, Mac support is a little more hit and miss. Realistically, Apple doesn’t officially support Blu-ray playback, but there are a host of third-party applications that do. As a CD/DVD unit, the Sea Tech aluminum external USB Blu-ray writer super drive is a plug-and-play package that’s just 15.2 ounces and measures 8 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches.
Released in 2012, the Sea Tech remains as perfectly viable today as it was back then, thanks to updated third-party software that provides a great viewing experience on both Apple desktops and laptops. Additionally, the Sea Tech provides support for M-Disc, which offers years of reliable data storage and playback. Write speed on the Sea Tech is an average 6x, while Blu-ray playback is a standard 2x speed. Unfortunately, there’s no auto-quiet feature to reduce the internal noise while playing or writing a disc, but that’s a worthy tradeoff for a drive that’s 100 percent compatible with Apple’s computer line.
Best Design: Pioneer BDR-XU03
Slightly expensive for its standard feature set, the Pioneer BDR-XU03 price is best understood when you consider the magnesium body design that’s both futuristic and functional. Capable of standing both vertically and horizontally, the BDR-XU03 weighs 8.6 ounces and measures 5.2 x 5.2 x .5 inches. Along with a 6x writing speed, there’s support for additional features such as auto-quiet mode, as well as USB 3.0 for faster data transmission between a PC and the Pioneer itself.
The BDR-XU03 works with BDXL discs, Blu-ray discs and is backward compatible with DVD and CDs. Additionally, Pioneer includes support for PureRead to help minimize sound glitches during music playback, which provides an error-free audio performance and even helps during movie playback. And if you have a green thumb, it's even eco-friendly because the smaller design also means reduced power consumption.
Tested by
How We Tested
![Blu-ray Blu-ray](/uploads/1/2/6/8/126891787/578629411.jpg)
Our reviewers spent six hours testing one of our readers' favorite external Blu-ray drives. To get the most comprehensive feedback possible, they connected it to their laptops to see how it handled everything from playing movies to burning discs. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this drive, from its speed to its design. We've outlined the big takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in an External Desktop Blu-ray Drive
Writing and rewriting - The most basic Blu-ray drives are only useful for playing Blu-ray movies. If you want to burn your own Blu-ray discs, look for one that’s capable of writing or rewriting. Drives that can both write and rewrite Blu-ray discs are more flexible, but rewritable Blu-ray discs can’t store as much information as regular ones.
Compatibility - There are two compatibility issues to look out for with an external Blu-ray player: port type and operating system. Blu-ray players that support USB 3.0 transfer data faster, but that doesn’t help if your computer only has USB 2.0 ports. In that same vein, some external Blu-ray drives only work with Windows, others only work with Macs, and some can be used with both.
Speed - If you only want an external Blu-ray drive to watch movies, speed isn’t a big concern. But if you want to rip Blu-ray movies to your hard drive or burn your own Blu-ray discs, a faster drive will save you a lot of time.
Test Results: Pioneer BDR-XD05B (Best Overall)
4.6
What We Don't Like
- Electronic open/close button didn’t work consistently
- Not as compatible with Macs
One of our testers summed up this external desktop Blu-ray drive as a “fast, flexible Blu-ray and DVD drive that has a few speed settings and also burns disks.” Our reviewers also liked that it was quiet: “The speed and quiet rotation definitely set it apart from the cheap external DVD drive that I used in the past,” one person said. While not necessarily a negative, our testers warned that this drive requires a more extensive setup with Mac machines. One reviewer also reported that its electronic open and close button didn’t work consistently.
We’ve been reviewing the best Blu-ray player software since 2010. In that time, we’ve considered dozens of applications and spent hundreds of hours performing hands-on testing, conducting quality evaluations and comparing programs. In our most recent assessment, we chose Power DVD as our top overall pick. This software performed the best in both our performance and usability tests. It also has every feature we look for in good Blu-ray player software.
Best Overall
PowerDVD
PowerDVD Standard
PowerDVD Pro
PowerDVD Ultra
It scored the highest in our performance and usability tests.
It can take advantage of your device’s touch screen.
You can use your smartphone as a virtual remote control.
It’s the most expensive Blu-ray player software we reviewed.
It may take a while to explore all the tools and features.
Power DVD is a great program. Not only did it score the highest of all the programs we reviewed in our performance and usability tests, it also has all the tools we look for.
For example, this program enables simultaneous viewing options, so you can watch your Blu-ray on your computer as well as your television, smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Additionally, you can download a mobile app and use your phone as a remote control, which is great if you’re watching movies on your computer in bed.
If you’re using a Windows device that has a touchscreen, you can use it to control this software. Not all Blu-ray player software can do that. It also has powerful upscaling technology that allows you to watch a standard-definition DVD on your big screen with minimal distortion. You can even connect to social media and let your friends know what you’re watching.
This program is light on your system resources; in our tests it consumed only 15 percent of our computer’s processing power. For comparison, other programs we evaluated took up to 45 percent.
If you’re using a Windows device that has a touchscreen, you can use it to control this software. Not all Blu-ray player software can do that. It also has powerful upscaling technology that allows you to watch a standard-definition DVD on your big screen with minimal distortion. You can even connect to social media and let your friends know what you’re watching.
This program is light on your system resources; in our tests it consumed only 15 percent of our computer’s processing power. For comparison, other programs we evaluated took up to 45 percent.
Best Value
Macgo Blu-ray Player
Macgo Blu-ray Player
Blu Ray Reader For Pc
Costs less than $30.
Upscales DVDs to fit your HD TV or computer screen.
It’s a resource hog.
No BD-Live support
If you’re just looking for Blu-ray player software and nothing more, then Macgo Blu-ray Player is the way to go. It costs less than $30 and delivers an excellent experience.
It doesn’t have things like a power manager, virtual remote control, environmental settings and BD-Live support, but if those aren’t things you care about, there’s no need to pay for them.
Even though it lacks in some areas it does have the capability to upscale your standard definition movies to take full advantage of an HDTV or computer display. When we tested this product, we noticed that this software upscales as good as our top choice, making it a great option for those who still have old DVDs lying around. However, while it’s great at HD upscaling, it lacks the ability to upscale for 3D movies. So, if you have an old 3D DVD, you’ll have to settle for the standard definition version.
Even though it lacks in some areas it does have the capability to upscale your standard definition movies to take full advantage of an HDTV or computer display. When we tested this product, we noticed that this software upscales as good as our top choice, making it a great option for those who still have old DVDs lying around. However, while it’s great at HD upscaling, it lacks the ability to upscale for 3D movies. So, if you have an old 3D DVD, you’ll have to settle for the standard definition version.
Lightest on System Resources
Leawo Blu-ray Player
Leawo Blu-ray Player
It uses only 4 percent of your computer’s processing power.
It can take advantage of touch-screen monitors and displays.
Its power manager allows you to maximize battery life without sacrificing video quality.
It does not support BD-Live features.
It’s overpriced for the amount of features you get.
If you’re looking for a program to play Blu-rays while you do other things on your computer, the Leawo Blu-ray Player is the best choice.
When we tested this software, it used only about four percent of our system resources. Other programs we reviewed use nearly half of your processing power to play a movie. With the Leawo, you can watch movies on your computer and do other processor-heavy tasks without slowing down your movie or other programs.
Because it’s so lightweight, you’ll miss out on a lot of the extras found in the best Blu-ray player software. For example, you don’t get HD upscaling, environmental settings, simultaneous viewing options or BD-Live network support.
Because it’s so lightweight, you’ll miss out on a lot of the extras found in the best Blu-ray player software. For example, you don’t get HD upscaling, environmental settings, simultaneous viewing options or BD-Live network support.
Fastest Playback
Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player
Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player
Starts playing movies within eight seconds of pushing the play button.
It’s a major resource hog, using a whopping 44% of your CPU capacity.
Blu-ray Software For Macbook Air
When we tested the best Blu-ray player software, we timed how long it takes from when you push the play button to when the movie actually starts playing. It only takes five seconds for Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player to start showing your movie.
This is the fastest time we recorded. For comparison our top choice takes up to 15 seconds to begin playing. The longest time we saw was in WinDVD, which took 22 seconds. However, there are some serious drawbacks to this software. It lacks many of the features we look for in this category, including HD and 3D upscaling, as well as lossless audio playback. It’s also quite heavy on your system resources, taking up to 44% of your processing power.
Best HD Upscaling
Mac Blu Ray Software
WinDVD Pro
Outstanding upscaling capabilities.
Takes an exceptionally long time to start playing a Blu-ray disc.
It not only plays Blu-ray discs perfectly, but you can also use it to play DVDs and CDs. It can also upscale standard-definition DVD footage for HD screens.
And it effectively smooths out pixelation and artifacts that can result from upscaling.
You’ll still get great features, such as customizable skins, environmental settings, BD-Live network support, power manager, social media connectivity and more. However, you won’t be able to use your smartphone as a remote control or take advantage of your device’s touchscreen.
It is worth noting that this is the slowest-starting Blu-ray player we reviewed. During our test phase, we timed how long it takes each program to begin playing a disc after the play button is pressed. WinDVD Pro took 22 seconds. Others we tested took as few as 5 seconds.
You’ll still get great features, such as customizable skins, environmental settings, BD-Live network support, power manager, social media connectivity and more. However, you won’t be able to use your smartphone as a remote control or take advantage of your device’s touchscreen.
It is worth noting that this is the slowest-starting Blu-ray player we reviewed. During our test phase, we timed how long it takes each program to begin playing a disc after the play button is pressed. WinDVD Pro took 22 seconds. Others we tested took as few as 5 seconds.
Why Trust Us?
We have been reviewing the best Blu-ray player software since 2010. In that time, we’ve considered dozens of applications, engaged in hands-on testing and ranked them accordingly. We tested each Blu-ray player program to determine the extent of its features, settings, functionality and ease of use. We evaluated the types of media discs and digital files they could process and the quality they produced. We looked for quality software that came with multiple types of customer support and was compatible with as many operating systems as possible.
How We Tested
Performance Tests
This grade is based on whether the software accommodates a variety of disc and digital file types without excessive drain on the central processing unit. We judged programs on their capacity to play the video without lag, buffering or any other distortions or delays. We also judged them on the amount and efficacy of audio and picture optimization settings.
This grade is based on whether the software accommodates a variety of disc and digital file types without excessive drain on the central processing unit. We judged programs on their capacity to play the video without lag, buffering or any other distortions or delays. We also judged them on the amount and efficacy of audio and picture optimization settings.
Usability
This grade reflects how easy the software was to use, its important features and settings, and how well it performs each task. Good player software should have an interface that is immediately easy to understand and navigate, causing no doubt or frustration in accessing features. We also judged customization options and other features, such as the modifiable video effects.
CPU Usage
We played a test DVD and monitored our computer's CPU strain while running the software without any extra features or programs activated. The percentage shows the amount of processing power used while playing a movie in full screen. Higher percentages will mean that your computer may run slower if you are running multiple programs, or you may hear the computer fan running to keep the processor from overheating.
We played a test DVD and monitored our computer's CPU strain while running the software without any extra features or programs activated. The percentage shows the amount of processing power used while playing a movie in full screen. Higher percentages will mean that your computer may run slower if you are running multiple programs, or you may hear the computer fan running to keep the processor from overheating.
Further Information
It’s tempting to think that with the rise of streaming media and cloud storage for purchased movies and TV shows that things like DVDs and Blu-rays would soon be obsolete. However, in an interview with Twice, Blu-ray Disc Association representatives Dan Schinasi and Victor Matsuda paints a different picture. They noted that physical Ultra HD Blu-ray players sales were up 133%. And the association is going to be broadening its efforts to spread public understanding of Ultra HD Blu-ray technology.
With Blu-ray here for the long haul it’s important to understand a few things about what makes the best Blu-ray player software for your computer.
Video & Audio: Quality Matters
The best Blu-ray player software can read a variety of discs, not just Blu-ray. Look for one that can also play DVDs, CDs and rewritable discs. It should also be able to handle digital video and audio files such as AVI, MKV, MP4 and MP3.
The best Blu-ray player software can read a variety of discs, not just Blu-ray. Look for one that can also play DVDs, CDs and rewritable discs. It should also be able to handle digital video and audio files such as AVI, MKV, MP4 and MP3.
This kind of software has convenient uses beyond playing Blu-ray movies. Some programs have the capacity to upscale standard-definition movies to high definition, or 2D movies up to 3D. However, if you choose to create a 3D movie, you'll still need compatible equipment to properly view it, including 3D glasses and a 3D-capable TV.
Blu-ray movies are meant to sound as good as they look. Good Blu-ray player software provides Dolby and Digital Theater System support and lossless audio playback, even when you use headphones or connect your computer to another device via HDMI cable. Additionally, the software should be able to fully handle all intended DVD capacities, including multi-language output for any DVD that offers it.
Controls & Conveniences: Connect, Customize and Control
Tweaking various settings in a video player system can pay off when you finally get to enjoy a perfect-looking video. Most software offers modifiable video effects, letting you adjust picture hue, saturation and brightness. It should also look good when you are navigating the player; a few software options let you customize the player skin, layout and background.
Tweaking various settings in a video player system can pay off when you finally get to enjoy a perfect-looking video. Most software offers modifiable video effects, letting you adjust picture hue, saturation and brightness. It should also look good when you are navigating the player; a few software options let you customize the player skin, layout and background.
Movie player software is a must-have for Windows 8 and 10 users, since neither of them come with a free native media player. Some of the software applications we reviewed have Windows 8 touchscreen compatibility for the interface, blending seamlessly with your computer system and letting you watch all your favorite movies.
Some of the Blu-ray player software in our lineup has social media connectivity, so you can post status updates and comments via Facebook or Twitter about any video you're watching. Some programs work with the BD-Live network to access special features via the internet.
Because we all have so many different and constant uses for our computers, it's important that your media player doesn't drain your battery or dominate your CPU capacity while you use it. The best Blu-ray player software offers a power manager to help preserve your laptop battery life and reduce CPU consumption if you need to run other programs simultaneously.
Help & Support: Don't Get Stuck, Get Help
Software should not only perform its assigned functions well, but also provide you with optimal customer service should there be an issue. A good software manufacturer offers several means of technical support, whether it's direct contact with the support representatives via telephone or email, or self-help resources. The latter option encompasses, typically on the manufacturer's website, simple tutorials, a frequently-asked-questions section, and a knowledge base or a user forum where users of the software can communicate and help each other.
Software should not only perform its assigned functions well, but also provide you with optimal customer service should there be an issue. A good software manufacturer offers several means of technical support, whether it's direct contact with the support representatives via telephone or email, or self-help resources. The latter option encompasses, typically on the manufacturer's website, simple tutorials, a frequently-asked-questions section, and a knowledge base or a user forum where users of the software can communicate and help each other.
How Much Does Blu-ray Player Software Cost?
You can expect to pay anywhere between $30 and $80 for Blu-ray player software. This might seem very steep just to play discs on your computer, but considering all the additional features you get, it’s worth the price.
Best Free Blu-ray Player Software
VLC Media Player is a free, open-source program that’s been around since 2001. It has adapted quite well to new audio and video formats as they’ve been developed and released. If you want a free Blu-ray player application, this is probably your best bet.
Figuring out how to use VLC to play Blu-rays takes a bit of research and involves manually inserting DLL files deep in your computer’s directory. You also have to create special folders, download obscure files from third-party websites and more.
This kind of virtual surgery on your computer has the potential to cause major problems if you don’t do it properly, and you run the risk of getting malware if you download the needed files from an untrustworthy source. And you never know if the instructions you’re getting from the internet are correct until you spend a good deal of time trying to get the software to work.
If you don’t know what you’re doing in this regard, it’s best to stick with paid programs.
Best OverallPowerDVD
This program scored high marks in all our tests. It’s the easiest to use, produces fantastic images and audio and has every feature you could ever need.
Lightest on System ResourcesLeawo Blu-ray Player
This Blu-ray player uses only four percent of your computer’s processing power, which means you can use the player without worrying about slowing the other programs running on your machine.
Best ValueMacgo Blu-ray Player
For less than $30, it’s the best Blu-ray player software you can buy for the money. It doesn’t have all the extra features of our top choice, but it’s excels at playing Blu-ray discs nonetheless.