Looking for a VLC alternative? Compare free and open-source players like mpv, MPC-HC, IINA, PotPlayer and K-Lite, with notes on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Quick answer: The best alternatives to VLC Media Player are mpv (open source, Win, Mac, Linux), MPC-HC (open source, Win), IINA (open source, Mac), PotPlayer (free, Win) and K-Lite Codec Pack (free, Win).
The best alternatives to VLC Media Player are mpv, MPC-HC and IINA. VLC Media Player is an open-source player from VideoLAN that plays files, discs, webcams and network streams in nearly any format, with built-in codecs. It can also convert media, record streams and show subtitles in many formats. People look for another player when they need a different system, a different interface or a program with fewer options. This guide covers free or open-source players for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Minimal, scriptable media player with excellent video quality.
mpv suits users who want a minimal, scriptable player with excellent video quality. It has almost no interface and is controlled by keyboard, a small on-screen controller and configuration files. It offers high-quality GPU scaling and Lua and JavaScript scripting, and it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is open source under GPL-2.0-or-later.
MPC-HC suits Windows users who want a light, classic player. Media Player Classic - Home Cinema starts fast, plays most formats with built-in decoders and uses very little memory. It is open source under GPL-3.0 and runs only on Windows.
IINA suits Mac users who want a modern player with a native Mac interface. It is built on mpv and adds picture-in-picture, online subtitles and trackpad gestures. It is open source under GPL-3.0 and runs only on macOS.
Feature-rich media player with many playback options.
PotPlayer suits Windows users who want many playback options. It supports nearly every format, hardware decoding, 3D and 360° video, extensive subtitle options and screen capture. It is freeware with a proprietary license, and it runs only on Windows.
Codecs and MPC-HC player to play almost any video on Windows.
K-Lite Codec Pack suits Windows users who want codecs and a player in one package. It installs codecs, filters and the MPC-HC player so Windows programs can play nearly every audio and video format. You can choose Basic, Standard, Full or Mega. It is freeware and runs only on Windows.
To choose, start with your system. On a Mac, both IINA and mpv run there, and IINA offers a native Mac interface. On Windows, MPC-HC is light and fast, PotPlayer offers many playback options, and K-Lite adds codecs in a choice of packs. Linux has one pick here, mpv. If open source matters most, choose mpv, MPC-HC or IINA. PotPlayer is proprietary freeware.
Frequently asked questions
Is VLC Media Player open source?
Yes. VLC Media Player is open-source software licensed under GPL-2.0, and it is made by the non-profit VideoLAN organization. It contains no ads or tracking.
Is there a light free alternative to VLC Media Player for Windows?
Yes. MPC-HC is a light, classic player for Windows and is open source under GPL-3.0. It starts fast, plays most formats with built-in decoders and uses very little memory, so it is an alternative to VLC Media Player.
Is mpv a good alternative to VLC Media Player on Mac?
mpv is an alternative to VLC Media Player that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It has almost no interface and is controlled by keyboard, a small on-screen controller and configuration files. It is open source under GPL-2.0-or-later.
Is there a modern alternative to VLC Media Player for macOS?
IINA is a modern video player designed for macOS. It is built on mpv and adds a native Mac interface, picture-in-picture, online subtitles and trackpad gestures. It is open source under GPL-3.0.
Still prefer VLC Media Player? Plays almost every video and audio format without extra codecs.
How this guide was made: written with AI assistance from the facts in our catalog (license, platforms, what each program does) and checked by an editor before publication.
