The best VLC alternatives are video players that offer robust features just like VLC or even more than VLC. VideoLan Client has been a popular choice for most people when it comes to watching videos. While it does have awesome features and also being freeware, there are other great options out there.
Video players have been around for a long time now, they allow us to watch videos easily without any issues. From different video formats like MP4, FLV, MKV and so on, video players can handle these formats perfectly. That’s where VLC comes in, in fact, it is one of the best free video players for Windows. You can use VLC on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11.
There’s no doubt that VLC is an amazing video player, but if you’d consider other alternatives. Here’s an article that’ll interest you, we’ve handpicked the best VLC alternatives for you here at NaijaKnowHow. Whether you’re using a Windows or macOS PC, you’ll be able to download these video players on your PC.
List of The Best VLC Alternatives for Windows and macOS PC
If you’re looking for an alternative to VLC that offers excellent video playback, large format support, customizations and so on. From the list of video players below, you’ll surely discover the right video player like VLC that’ll match your taste. So let’s take a look at these VLC alternatives below.
1. Media Player Classic
Media Player Classic is a lightweight yet powerful video player for PC. Designed to resemble the classic Windows Media Player interface, Media Player Classic offers simplicity without compromising performance and features. Media Player Classic supports a wide range of video and audio formats and provides excellent playback quality. Its minimalistic interface is easy to navigate, and the player consumes minimal system resources. Additionally, Media Player Classic offers customization options, allowing you to adjust settings such as video rendering, audio output, and subtitle rendering according to your preferences.
While Media Player Classic might look simple on startup, configuring it at times can be very stressful. Well since that’s only the downside to using Media Player Classic, there are more positive features to explore. The player also offers hardware acceleration, it uses GPU to enhance video playback performance. With its lightweight nature and advanced features, Media Player Classic is surely a top alternative to VLC.
2. PotPlayer
One of the best VLC alternatives is PotPlayer, it is another powerful video player that offers more. When it comes to smooth and high-quality video playback performance, PotPlayer does an excellent job. PotPlayer offers a user-friendly interface and supports a wide range of multimedia formats. With its built-in codecs, PotPlayer eliminates the need for additional codec packs, ensuring hassle-free playback. What makes PotPlayer different is its customization options. This video player allows users to customize skins and subtitles. Furthermore, PotPlayer supports various advanced features such as 3D video playback and screen recording.
Another feature of PotPlayer is its live broadcasting feature and that makes it a robust alternative to VLC. PotPlayer’s customization options extend to its interface as well. You can choose from a variety of skins and layouts, and even customize the position and appearance of on-screen controls. Considering the advanced features of PotPlayer, there is no better VLC alternative than this video player. It is a great catch and you can download it on your PC.
3. Kodi
If you’re looking for an open-source media player, Kodi is a better option to consider. With Kodi’s customizable interface and extensive range of add-ons, Kodi offers a highly personalized media playback experience. Kodi supports a wide range of video and audio formats and provides smooth playback. Its user-friendly interface allows you to navigate through your media library with ease. Additionally, Kodi’s add-ons extend its functionality, allowing you to access online streaming services, live TV, and so on. For live streaming purposes, Kodi is one of the best apps like Mobdro and also a good live TV app for Amazon FireStick.
Setting up Kodi on your PC involves installing the Kodi software and configuring your media library. You can organize your media files into different categories, create playlists, and even add artwork and metadata to enhance the visual experience. Kodi might be a free and open-source application, but setting it up can be stressful. The easiest way to go around Kodi is when you use add-ons, there are plenty of them available. There’s no doubt that Kodi is one of the best VLC alternatives for watching videos on PC.
4. 5KPlayer
5KPlayer is another popular video player and also multimedia player for PC users. It supports a wide range of video and audio formats, including 4K, UHD, and even 360-degree videos. One of the standout features of 5KPlayer is its ability to download online videos from popular platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion. Aside from watching videos from your local files, you can also use 5KPlayer as your video downloader app. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, 5KPlayer is a reliable VLC alternative for PC users.
What makes 5KPlayer different from most video players is that it features online video downloading. The built-in downloader allows you to grab videos from various sources and save them to your local storage. Furthermore, 5KPlayer also includes screenshots and screen recording in its features. It supports high-quality videos and users can also enjoy hardware acceleration. If you’re looking for a robust video player better than VLC, 5KPlayer is a great option.
5. RealPlayer
RealPlayer is also one of the oldest video players that has been around for many years now. It works as a multimedia player with plenty of features, you can use it for media management, video playback and so on. One of the key features of RealPlayer is its smooth and high-quality video playback. Another outstanding feature is RealPlayer’s support for different video formats. You can easily organize your media library, create playlists, and easily manage your files. RealPlayer’s integrated web browser enables you to browse and download online videos directly within the player.
While RealPlayer can be enjoyed for free, there’s also a premium version you’ll enjoy using. The premium version is packed with advanced features that include video editing tools. You’ll be able to edit videos yourself using features like merging, cutting, splitting and so on. RealPlayer has been one of the best VLC alternatives for a long time. It has a simple interface and is also very easy to navigate. You’ll enjoy all the features this video player has to offer.
6. GOM Player
GOM Player is a feature-packed video player that offers a seamless and enjoyable multimedia playback experience. With its built-in codecs, GOM Player can play almost any video or audio file format without the need for external codecs. One of the key features of GOM Player is its extensive subtitle support. It can automatically search and download subtitles for your videos, making it convenient for international viewers. GOM Player also provides advanced features such as video capture, screen capture, and playback speed control. The sleek and user-friendly interface of GOM Player does make it a great choice of video player for anyone.
Another feature users can enjoy from GOM Player is appearance customization. You can also customize the appearance of subtitles by adjusting font, size, colour, and positioning. The player even offers a subtitle sync feature, allowing you to easily synchronize subtitles with the video playback. In addition to customization, GOM Player also offers different audio and video effects. Making it a great VLC alternative for watching videos.
7. KMPlayer
In addition to the list of the best VLC alternatives, KMPlayer is another great option you can use. With its extensive support for codes, KMPlayer can handle various video and audio formats without depending on an extra codec. One of the coolest features of KMPlayer is its sleek and modern interface. The player offers smooth video playback and supports high-resolution content, including 4K and UHD videos. Additionally, KMPlayer includes advanced video processing technologies like post-processing and noise reduction, which improve the visual quality of your media.
Another reason why you’ll love KMPlayer is that it has a wide range of advanced playback options. It supports 3D video playback, 4K and UHD video support, and even VR content playback. As a user, you can also explore the customization option for KMPlayer, you can make changes to audio filters, video filters and so on.
8. SMPlayer
Rounding up the list of the best VLC alternatives, SMPlayer is also a great option for video playbacks on PC. This video player is powered by an MPlayer engine and it supports different audio and video formats. One of the notable features of SMPlayer is its ability to remember the settings of each individual file. This means that when you reopen a video, it will resume playback from where you left off and retain your chosen settings. With its user-friendly interface and smooth playback, SMPlayer is a reliable alternative to VLC for PC users.
SMPlayer’s playback options extend beyond basic controls. SMPlayer offers advanced features like video speed adjustment, frame stepping, and A-B repeat, allowing you to fine-tune your playback experience. It also includes video and audio filters, such as deinterlacing, noise reduction, and audio normalization etc.
Conclusion
When it comes to finding the best video players like VLC for PC. The above-listed video players are a better fit. Depending on what you’re looking for in a video player, whether it’s customization or not. The likes of Media Player Classic, RealPlayer and so on might fit right in our demands.
