VLC Media Player Alternatives for Windows
There are many alternatives to VLC Media Player for Windows if you are looking to replace it. The most popular Windows alternative 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 available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to VLC Media Player are 
PotPlayer (Free), 
MPV (Free, Open Source), 
SMPlayer (Free, Open Source) and 
Kodi (Free, Open Source).
- MPC-HC is an extremely light-weight, open source media player for Windows. It supports all common video and audio file formats available for playback. View 113 alternatives to MPC-HC
- Free • Open Source
- Windows
- PortableApps.com
BIr4 Run everything (with "K-lite mega codec pack" is perfect).karpovskiipa Very light-weight. With super easy interface and without any bugs.Extremely Light weight and better in performance than vlc - Minimalist video player that supports 3D video, Direct3D9 Ex Flip Mode, and sound card selection. View 101 alternatives to PotPlayer
Bundleware
Several antivirus detect a potentially unwanted application (adware) PUA.FusionCore in the file F.dll dropped by the installer of PotPlayer in the Temp folder. Once that file is blocked by the antivirus, the program is installed with no problems and ads.
- Free
- Windows
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)Works with most formats out of the box. Mostly configure for skins, key shortcuts etc.Super-customizable, runs more smoothly than VLC, and it's better-looking. - MPV is an audio and movie player based on MPlayer and mplayer2. View 70 alternatives to MPV
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- BSD
- Xfce
Development is active and can be found on many of the same platforms as VLC.vektorweg I had some rare cases were VLC and MPlayer couldn't play a video correctly. MPV did it for me on Linux and Windows. Also like the GUI (or the lack of it) a lot more.JohnFastman 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. - SMPlayer intends to be a complete front-end for MPlayer, from basic features like playing videos, DVDs, and VCDs to more advanced features like support for MPlayer filters and... View 102 alternatives to SMPlayerNo screenshots yet
- Free • Open Source
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- mpv
- PortableApps.com
- Haiku
- MPlayer
On Linux systems is much better than VLC, faster, with no bugs and read every kind of video file.faster, better quality, no distortions in the videos like vlc.It plays everything with no need to add other codes and the video looks way better than on VLC. - Kodi, formerly XBMC, is a free and open source media player and entertainment center for Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, XBox, and iOS. View 64 alternatives to Kodi
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- BSD
- iPad
- Raspberry Pi
- Fire TV
Kodi, formerly XBMC, is a software media center.Kody is more oriented to being a fullscreen video/music cataloguing application, but it has an internal video/audio/iptv playing system with very good decoding capabilities like VLC and can be windowed as wellKodi is a fullscreen media library manager, a whole home theater frontend. Slower for the purpose, with more complex navigation. - MPC-BE is a free and open source audio and video player for Windows. View 93 alternatives to MPC-BE
- Media Player Classic was designed to look just like Windows Media Player 6.4, but with many additional new features. View 112 alternatives to Media Player Classic
Discontinued
The project is no longer developed. The currently active fork is MPC-HC . Latest version, 6.4.9.1, released in April 2011, can be still downloaded from FreeCodec.com
- Free • Open Source
- Windows
It doesn't feature an online streamer... - The KMPlayer is a versatile media player which can cover various types of container format. View 137 alternatives to KMPlayer
Bundleware
Be careful during installation. Forum
No screenshots yet- Free
- Mac
- Windows
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- MPlayer is a movie player which runs on many systems (see the documentation). View 112 alternatives to MPlayer
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- AmigaOS
- Xfce
- MorphOS
It read and play most media without any constraints. - GOM Media Player is a free media player with built-in audio and video codecs. View 120 alternatives to GOM Media Player
Bundleware
The installer contains additional bloatware that can hijack your browser's settings. Be careful during the installation: Forum
- Free
- Windows
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
VLC Player looks like it belongs on a Windows 95 computer. GOM Player has a much more professional interface with lots of options.clydelyman 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.Support almost all types of video formats.