Open source VLC media player alternatives

All VLC media player alternatives

1. 

   

   mpv

   37.3KstarsLike

   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. 

   

   MPC-HC

   15.9KstarsLike

   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
3. 

   

   IINA

   46.7KstarsLike

   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
4. 

   

   Kodi

   21.3KstarsLike

   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. 

   

   Jellyfin

   4.1(489) · App StoreLike

   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