Overview

Q DVD-Author is a free graphical tool for creating video DVDs with dvdauthor. It suits advanced users who want control over DVD menus and photo slideshows and are comfortable preparing sources and dependencies. Its strongest case is flexible menu-based authoring without a licence cost; its main drawback is the technical setup and MPEG-2 source constraint.

Key features

Projects can combine movie sources with menu buttons linking to a video or another menu. That structure is useful for discs organized around several videos or sections, but manual chapter tools put more of the authoring work on the user. It is a better fit for someone willing to configure a project than for anyone seeking a hands-off disc builder.

Photo slideshow and qslideshow features extend the tool beyond movie-only DVDs. The project also includes qplayer, qrender, and dvd-slideshow. Subtitle support and both DVD standards are supported, while authored output goes to a folder rather than directly to a disc. The guide describes previewing with xine and burning with growisofs, so the workflow involves separate tools for those steps.

The documented version requires MPEG-2 movie files as sources. Footage in another format needs preparation before it can be used. The legacy guide also names dvdauthor, mjpegtools, and ImageMagick++ as required tools, making dependency setup a meaningful part of adopting the software.

Pricing

Q DVD-Author is free under the GPL-2.0 license, with no trial and no paid tier. That makes it a sensible option when avoiding software fees matters more than minimizing setup effort. The GPL v2 license text disclaims warranty, and users take responsibility for configuring the required tools and preparing compatible sources.

Platforms

The project is cross-platform across Linux, macOS, and Windows, and is available in Qt5 and Qt6 versions. Linux packages are linked for Arch Linux, Debian, Mageia, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu. The guide’s dependency and workflow details are especially relevant to Linux users planning their installation.

Who it's for

Q DVD-Author is aimed at advanced end users who want to build menus and submenus around MPEG-2 video and create photo slideshows. It is less suitable for users who need broad source-format flexibility, automated chapter handling, or a workflow that hides external dependencies.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free GPL-2.0 software with menu and submenu authoring, slideshow features, subtitle support, and both DVD standards.
Pros: Folder output allows an authored DVD structure to be prepared before burning.
Cons: The documented version accepts MPEG-2 movie sources, so other footage must be prepared first.
Cons: Required external tools and manual chapter work make setup and authoring less straightforward.

Alternatives

DVD Authoring Software is the broader category to browse if Q DVD-Author’s source and setup constraints do not fit.

DVDStyler is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows if you want a free, open-source DVD authoring application.

Open Burning Suite is free on Linux, macOS, and Windows if disc burning is the priority.

Tipard DVD Creator is a paid Mac or Windows alternative with a free trial; its Mac one-month license costs 24.00 USD per month.

DVDFab DVD Creator is a paid Mac or Windows alternative with a free trial and a Mac lifetime license for 59.99 USD per once.

WinX DVD Author is a free Windows-only option, with no limits or watermarks on Windows 10/11.

Wondershare DVD Creator is a paid Mac or Windows alternative with a free trial; its one-year plan costs 39.95 USD per year and automatically renews unless cancelled.

Xilisoft DVD Creator is a paid Mac or Windows alternative with a free trial and a one-time license for 27.97 USD.

Yuhan DVD Creator is a paid Mac or Windows alternative with a free trial and a lifetime license for 29.95 USD.

Verdict

Choose Q DVD-Author if you are an advanced user who wants free, menu-based DVD authoring with slideshow tools and can work within MPEG-2 input and external dependency requirements. Look elsewhere if you need a simpler workflow or cannot prepare video sources and tools yourself.

	Pinnacle Studio	Q DVD-Author
Free plan		Yes
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from		Free
Platforms	Windows	Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	No	Yes
Platform support	windows	cross_platform
Chapter tools	manual	manual
Disc output	disc	folder
Blu-ray authoring	Yes
Desktop app	Yes
Web app	No
Mobile app	No
4K export	Yes
Team collaboration	No
Subtitle support		Yes
DVD standards		both

Pinnacle Studio vs Q DVD-Author

Pinnacle Studio

Q DVD-Author