VLC Media Player AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Media Players

The best Media Player alternative to VLC Media Player is MPC-HC, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to VLC Media Player and loads of them are Media Players so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Media Player alternatives to VLC Media Player are MPV, PotPlayer, SMPlayer and MX Player.

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VLC Media Player alternatives are mainly Media Players, but if you're looking for Audio Players or Video Streaming Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android, Linux, iPhone, Windows, Open Source, Mac and Free. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to VLC Media Player.
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Alternatives list

  1. MPC-HC icon

    MPC-HC

     1308 likes
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    MPC-HC's biggest advantage is arguably just how lightweight it is. Not only is it small in terms of hard drive space, but its CPU and overall system resource use is incredibly small compared to other video players, VLC included.

    139 MPC-HC alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    MPC-HC screenshot 1
     
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    22
    576
    Comments about MPC-HC as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Comment summary: MPC-HC is highly praised as a lightweight and superior alternative to VLC Media Player. Users commend its efficient performance, especially in handling subtitles and various formats like .mkv and HEVC, without the need for external codecs. Its interface is noted for being clean and user-friendly, although less customizable than VLC's. MPC-HC is appreciated for better streaming, compatibility with modern codecs, and seamless playback on less stable networks, making it the go-to choice over VLC for many users.
    Top Positive Comment
    Paul Karpo
    11

    Very light-weight. With super easy interface and without any bugs.

    Top Negative Comment
    AikkabBasH
    0

    MPC-HC is not under active development since 2017 and therefore there is no downloads available of this application on their official website.

    veddev
    Positive
    0

    Its light-weight, included with the K-Lite codec pack... so awesome media player!

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    3 of 22 comments
    VLC Media Player Icon
    MPC-HC icon

    • Almost everyone thinks MPC-HC is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • MPC-HC is the most popular Windows alternative to VLC Media Player.

    • MPC-HC is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to VLC Media Player.

    • MPC-HC is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • MPC-HC is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  2. MPV icon

    MPV

     548 likes
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    MPV is an MPlayer-based video player that is available on all major desktop operating systems. Linux users in particular cite MPV as one of the best alternatives to VLC. Its interface is extremely minimal, though with that comes extraordinary stability.

    113 MPV alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Xfce
    • Chocolatey
    MPV screenshot 1
     
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    25
    320
    Comments about MPV as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Comment summary: MPV is frequently praised as a lightweight, customizable, and reliable alternative to VLC Media Player. Users note that it handles AV1 encoded videos and other formats more smoothly, overcomes playback stuttering issues, and offers better battery usage. Its minimalistic design with practical shortcuts is favored, though some users miss a conventional UI. Despite VLC's established reputation, MPV is recognized for its strong performance on multiple platforms.
    Top Positive Comment
    John Fastman
    12

    There was a time when VLC was justifiably considered the best open-source cross-platform movie player. MPV has closed the gap substantially and is likely to work out-of-the-box in a minority of cases where VLC gets stuck. Excellent software. Open souce (trustworthy) and free, of course.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    In Linux, VLC sometime struggles playing MP4 videos & navigating within those MP4 videos. Celluloid (MPV frontend) works better in these regards.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    kfua
    Positive
    1

    I tried to play a movie encoded to 1080p av1 but vlc was struggling on my device. I used this website to find an alternative MPV plays av1 encoded movies smoothly.

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    3 of 25 comments
    VLC Media Player Icon
    MPV icon

    • Almost everyone thinks MPV is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • MPV is the most popular Android, Mac & Linux alternative to VLC Media Player.

    • MPV is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • MPV is Lightweight and MinimalisticVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  4. PotPlayer icon

    PotPlayer

     690 likes
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    PotPlayer is a modular video player that also works with most video file formats by default. Many of our users also find that it starts up faster and performs better than VLC, while also including small quality of life features that can be useful in specific contexts (such as support for two subtitle tracks on the same video file in order to help learn a new language).

    130 PotPlayer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    PotPlayer screenshot 1
     
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    24
    376
    Comments about PotPlayer as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Comment summary: PotPlayer is highly praised for its light weight, speed, and smooth performance compared to VLC Media Player. Users appreciate its extensive customization options, superior user interface, and feature-rich capabilities. PotPlayer is also noted for its effective management of media files and convenience features like remembering playback settings. Some users find the settings complex but rewarding for experienced individuals, making it an excellent alternative for Windows users.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    11

    Looks better! more customizable, easier to use and support add two subtitle files at the same time (useful for the people who learn other language while watching)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Seth Mitchell
    Positive
    0

    I used it and found it very lightweight. Good alternative to VLC

    Mayank-Arora
    Positive
    0

    PotPlayer manages the folders and sub-folders sensibly. Import the list you want to play and it's simple to use. It remembers the 2x speed in next video (unlike VLC).

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    3 of 24 comments
    VLC Media Player Icon
    PotPlayer icon

    • Almost everyone thinks PotPlayer is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • PotPlayer is Free Personal and ProprietaryVLC Media Player is Free and Open Source
    • PotPlayer is Lightweight and MinimalisticVLC Media Player is not according to our users
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  6. SMPlayer icon

    SMPlayer

     457 likes
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    Like MPV, SMPlayer is based off of MPlayer, but unlike MPV, it's more focused on accessibility with its user interface. Out of the box, users cite SMPlayer as having the versatility and stability of MPV with the ease of use of players like VLC. It also supports add-ons such as a YouTube search.

    129 SMPlayer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • mpv
    • Snapcraft
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • MPlayer
    • Flathub
    • Homebrew
    Playing video - Default Skin
     
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    18
    189
    Comments about SMPlayer as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Comment summary: Comments highlight SMPlayer's advantages over VLC Media Player, emphasizing ease of use, customization, and versatility. Users appreciate its ability to sync settings across devices, intuitive GUI, and handling of subtitles and incomplete files better than VLC. While generally viewed as superior, a concern over stability on Windows is noted. SMPlayer is praised for being resource-efficient, supporting diverse video files, and providing enhanced playback quality.
    Top Positive Comment
    Armin
    3

    It has beautiful skins and is suitable for weak systems.

    Mayank-Arora
    Positive
    1

    I have stopped using VLC, since I came across SMPlayer. It works seamlessly on all my devices. I once made keyboard shortcuts, and saved it on cloud. Now, it is very easy to copy that file and have same settings and same shortcuts across all devices. For me, this is better than VLC media player and it is so easy to set aspect ratio, increase and decrease volume, manage video speeds and sync audio/subtitles.

    Guest
    Positive
    3

    It is the best mpv frontend in my opinion. having such powerful media player engine such as mpv + a user friendly ui. built-in subtitle search engine makes you like a lot easier too.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 18 comments
    VLC Media Player Icon
    SMPlayer icon

    • Almost everyone thinks SMPlayer is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • SMPlayer is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • SMPlayer is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  7. MX Player icon

    MX Player

     195 likes
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    Though MX Player only supports Android devices, it is often cited as one of the platform's best video players. Featuring extensive customization options, an Android-optimized design, and plenty of supported video formats, MX Player is worth checking out on your Android phone or tablet if you're looking for a simple, optimized video player.

    134 MX Player alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Chrome OS
    MX Player screenshot 1
     
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    4
    99
    Comments about MX Player as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Guest
    Positive
    6

    Powerful, Support lots of formats. Easy to use

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Salvador
    Positive
    0

    Some missing features but almost similar to VLC player

    HurDugggio
    Positive
    4

    Really does a good job of playing a video with maximized settings. Looks gorgeous.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    VLC Media Player Icon
    MX Player icon

    • Most users think MX Player is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • MX Player is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to VLC Media Player.

    • MX Player is Freemium and ProprietaryVLC Media Player is Free and Open Source
  8. IINA icon

    IINA

     134 likes
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    Though it's exclusive to macOS, IINA's users swear by it for being lightweight, efficient, and performative. Minor annoyances such as performance-based audio-video-subtitle desyncs that can be found on VLC are not a problem when using IINA. Additionally, its interface is neat clean, with clearly labelled settings. This ease of use combined with its excellent performance makes it an easy recommendation for macOS users looking for a media player.

    45 IINA alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • mpv
    IINA screenshot 1
     
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    8
    72
    Comments about IINA as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Top Positive Comment
    Paul
    5

    Great alternative to VLC if you're on macOS. It's lightweight, the UI is very clean, and has even more functionalities than VLC.

    Top Negative Comment
    Lai Curaga
    0

    still no RTSP support (for local webcam/small cctv)

    nicolaspatate
    Positive
    2

    IINA is the best modern player out there

    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    VLC Media Player Icon
    IINA icon

    • Almost everyone thinks IINA is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • IINA is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • IINA is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  10. KMPlayer icon

    KMPlayer

     481 likes
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    KMPlayer is often praised for its interface, which has been described as more functional and user-friendly than VLC or Media Player Classic Home Cinema. Its playlist manager is more akin to WinAmp's than it is to VLC or other video players, which makes it desirable for those with vast multimedia catalogs. It also includes very granular customization options.

    157 KMPlayer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    PC
     
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    1
    78
    Comments about KMPlayer as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    James Hunt
    Positive
    1

    Better interface and more features. For instance, KMP can skip one frame backwards, which VLC can't

    VLC Media Player Icon
    KMPlayer icon

    • Most users think KMPlayer is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • KMPlayer is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to VLC Media Player.

    • KMPlayer is Free and ProprietaryVLC Media Player is Free and Open Source
  11. MPC-BE icon

    MPC-BE

     180 likes
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    MPC-BE is another fork of Media Player Classic (specifically of the Home Cinema fork) with a focus on bug fixes and for automatically mounting ISO images. It is actively updated and performs really well for video playback. Users do not recommend it for music playback, as it lacks support for playlist looping and includes odd behaviors for shuffling media playback.

    118 MPC-BE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    MPC-BE screenshot 1
     
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    2
    70
    Comments about MPC-BE as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    thumbnail view, available on MS store

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    rapheal dowry
    Positive
    -2

    I haven't tried it until now but will try it soon and will update the reviews too.

    thanks!

    VLC Media Player Icon
    MPC-BE icon

    • Almost everyone thinks MPC-BE is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • MPC-BE is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • MPC-BE is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  12. Media Player Classic icon

    Media Player Classic

     761 likes
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    Though it's been discontinued and almost entirely superseded by successors like Media Player Classic Home Cinema, some users still swear by it as a sort of "old reliable" video player that can play most files people throw at it with no issue. However, it's been 10 years since its last release, so it's highly recommended to look at MPC-HC and other forks actively in development.

    133 Media Player Classic alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Media Player Classic screenshot 1
     
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    1
    71
    Comments about Media Player Classic as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    It doesn't feature an online streamer...

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    VLC Media Player Icon
    Media Player Classic icon

    • Most users think Media Player Classic is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • Media Player Classic is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
  13. MPlayer icon

    MPlayer

     341 likes
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    MPlayer is a movie player which runs on many systems (see the documentation). It plays most MPEG/VOB, AVI, Ogg/OGM, VIVO, ASF/WMA/WMV, QT/MOV/MP4, RealMedia, Matroska, NUT, NuppelVideo, FLI, YUV4MPEG, FILM, RoQ, PVA files, supported by many native, XAnim, and Win32 DLL codecs.

    133 MPlayer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • AmigaOS
    • Xfce
    • MorphOS
    • Haiku
    MPlayer on Ubuntu (Linux)
     
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    2
    56
    Comments about MPlayer as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Sam Lander
    Positive
    0

    Very lightweight, glitchless. MPlayer is probably the best media player currently on the market.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It read and play most media without any constraints.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    VLC Media Player Icon
    MPlayer icon

    • Most users think MPlayer is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • MPlayer is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • MPlayer is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  14. Celluloid icon

    Celluloid

     45 likes
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    Celluloid (formerly GNOME MPV) is a simple GTK+ frontend for mpv. Celluloid interacts with mpv via the client API exported by libmpv, allowing access to mpv's powerful playback capabilities.

    59 Celluloid alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • mpv
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Celluloid screenshot 1
     
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    2
    13
    Comments about Celluloid as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    Paul
    Positive
    2

    Good alternative to VLC, it's basically MPS with a nice GTK interface. Pretty lightweight, easy to use, with enough settings for 99% of the use cases.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    In Linux, VLC sometime struggles playing MP4 videos & navigating within those MP4 videos. Celluloid (MPV frontend) works better in these regards.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    VLC Media Player Icon
    Celluloid icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Celluloid is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • Celluloid is Free and Open SourceVLC Media Player is also Free and Open Source
    • Celluloid is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
  15. GOM Player icon

    GOM Player

     239 likes
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    GOM Player is a freeware media player. Key strengths are the ability to play the majority of media files without the need to obtain a codec, and the ability to play some broken media files, both advantages over traditional players, like Windows Media Player.

    132 GOM Player alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Bundleware

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Main window
     
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    3
    39
    Comments about GOM Player as an Alternative to VLC Media Player
    clydelyman
    Positive
    2

    Its effects are easier to use and it has an extensive Preferences selection; BE AWARE, they have a separate music player. I have both. the Reverb is solid. you can avoid the crapware by doing the first download from Ninite and just updating or do a custom install. To my knowledge GOM does not recored.

    Guest
    Positive
    -2

    VLC Player looks like it belongs on a Windows 95 computer. GOM Player has a much more professional interface with lots of options.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Support almost all types of video formats.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    VLC Media Player Icon
    GOM Player icon

    • Most users think GOM Player is a great VLC Media Player alternative.

    • GOM Player is Freemium and ProprietaryVLC Media Player is Free and Open Source
    • GOM Player is LightweightVLC Media Player is not according to our users
12 of 122 VLC Media Player alternatives