If you've ever purchased an Apple TV (or iTunes) movie only to find it can only be played on Apple devices, with no reliable way to remove DRM on a Mac, you're not alone. According to the latest information, songs sold on the iTunes Store after 2009 no longer include DRM, but iTunes movies and TV shows still use DRM to restrict viewing. This means that legitimate videos remain locked within the Apple ecosystem, and to truly use them freely, tools are still required.

This article will focus on a review of the Top 5 iTunes DRM removal tools for Mac, providing an objective introduction to each tool's system compatibility, pros and cons, and whether they offer a free trial, helping you find the best solution for your needs.

Top 5 iTune DRM Removal for Mac in 2025

1. DVDFab Mac DRM Removal for Apple

Best Itunes DRM Removal Mac Program

DVDFab DRM Removal for Apple is the best iTunes DRM removal tool for Mac, allowing you to easily and quickly remove the DRM protection from iTunes media content. This program supports DRM removal from the media content like videos, movies, and songs, purchased or rented from Apple Music. That being said, it can remove DRM from iTunes movies on Mac for free and easily by converting DRM-protected content into MP4 video files and M4A audio files with only a few mouse clicks. 

If your video was purchased before iTunes 12.9.0.167, and you're using macOS Catalina or earlier, DVDFab DRM Removal for Apple is a viable solution. For newer purchases or systems running macOS Monterey/Ventura, consider the following alternatives.

💡 New Upgrade

DVDFab DRM Removal for Apple has now been upgraded to StreamFab Video Downloader. Since most of the streaming websites apply encryption M3U8 technology for offline play, you are strongly advised to try out StreamFab Video Downloader, a video downloader designed to download streaming video in 1080p and 5.1 audio channels from all major streaming platforms. Above all, it enables FREE DOWNLOAD for 3 movie titles. Feel at ease to remove DRM protection and download your desired movies for offline viewing whenever you like.

Step1
Install StreamFab Video Downloader and launch it on your Windows or Mac PC.
 
 
Step2
 Copy and paste the DRM protected video URL to StreamFab, which will identify it automatically.

 how to remove itunes drm with streamfab

Step3
Navigate to the Apple TV Plus video within the built-in browser of StreamFab, which will identify it automatically.
 

how to remove itunes drm with streamfab

Step4
After selecting the audio format and quality, click on the "Download Now" option to start DRM removal.

 how to remove itunes drm with streamfab

 

2. M4VGear Converter for Mac

DRM Removal Mac Software for iTunes Videos

M4VGear Converter for Mac is one of the best Apple Music DRM removal tools for Mac software programs that can remove DRM protection and convert iTunes videos to non-DRM videos in formats like MP4, MOV, M4V, MPG, AVI, and more. There are also some optimized presets, which allow you to convert the iTunes resources to devices like iPhone 6, Apple TV, iPad, Samsung Galaxy, and more. The removal would be lossless if you choose the output video format as MP4 or M4V. Same with DVDFab Mac DRM Removal for Apple, M4VGear DRM remover Mac program supports both iTunes purchases and rentals, but it cannot deal with the FairPlay DRM on iTunes Music.

Besides, several review websites once hailed M4VGear as "one of the world's fastest" iTunes DRM removal tools, supporting both Windows and Mac versions. However, most reviews were last updated years ago, and the actual user-downloadable version, such as 4.3.8, dates back to 2018. This suggests the software is feature-complete but has clearly lagged in maintenance and updates.

PROS
 Removes DRM protection from iTunes media
 Preserving the original video and audio quality
 Convert DRM-protected videos at a faster rate
 The converted files can be played on various devices
CONS
 It does not support converting DRM files from platforms other than iTunes
 Not compatible with macOS 10.13 High Sierra or above

3. Ondesoft iTunes DRM Media Converter Mac

Good iTunes DRM Removals for Mac Users

Ondesoft iTunes DRM Media Converter Mac is one of the best DRM removal tools for Mac that can remove DRM from iTunes movies, TV shows, and music Videos and output lossless MP4 files that can be played on any video player. It can strip DRM from both the video rentals and purchases and allows you to keep these iTunes files forever. With this Mac DRM removal, the original video and audio will be retained, including the 1080p HD video quality, AC3 Dolby 5.1, AD, audio tracks, subtitles, and closed captions. However, you cannot remove DRM protection from iTunes and Apple Music files with this DRM converter for Mac.

Many tech blogs and user reviews point out that Ondesoft remains one of the relatively active options in the field of DRM video processing, but most updates stopped around 2023–2024, with no significant improvements in system support as of 2025. In other words, the software's functionality is relatively stable, but maintenance and upgrades are slightly lagging.

PROS
 It supports a variety of output formats
 The software boasts a fast conversion speed
 It allows users to convert multiple files simultaneously
CONS
 iTunes audiobooks and Apple Music are not supported
 It lacks advanced features such as video editing

4. Tune4Mac

 DRM Removal Mac Software

Tune4Mac iTunes Video Converter is a full-featured iTunes DRM removal and video converter for Mac. It can convert the original DRM-protected M4V videos and movies to MOV, MP4, FLV, AVI, etc., various devices like iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, Sony PSP, etc., and formats supported by websites like YouTube, Facebook, Flickr, etc. More advanced than other iTunes video converters, it also provides customization options that allow you to change the video size, bit rate, and language for the converted movies. It is also possible to convert iTunes videos to MP3, WAV, and AAC audio formats. 

If you're using an older macOS version (like macOS Sierra or earlier) or have video content purchased from legacy iTunes, you can test Tune4Mac's compatibility with its free trial. For newer systems or content from the updated Apple TV app, I recommend using more actively maintained tools instead.

PROS
 Simple and user-friendly interface
 Downloading and recording capabilities
 Tune4Mac supports various audio and video formats
CONS
 It only works on iTunes video rentals and purchases
 Occasional stability issues

5. NoteBurner M4V Converter Plus for Mac

drm remover for mac

NoteBurner is a great M4V DRM removal tool for Mac users. It can remove DRM from both purchased and rented iTunes M4V videos and movies. Moreover, it can convert iTunes M4V files to other formats including MP4, AVI, MPG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, 3GP, 3G2, FLV, etc., and support devices like Motorola, Samsung Galaxy, LG, Sony, etc. Before conversion, if you choose the Same source option, you can get a lossless and DRM-free video. It comes with many customization tools, which allow you to clip the iTunes video and change the parameters like codec, bitrate, size, audio channel, and more. Same with DRM removals like Tune4Mac and others, this M4V converter Mac tool is dedicated to coping with iTunes videos, and if you want to remove DRM from iTunes audiobooks and Apple Music, you have to find another iTunes audio converter.

Many Reddit and forum users praise NoteBurner as "one of the few tools still functional on older system versions." However, some report inconsistent compatibility with newer Apple TV DRM, noting lower success rates on macOS Monterey and Big Sur.

PROS
 Faster speed to convert iTunes movies, music videos and shows
 The ability to convert multiple files simultaneously
 Convert iTunes Videos to MP4, AVI, MP3, etc.
CONS
 Only support macOS Sierra 10.12 & iTunes 12.8
 It cannot be used for converting other DRM-protected or non-DRM media files

Free Tool Instructions and Alternative Methods

To be honest, I've also expected the free DRM removal tools, but as of 2025, there are very few truly usable free DRM removal solutions for Mac available on the market.

According to information, Requiem was once a free tool used to remove DRM from older versions of iTunes, but it has been discontinued for years and is only compatible with iTunes 10.7 and earlier versions, with no support for rental content or newer systems. As a result, Requiem is practically unusable for modern Mac users.

Other tools (such as ViWizard M4V Converter) offer free trials, but they are paid software, not fully free options. Overall, there are currently almost no truly permanent free DRM removal tools for the Mac platform.

Overall Comparison Between iTunes DRM Removal for Mac

Removals Supported System Trial Update
DVDFab DRM Removal for Apple

macOS Catalina and earlier;

iTunes 12.9 and earlier

 

Integrated into StreamFab with fewer updates

M4VGear DRM Media Converter macOS 10.12 and earlier Fewer updates
Ondesoft DRM Media Converter macOS Sierra to Big Sur ✅(Limited functions) Fewer updates
Tune4Mac Converter Older macOS (10.7–10.12) Fewer updates
NoteBurner M4V Converter Plus

macOS up to Ventura (13)

✅(Only the first 5 minutes)

Officially claims support for macOS 13, maintenance is decent

FAQs

1. Is it legal to remove DRM? Are there risks?

In most countries (including the U.S.):

  • Removing DRM for personal backup purposes is generally considered fair use.
  • However, distributing, sharing, or commercializing such content is illegal.

Additionally, the DMCA explicitly prohibits decrypting DRM, though legal action is rarely taken against individual users. Community forums caution: Do not share converted files, as this may violate copyright laws.

2. What to do if there's no iTunes after upgrading the Mac system?

Starting with macOS Catalina, Apple split iTunes into Music, TV, and Books apps, and user-downloaded videos are stored in .movpkg format. Most DRM removal tools only support older iTunes files and have poor compatibility with the new Apple TV storage format. The recommended solution is to use a virtual machine to install an older version of macOS Sierra or Windows + iTunes, then proceed with the tools.

Final Thought

Now you know the top 5 best free DRM removal software Mac to make legal backups of iTunes media files, and some of them allow you to deal with files from Apple Music and convert iTunes m4v to mp4. Anyway, you need to choose the right DRM removal Mac solutions that suit all your needs.