The Best DRM Removal Software of 2025: A Binge-Watcher’s Guide

Hey there, I’m Alyssa Smith. As a self-professed binge-watcher, my worst nightmare is a "License Expired" notification on a downloaded movie mid-flight from JFK. I mean, I paid for that!

After years of wrestling with streaming limitations, I’ve learned something out of DRM removal—not for piracy, but for freedom. The freedom to watch what I legally own, on any device I own, anytime I want.

This guide is the culmination of my research, testing, and frustration, designed to help you build your own perfect, personal media library without the headache.

What is DRM, and Why Does It Ruin Movie Night?

To put it simply, Digital Rights Management (DRM) is an invisible technological fence built around digital content. Streaming platforms use it to control how you use the videos, music, and ebooks you've purchased or subscribed to.

This "protection" often feels more like a punishment. It’s the reason your downloaded Netflix show goes away after 48 hours, or why the Amazon movie you bought can't be played on your non-Amazon tablet.

The goal of "DRM removal" is simple: to take down that fence for your own content, the titles you've paid for, and thus allow you to create a personal, future-proof backup that you truly control.

The Legality of DRM Removal

Let's be direct. In the U.S., the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes it illegal to circumvent technological protection measures. However, the concept of "Fair Use" and creating personal backups of content you have legally acquired is a long-standing principle.

Most users of streaming services under the personal-use argument: "I paid for it, so I should be able to make a backup for myself." From my point of view, I advocate for dedicated tools exclusively for creating personal backups of content you have legally purchased.

How to Pick Your Perfect DRM Removal Tool?

Choosing the right tool is not easy, but it boils down to the following 5 key questions.

1. What’s Your Target?

Are you downloading from Netflix, Max, or a more niche service? Do you need video, audio, or ebooks? The best tool always focuses on a specific kind of service. A tool that’s great for Spotify won’t help with your Kindle library.

2. How Important is Quality?

Are you happy with a 720p file for your phone, or are you an archivist who needs FHD 1080p or 4K quality with 5.1 surround sound and even Dolby Vision? Higher quality often means slower downloads and larger files.

If you're interested in the top video downloaders that support 4K, continue to read the dedicated review of 4K video downloader.

3. What Device Are You Using?

Check for Windows and macOS compatibility. If your goal is offline viewing on the go, look for tools that offer mobile-friendly formats or even act as a DRM video downloader designed for iPhone or Android.

4. How Tech-Savvy Are You?

Some tools, like Calibre and YT-DLP shared on GitHub, are incredibly powerful but require a bit of setup. Others offer a simple, browser-based "copy-and-paste link" experience. But most such tools are paid.

5. Freeware vs. Paid: What’s the Catch?

DRM Removal Freeware: The biggest pro is the cost: zero. However, they can be less reliable, slower to update for new DRM schemes, and potentially come with security risks if downloaded from untrustworthy sources. Based on some users' reports, some malware will even be disguised as freeware.

Paid Software: You pay for reliability, speed, customer support, and frequent updates that keep pace with streaming services. Most offer free trials, which I highly recommend using before buying.

Quick Look into the 9 DRM Removal Tools

Before the detailed review of each tool, you can look up the major features in the following table:

Best DRM Removal Tools for Video

Here’s a comprehensive review of the top contenders for reclaiming your favorite movies and shows. I analyze them based on suitability, features, cons, and pricing.

Best Overall Performer: KeepStreams

It supports a large number of streaming sites, from giants like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max to smaller platforms (ReelShorts, ESPN, M6+, etc.). Downloads are saved in universal MP4/MKV formats. The interface is clean and integrates a browser for easy discovery.

KeepStreams One

Save your favorite shows and films from streaming services and video sites. The quality can be high up to FHD 1080p, 2K, and even 4K. KeepStreams supports batch download, GPU acceleration download, subs saving, audio tracks extracting, and ad removal. Of course, the tool can help you convert downloads into MP4/MKV format during the process.

 Free Trial  Free Trial

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KeepStreams updates itself frequently, normally 3 times a month (based on the data from Wayback Machine). While testing, I noticed that for major platform updates (like when Max replaced HBO Max), there can be a slight delay before KeepStreams pushes a patch to restore full functionality.

A sentiment I’ve seen echoed on A/V forums is, "It supports everything, but you might have to wait a day or two for a fix if Netflix changes their code." It’s a minor inconvenience for an otherwise robust tool.

The company, KeepStreams LLC., published both the AIO tool and single products exclusively for one streaming service. Here's the pricing:

Best for High-Speed Batch Downloads: StreamGaGa

This tool is known for its breakneck download speeds. I only used 7 minutes to download a 2-hour film in 2K with StreamGaGa, which performs the best among the tools I tested. The average speed can be as high as 9MB/s or higher.

Other basic features like metadata saving, MP4/MKV output, subs extracting, batch download, and ad removal can also be found in StreamGaGa.

While it covers all the major global platforms, its list of supported sites isn't as exhaustive as KeepStreams'. If you subscribe to more obscure or niche services, you might find they aren't supported.

The best feature is that StreamGaGa provides a 3PC plan, which is highly recommended for a group of friends or a family:

One drawback of StreamGaGa is the high price. For a single product or AIO service, it's expensive than many competitors. But the Pro plan for 3 PC is much better. On average, the lifetime subscription for one PC is only $121.6, even cheaper than KeepStreams.

Best Cost Performance: MyConcerters

MyConverters boasts a good function to handle audio and subtitles. Before you download, it gives you a clear menu of all available language tracks (e.g., English, Japanese, Spanish) and subtitle files (including forced subtitles for foreign-language parts). You can choose to download multiple tracks or remux the subtitles directly into the video file.

However, MyConverters updates less frequently compared with KeepStreams and StreamGaGa. What's more, based on a comment I saw on a review blog, a user said: "It gives me all the options I need, but my less techy friend found the settings menu confusing."

As an all-in-one tool, MyConverters has a unique advantage in terms of price:

Best DRM Removal Software for Music & Audiobooks

Whether you're curating the perfect offline playlist for a cross-country road trip or saving an audiobook for a flight, these tools are your ticket to audio freedom.

The Choice for the Fastest Saving: TuneFab

The standout feature is its speed. Their marketing boasts up to 35x conversion speeds, and while that varies, it's undeniably quick for batch-converting entire playlists. It's not just for Spotify; it has dedicated converters for Apple Music and Audible, making it a versatile choice.

While powerful, some users have reported that customer support can be slow to respond to technical issues. On a popular tech forum, one user noted, "The software works great 90% of the time, but when a Spotify update broke compatibility, it took them nearly a week to patch it, which was frustrating."

TuneFab provides many plans for users of various needs:

Best Convenient Usage: MuConvert

The feature I love most about MuConvert is the integrated web player. I don't need the Spotify or Apple Music app open separately. You simply log in through MuConvert's interface, browse your library, and drag-and-drop playlists directly into the converter.

Also, it removes a layer of friction that other converters have. They support all the key platforms and offer standard output formats like MP3, M4A, and high-fidelity FLAC for the true audiophiles.

However, because it relies on a web player, any changes to a streaming service's login process can temporarily disrupt the tool until the developers push an update.

Also, the convenience comes at a cost. Some users on Reddit have pointed out that MuConvert's subscription is slightly pricier than some competitors if you only need it for a month:

Best Compatibility and Quality: KeepBeats

KeepBeats is an affiliate brand of KeepStreams. Both of them are operated by KeepStreams LLC.

KeepBeats operates on an "All-in-One" model that supports 9 major platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, LINE MUSIC, Audible, and dhits. You can download and convert music from these 9 services into MP3, M4A, WAV, and FLAC formats.

However, in a CNET review comment section, a user mentioned that the built-in browser of KeepBeats sometimes loads for 1 minute. You have to reload it to access the music streaming service.

Although KeepBeats always promotes its AIO plan, it also provides a subscription for a single product. And the price is very nice for a user who only wants a monthly service:

Best DRM Removal Solutions for eBooks

Now for my fellow bookworms! Let's liberate your library from the walled gardens of Amazon and other retailers.

The Undisputed King of Freeware: Calibre

Calibre is the undisputed king. It's not just a DRM remover; it's a complete ebook library management system. You can use it to organize, convert between formats (e.g., Kindle's AZW3 to the universal EPUB), edit metadata, and even fetch news from websites and format it into a custom ebook.

The DRM removal itself is handled by a third-party plugin (the famous DeDRM tool by NoDRM), which, once installed, works seamlessly in the background. Its power and flexibility are unmatched.

The main "flaw" is that it isn't a simple, out-of-the-box solution. The need to find and install the DeDRM plugin can be a hurdle for less tech-savvy users. A common question on GitHub and r/Calibre is "Help! I installed the plugin but it's not working."

The user interface also feels a bit dated compared to slick, modern apps, but I'll take function over form here any day. After all, Calibre is 100% free and open-source forever. There are no trials, no subscriptions, no hidden costs.

The Easiest Paid Option: Epubor

Epubor is the polar opposite of Calibre in user experience. Its tagline is basically "it just works." The UI is clean, modern, and incredibly intuitive. You drag your ebook files into the window, select an output format between ePub, MOBI, and PDF, and click "Convert."

It automatically detects books from your connected Kindle device or from computer folders. For anyone intimidated by the idea of installing plugins, Epubor is a breath of fresh air. Also, Epubor can be listed in our second ranking because of its ability to convert Audible to MP3, M4B, or MP4. 

However, its biggest weakness is its price tag. Many users in the ebook community argue, "Why pay for Epubor when Calibre does the same thing, and more, for free?" Obviously, it's a trade-off between money and convenience.

Any eBook Converter

The excellent device detection of Any eBook Converter is the main reason I recommend this tool. When you plug in your Kindle, Kobo, or Nook, the software automatically scans it and displays your device's library, making it simple to select, decrypt, and convert the books you want to back up.

It also supports a very wide range of output formats, including standard ePub, Mobi, AZW, Text, and PDF, and even niche ones like KFX.

However, some users from the related community report that while it's great for books already on a device, it can sometimes struggle with finding books stored in the Adobe Digital Editions desktop app without some manual file moving. It's a small hiccup, but something to be aware of.

Different from Epubor, Any eBook has a modern design and more choices for subscription:

Alyssa's Final Take

That's my personal review of DRM Removal tools for video, music, audiobook, and ebook. The final verdict truly depends on your requirements.

If you’re a media omnivore like me, with subscriptions scattered across the internet, investing in an all-in-one suite like KeepStreams simplifies life immensely. For the pure audiophile, TuneFab offers a focused, high-speed experience. And if you’re a bookworm, there’s simply no reason not to learn the ropes of Calibre—it’s free, powerful, and will change the way you manage your digital library forever.

The bottom line is this: you have the right to enjoy the content you pay for on your own terms. Pick the right tool, build your personal library, and never let an expiring license ruin your movie night again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a new season of Severance to download for my next trip.