Best VLC Alternative Media Players

VLC Media Player is undoubtedly the most popular video player for the greater part of the decade, due to its set of features and cross-platform abilities. Plus, it is an open-source program.

Media players are software or hardware pieces designed to play a wide range of multimedia formats, including audio, video, and images.

While VLC appears to be perfect for casual users, and admittedly it’s an all-in-one solution for just watching movies, sometimes you might want to find a decent VLC alternative. It could be because of some performance issues with different codecs, its outdated interface, or lack of supported formats for video conversion.

Why would you need an alternative to VLC?

Advanced Features

VLC Media Player has advanced features and it is highly customizable with different add-ons available from the community.

However, it is not a catch-all plug-and-play application. For example, you can’t capture GIFs through VLC. You will need VLC alternative add-on or application to do that.

VLC’s media library is also minimalistic at best, some even find it very basic.

Basic video editing can be done in VLC, like trimming and cropping videos, adjusting colors, etc., but I can't say it is too user-friendly to do.

Adding all of that, VLC is simply a powerful media player and it does a great job.

Mobile Experience

VLC mobile media player works just fine, but ultimately it’s not really built for the smartphone experience. So some users might seek video players for iPhone or Android devices that are specialized in giving mobile-first functionality.

User Interface

Admit it or not, VLC’s interface looks outdated as it hasn’t changed much since its release. Although it technically won’t affect the viewing experience, it kind of bothers people sometimes.

As an actual example, VLC can convert media types to different file formats, but just look at this process and interface.

To convert an MKV file to MP4, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Go to the "Media" menu.
2. Click "Convert/Save".
3. Hit the "Add" button and choose your MKV file.
4. Click "Convert/Save" again.
5. Then select MP4.
6. Click "Save and Start".

That’s only 6 steps, but it might get a bit confusing if you are new to VLC.

As opposed to Icecream Video Converter:

1. Add or drag the file on the application.
2. Choose the file format you want to convert to.
3. Click on "Convert".

Done in just 3 simple steps.

Just Because

Sometimes, people just want something new to experience without any other particular reason. Think of it like having a favorite table in a cafe. One day, you decide to try another spot just because. It could provide a better experience or it might not, but at least you’ve satisfied your curiosity.

Now, without delaying any further, here are the top 7 VLC media player alternatives you can check out.

7 Best VLC Alternatives in 2024

1. MPV

MPV is a highly acclaimed alternative to VLC media player that pretty much follows what VLC has started. It is free, open-source, cross-platform, and provides endless customization. It has a huge but still rapidly growing community and better shading and high-quality video rendering.

MPV is available on Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, and BSD (Free, Net, and Open).

One of the major selling points for this VLC alternative is among videophiles who are very particular about the quality of videos. It has features specifically addressing quality, like advanced image resizing, color management, pixel shaders, and options for video output based on OpenGL, Vulkan, or Direct3D 11.

If you are not familiar with these terminologies, they are simply a means to render and output high-quality images. It uses your device’s graphics processing unit (GPU) AKA graphics card, as well as how efficient it is CPU-wise. This directly translates to how much power is being used and how well your hardware can handle the application.

Plus, MPV is also popular among Linux users as a VLC alternative because of its ability to operate fully from the terminal/command line.

That said, MPV also supports scripting, which makes it a tool with unlimited possibilities. You have to know how to script in Lua or JavaScript, of course.

Did I mention its streaming features? You can customize it so that you can play videos from the web on it. You can capture YouTube videos on it and render the video and audio in higher quality than the original.

2. Kodi

Kodi touts itself as the ultimate entertainment center for its users and a great VLC alternative, and for good reason.

It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, tvOS, and Raspberry Pi. Wow, that’s basically everything!

I downloaded and installed Kodi just to get a quick peek at how it actually works because I couldn’t wrap my head around it the first time. Mind you, I was just searching for a media player for MacOS and Windows.

What I learned was that compared to the VLC Media Player, Kodi goes far beyond. To say that Kodi is just another VLC alternative is an understatement because they are on a completely different playing field.

Kodi acts as a repository of entertainment. From movies, TV shows, music and podcasts, to radio and games.

Nothing is illegal here, by the way. If you have your videos or a purchased collection of movies or shows, you can add them all to your device and organize them inside the free media player. You can also stream your photos or videos from Google Drive. The playback quality is also great. It supports up to 8K video resolution!

Through its hundreds of add-ons, you can connect this VLC alternative with live streaming services or actual television. I tried NHK Live and I was able to watch the live stream in HD without any buffering.

If I needed to have one complaint, it took me a while to figure out how to switch from fullscreen mode to windowed mode. Tip: press left shift + forward slash.

3. PotPlayer

PotPlayer is another contender for people looking for a good VLC alternative. Although it’s only available for Windows users, it still has all the necessary features that will enable you to have a high-quality viewing experience.

Like VLC, it also remembers the last point you watched and it will ask you if you’d like to continue watching from there. And like YouTube, hovering over the timeline will show you a preview of the video. You can also adjust the lighting of the video easily just with keyboard shortcuts.

It’s a minimalistic media player for Windows without other entertainment-rich applications like being able to play games in the app. But if there’s one thing that stands out, that would be its support for 360-degree videos as well as 3D glasses.

This Windows media player allows users to move to the next and previous frame. If you wish to scrutinize some details on your video you can literally watch it frame by frame. This is also possible with VLC, but it does not support moving to the previous frame, just the next one.

One thing I particularly like about this VLC alternative is its bookmark feature. You can mark your favorite scenes from your movies so you can go back to them later without having to spend time. Cool!

4. KMPlayer

KMPlayer is a mobile alternative to the VLC Media Player. It is more focused on its mobile features for both iOS and Android devices.

It also works on Windows, by the way, with its own set of features for comfortable media-playing sessions and video editing.

KMPlayer can play in 4K, 8K, UHD, and full HD videos at 60fps. It also supports countless codecs depending on your needs.

The interface of the VLC alternative is also sleek and user-friendly. If you are someone who’s into customizing the interface, you might want to give KMPlayer a try.

One highlight of KMPlayer is that you can use it to convert GIFs to video.

Other features of this VLC alternative include sharing files via WiFi and playing media through the cloud. The premium version also supports downloading files through magnet links.

One thing I would be cautious of is that recently the team behind KMPlayer got into crypto. They are now heavily promoting their token. The media player rewards its users with crypto coins by simply using the application.

And since I mentioned the additional premium features, I might as well mention them below.

If you don’t want to pay for a video editor, I recommend checking out Icecream Video Editor.

It can do everything mentioned above plus some more, like add transitions, audio, and voiceovers, convert videos to different file formats, and many more.

If it’s something quick and easy editing you need, check out Video Candy. It can perform the same tasks online!

5. 5KPlayer

5KPlayer is another VLC alternative media player you should pay attention to. It’s not just a simple and free media player, it has a good mix of features that heavy video consumers might find useful.

5KPlayer is available on both Windows and macOS. The video player supports hardware acceleration with Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. It can also play 4K and 8K seamlessly, as well as 360-degree VR videos.

It can mirror streams from different devices to your TV through AirPlay or DLNA. Plus, this VLC alternative can also help you download videos from over 300+ websites. This includes YouTube, Daily Motion, and Vimeo, as well as livestream videos from different sources.

But 5KPlayer was also built for audiophiles who take Hi-Fi audio seriously. The movie player can automatically detect the audio system of media, be it Dolby, DTS, or RStereo, and in several audio formats with lossless playback even on mirror/AirPlay mode.

This VLC alternative also acts as a great media organizer or library, where you can organize and categorize your videos, DVDs, and music all in one place.

6. iTunes

While primarily known for music management and device syncing, iTunes also serves as a media player for audio and video files on macOS and Windows.

The VLC alternative excels in organizing media libraries. It categorizes videos, songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts efficiently.

One of the key features is its ability to sync media content between a computer (Windows or macOS) and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod). Users can transfer music, videos, photos, and other media to and from their devices seamlessly.

The program includes the iTunes Store, where users purchase and download music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and more. Purchased content can be downloaded locally and across authorized devices linked to the same Apple ID.

The free media player mostly supports formats that are compatible with Apple's ecosystem, including MP3, AAC, M4A, WAV, and AIFF for audio, and MOV, MP4, and M4V for video. It may require conversion for non-native formats.

7. Windows Media Player

The program comes pre-installed on Windows operating systems. It supports a variety of audio and video formats, including MP4, MP3, WAV, WMA, WMV, and AVI among others. The app provides basic playback controls and supports playback of CDs and DVDs as well.

This free media player features a clean and straightforward interface that integrates well with the Windows environment. It offers a library view for organizing media files, playlists, and a visualizer for music playback.

When you first open the app, it automatically scans your computer for music, videos, and pictures and adds them to the library. You can search for specific files by typing keywords into the search box. Filtering options allow narrowing down results based on file type, rating, or date added.

Besides playback, WMP includes features like CD ripping, burning, and syncing with portable devices (although this feature has been phased out in newer versions).

The VLC alternative also supports plugins for additional functionality, although not as extensive as VLC. However, Windows Media Player does not include any built-in video editing capabilities.

Tips and tricks

1. Organize your media library. Keep your media files organized in folders and subfolders based on categories (e.g., Movies, TV Shows, Music). This makes it easier to find what you want to watch or listen to.
2. Use metadata. Most media players can fetch metadata (like titles, cover art, actors, etc.) for your files. Ensure your files are properly tagged to improve organization and searchability.
3. Customize settings. Explore the playback settings of your media player. Adjust settings like subtitles, audio track, playback speed, and video quality to suit your preferences.
4. Keyboard shortcuts. Learn and use hotkeys for your specific application. They can save time and make navigation more efficient.
5. Streaming integration. Many media players support streaming services. Integrate your accounts to access both local and online content.
6. Update regularly. Keep your software updated to benefit from new features, improvements in performance, and security fixes.
7. Backup your library. Back up your media library regularly to prevent data loss. This is crucial if you have a large collection of files.
8. Explore extensions. Some media players support plugins or extensions that can extend functionality. Check if there are any useful ones for your needs.
9. Experiment with different players. Don't hesitate to try different apps to find one that suits your preferences best in terms of interface, features, and performance.

FAQ

What file formats does VLC support?

VLC Media Player supports a vast array of multimedia formats, including MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, and many more. It also has the ability to play DVDs, Blu-rays, and streaming protocols such as HLS and MPEG-DASH.

Can players handle streaming media?

Yes, many modern multimedia players support streaming playback from online sources such as online radio stations, podcasts, and streaming services such as Spotify, YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu.

Do the media players support subtitle files?

Yes, caption support is a common feature of most software. Subtitle files can be in a variety of formats, including SRT, SUB, ASS, and SMI. Users can load subtitle files manually or automatically to display them while watching videos.

Are there media players for mobile devices?

Yes, you can search the Play Store and Apple Store for an app and choose the one that suits your preferences. These media players allow users to enjoy audio and video files directly on their smartphones or tablets.

Can media players play content from CDs and DVDs?

Some applications can play content from CDs and DVDs. However, with the decline of physical media, many modern players may not include this feature by default. Always check the software's specifications to make sure it can handle your tasks.

Are media players compatible with smart TVs and streaming devices?

A number of media players offer special apps or versions designed specifically for smart TVs and devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. These versions often have optimized interfaces and features tailored for larger screens and remote control navigation.

Do media players offer parental controls and content restrictions?

Yes, you can find a media player with built-in parental controls that can help you restrict access to certain content based on ratings, categories, or specific media files.

Are media players accessible to users with visual impairments?

Yes, features may include support for screen readers, high-contrast interfaces, keyboard shortcuts for navigation, and audio descriptions for video content. In addition, some media players support integration with Braille displays, to provide a more inclusive user experience for people with visual impairments.

Conclusion

When it comes to media players, VLC has been a great pillar and the benchmark for anything related to video applications. It is famous for its universal support for various codecs, cross-platform versatility, and minimalistic and user-friendly interface.

Users might seek alternatives to VLC Media Player due to preferences for a different user interface, additional features not available in the program, performance issues like lagging or compatibility problems, or specialized needs such as specific codec support. While VLC offers robust functionality and broad compatibility, exploring other media players can address personal preferences for media playback, management, or customization.

When looking for VLC alternatives, people simply want the one that would best fit their media consumption habits. It’s a good thing that this is a thriving space so there are several alternatives to VLC. Some even go above and beyond.

Most video players allow users to create playlists, grouping their favorite songs or videos for continuous playback.

Media players mentioned in this article are among the top based on actual user reviews online. Each has its unique selling point and set of features.

With that said, I hope this article will help you decide which player will suit your needs!