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VLC media player alternatives

Top Media Players & Servers like VLC media player

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

Most alternatives to VLC media player are in the Media Players & Servers category, compared here by price, platform and features.

VLC media player alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
9 apps

All VLC media player alternatives

  1. 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

  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. MPC-HC

    15.9Kstars

    MPC-HC (Media Player Classic - Home Cinema) is a lightweight, open source media player for Windows with a classic, uncluttered interface. The maintained fork by clsid2 bundles LAV Filters to decode nearly all common formats, supports hardware-accelerated decoding, subtitles and renderers such as madVR or MPC Video Renderer, and runs well on older PCs. It is free and has no ads.

    6 MPC-HC alternatives

    Pros

    • Lightweight and fast, even on older PCs
    • Bundled LAV Filters decode nearly all common formats
    • Supports high-quality renderers such as madVR

    Cons

    • Available only on Windows
    • Dated interface with few modern conveniences
    • Relies on a community fork since the original project stopped
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    Windows
    Features
    Ad-freeHardware decodingPlays almost any formatSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about MPC-HC

  4. IINA

    46.7Kstars

    IINA is a free, open source video player for macOS built on top of mpv. It wraps mpv's broad format support and hardware decoding in a native Mac interface with dark mode, Picture-in-Picture, trackpad gestures and Touch Bar controls. It can fetch subtitles from online sources, play YouTube and other web streams through youtube-dl compatible tools, and supports plugins written in JavaScript.

    7 IINA alternatives

    Pros

    • Native macOS interface with Picture-in-Picture and trackpad gestures
    • mpv engine plays almost any format with hardware decoding
    • Fetches subtitles online and plays web streams

    Cons

    • Available only on macOS
    • No media library management or media server features
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    Mac
    Features
    Dark modeHardware decodingPlays almost any formatPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about IINA

  5. 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

  6. Infuse

    4.7(28.4K) · App Store

    Infuse is a video player for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Vision Pro that plays files from network shares, cloud drives and media servers such as Plex, Emby and Jellyfin. It fetches artwork and metadata, downloads subtitles from OpenSubtitles and syncs watch history with Trakt. Core playback is free, while Infuse Pro adds support for more formats, Dolby Vision and Atmos audio, and additional services.

    7 Infuse alternatives

    Pros

    • Polished playback with artwork and metadata across Apple devices
    • Connects to network shares, cloud drives, Plex, Emby and Jellyfin
    • Trakt sync and automatic subtitles from OpenSubtitles

    Cons

    • Apple platforms only, with no Android or Windows app
    • Some formats, Dolby Vision and Atmos require Infuse Pro
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    MaciPhone
    Features
    Cross-device syncPlays almost any formatSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about Infuse

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Emby

    3.1(654) · App Store

    Emby is a media server that organizes your movies, shows, music and photos and streams them to apps on the web, mobile devices, smart TVs and consoles. It supports multiple user profiles with parental controls, automatic metadata and live TV. The server and basic apps are free, while an Emby Premiere subscription unlocks extras such as hardware transcoding and DVR. Emby moved away from open source in 2018.

    7 Emby alternatives

    Pros

    • Streams to web, mobile, smart TVs and consoles
    • Multiple profiles with parental controls and live TV
    • Automatic metadata keeps libraries well organized

    Cons

    • Hardware transcoding and DVR require an Emby Premiere subscription
    • No longer open source, unlike its fork Jellyfin
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Media Players & Servers
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted
    Features
    Hardware decodingMedia serverPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
    Visit websiteMore about Emby

VLC media player vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of VLC media player, compared with its most popular alternatives.

VLC media player vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAd-freeHardware decodingPlays almost any formatPlugins & extensionsSubtitles support
VLC media playerFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
mpvFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux
PotPlayerFreeWindows
MPC-HCFreeOpen sourceWindows
IINAFreeOpen sourceMac
KodiFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, Android

VLC media player alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to VLC media player?

The most popular alternative to VLC media player is mpv: Minimalist, scriptable media player for the command line. Other great alternatives are PotPlayer, MPC-HC, IINA, and Kodi.

Is there a free alternative to VLC media player?

Yes, 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including mpv, PotPlayer, MPC-HC, and IINA.

Is there an open source alternative to VLC media player?

Yes, 5 open source alternatives are listed, including mpv, MPC-HC, IINA, and Kodi.

Is VLC media player free?

Yes, VLC media player is free to use.

Compare VLC media player with its alternatives

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