VLC media playerLinux
vs
NinjaRipperWindows
VLC media player as a Linux alternative to NinjaRipper
Updated
Our verdict
VLC can replace NinjaRipper for users who need a quick way to pull audio from video files without installing a dedicated ripper. It handles all common containers, lets you convert the audio stream to MP3, WAV, FLAC or AAC without re‑encoding if you choose the “keep original audio” option, and offers both a GUI and a command‑line interface for scripting. Power users who require heavy batch processing or fine‑grained control over metadata may find VLC a bit limited, but for occasional or moderate workloads it is a solid, free Linux alternative.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 3.0.23 (January 1, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Supports MP4, MKV, AVI and other common containers
- Can extract audio streams without re‑encoding when using the conversion wizard
- Exports to MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC and other common codecs
- Provides a graphical interface and a command‑line tool (cvlc) for scripting
What is different
- No dedicated batch‑rip UI; you must set up a conversion job for each file or script it yourself
- Metadata handling is basic compared to NinjaRipper’s export options
- No built‑in profile for “audio‑only rip” – you have to choose conversion manually
- Lacks a shortcut for ripping multiple files at once via drag‑and‑drop
- Does not expose the same level of logging or progress detail as NinjaRipper
Opening your NinjaRipper files
VLC can open any video file that NinjaRipper supports, since both rely on the same container formats. To export audio, use Media → Convert/Save, select the audio track, and choose a suitable codec. VLC does not produce NinjaRipper‑specific project files, but the resulting audio files (MP3, WAV, etc.) are identical to what NinjaRipper would output. If you need the exact NinjaRipper metadata format, VLC cannot generate it.
Switching from NinjaRipper to VLC media player, step by step
- Install VLC from your distribution’s repository or via Flathub
- Open VLC and choose Media → Convert/Save
- Add the video files you want to rip, select the audio track only, and choose a lossless or compressed codec
- Start the conversion; for many files, write a simple shell loop that calls cvlc with the same options
- Verify the extracted audio files and delete the originals if satisfied
Key features of VLC media player
- Plays most audio and video formats out of the box
- Supports DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs and network streams
- Built‑in subtitle support with synchronization
- Media conversion and basic editing
- Streaming server capabilities
- Extensible via plugins and skins
- Command‑line interface for scripting
How to install VLC media player on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLCFrequently asked questions
Can VLC extract audio without re‑encoding?
Yes, if you select the same codec as the source audio track in the conversion wizard, VLC will copy the stream unchanged.
Is there a way to batch‑process many videos with VLC?
You can script the command‑line tool cvlc or write a shell loop that calls ‘cvlc file --sout …’ for each file.
Does VLC support exporting to FLAC?
FLAC is available as an output codec in the conversion profile list, so you can export directly to FLAC.
2 other alternatives to NinjaRipper
HandBrakeHandBrake is a free, open‑source video transcoder that converts almost any video format to modern codecs.Open sourceFreeFlatpakHandBrake vs NinjaRipper