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Free MPC-HC alternatives

Top Media Players & Servers like MPC-HC

The most popular alternative to MPC-HC is VLC media player, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to MPC-HC are PotPlayer, mpv, Kodi, and Plex.

Most alternatives to MPC-HC are in the Media Players & Servers category, compared here by price, platform and features.

MPC-HC alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
6 apps

All MPC-HC alternatives

  1. VLC media player

    3.7(6K) · App Store

    VLC is a free and open source media player from the VideoLAN non-profit that handles most video and audio formats, DVDs, audio CDs and network streams without installing extra codecs. It supports subtitles, hardware decoding, filters, format conversion and streaming, and can be extended with add-ons and skins. It runs on desktop and mobile platforms, with no ads, tracking or paid tier.

    9 VLC media player alternatives

    Pros

    • Plays almost any file, disc or stream without extra codecs
    • Free and open source, with no ads or tracking
    • Available on desktop and mobile platforms

    Cons

    • Interface looks dated next to more modern players
    • Advanced settings are buried in complex preference menus
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    Ad-freeHardware decodingPlays almost any formatPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about VLC media player

  2. PotPlayer

    PotPlayer is a free media player for Windows published by the South Korean company Kakao. It includes built-in codecs for most video and audio formats, hardware acceleration through DXVA, CUDA and QuickSync, and broad subtitle support including SRT, SMI, VobSub and Blu-ray subtitles. It also offers 3D video output, bookmarks, scene capture and a large number of playback and display settings.

    6 PotPlayer alternatives

    Pros

    • Built-in codecs play most video and audio formats
    • Hardware acceleration through DXVA, CUDA and QuickSync
    • Extensive subtitle support and fine-grained playback settings

    Cons

    • Available only on Windows
    • The sheer number of settings can overwhelm casual users
    • Closed source, unlike VLC or MPC-HC
    Cost / License
    FreeProprietary
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    Windows
    Features
    Hardware decodingPlays almost any formatSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about PotPlayer

  3. mpv

    37.3Kstars

    mpv is a free, open source media player for the command line with a minimal on-screen controller. Built on FFmpeg and descended from MPlayer, it plays a wide range of formats, renders high-quality video with GPU shaders and hardware decoding, and is configured through text files and key bindings. Lua and JavaScript scripts extend it, and the libmpv library powers front ends such as IINA.

    9 mpv alternatives

    Pros

    • Excellent video quality with GPU shaders and hardware decoding
    • Highly scriptable with Lua and JavaScript
    • libmpv powers other front ends such as IINA

    Cons

    • Minimal interface with no menus or playlist manager by default
    • Configuration lives in text files, which deters casual users
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinux
    Features
    API accessHardware decodingPlays almost any formatPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about mpv

  4. Kodi

    21.3Kstars

    Kodi is a free, open source media center, originally known as XBMC, designed for the big screen and remote controls. It organizes local and network movies, shows, music and photos with artwork and metadata, plays nearly every format, and is extended through add-ons, skins and PVR backends for live TV. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and small devices such as the Raspberry Pi.

    9 Kodi alternatives

    Pros

    • Big-screen interface designed for remote controls
    • Extensible with add-ons, skins and PVR backends for live TV
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and the Raspberry Pi

    Cons

    • Setup and configuration take time for newcomers
    • Third-party add-ons vary in quality, and some carry legal or security risks
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxAndroid
    Features
    Hardware decodingPlays almost any formatPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about Kodi

  5. Plex

    4.6(137.8K) · App Store

    Plex is a media platform that organizes your movies, shows, music and photos with Plex Media Server and streams them to apps on phones, TVs, consoles and browsers. It fetches artwork and metadata, transcodes when needed and offers free ad-supported movies and live TV. Core features are free, while a Plex Pass subscription unlocks extras such as hardware-accelerated transcoding and remote playback of your own media.

    9 Plex alternatives

    Pros

    • Polished apps on phones, TVs, consoles and browsers
    • Rich artwork and metadata for movies, shows and music
    • Free ad-supported movies and live TV alongside your own library

    Cons

    • Remote playback of your media and hardware transcoding need Plex Pass
    • Requires a Plex account, with sign-in depending on Plex servers
    • Ad-supported content clutters the interface
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted
    Features
    Cross-device syncHardware decodingMedia serverSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about Plex

  6. Jellyfin

    4.1(489) · App Store

    Jellyfin is a free, open source media server for hosting your own movies, TV shows, music, books and photos and streaming them to web, mobile, TV and desktop clients. Forked from Emby in 2018, it has no premium tier or tracking: hardware transcoding, live TV and DVR, multiple users and plugins are all included. The server runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and many NAS devices.

    9 Jellyfin alternatives

    Pros

    • Completely free, with hardware transcoding and DVR included
    • Open source, with no tracking and no premium tier
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and many NAS devices

    Cons

    • Client apps are less polished than Plex or Emby on some devices
    • Remote access needs manual setup such as a reverse proxy or VPN
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted
    Features
    Ad-freeHardware decodingMedia serverPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about Jellyfin

MPC-HC vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of MPC-HC, compared with its most popular alternatives.

MPC-HC vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAd-freeHardware decodingPlays almost any formatSubtitles support
MPC-HCFreeOpen sourceWindows
VLC media playerFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
PotPlayerFreeWindows
mpvFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux
KodiFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, Android
PlexFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted

MPC-HC alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to MPC-HC?

The most popular alternative to MPC-HC is VLC media player: Free, open source media player that plays almost any file. Other great alternatives are PotPlayer, mpv, Kodi, and Plex.

Is there a free alternative to MPC-HC?

Yes, 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including VLC media player, PotPlayer, mpv, and Kodi.

Is there an open source alternative to MPC-HC?

Yes, 4 open source alternatives are listed, including VLC media player, mpv, Kodi, and Jellyfin.

Is MPC-HC free?

Yes, MPC-HC is free to use.

Compare MPC-HC with its alternatives

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