Table of Contents
- Which video player should I choose?
- VLC Media Player
- PotPlayer
- KMPlayer
- Media Player Classic – Black Edition
- ACG Player
- GOM Player
- DivX
- Kodi
- Plex
- 5KPlayer
- BONUS: Stremio
Although many users currently use browser platforms such as YouTube e Netflix to watch your videos, a good video player it is something indispensable in a computer. However, choosing the right program that has the best performance and format compatibility is not simple, so we put together this article in which we selected the 10 best video players for Windows and with the possibility of finding some on other platforms.
Which video player should I choose?
Above all, a good video player it needs to be simple, intuitive and lightweight. If we take these features into account, it's easy to choose between popular programs like VLC, GOM Player ou Media Player Classic – Black Edition. But what are the extra features of these software? In the following list, we will get to know its main functions and other programs that you may have heard of but haven't had the opportunity to get to know them yet.
VLC Media Player
When talking about media players, the VLC automatically appears at the top of comments. But what is the reason behind its huge popularity? VLC Media Player is a video player free and open source which is available for all popular platforms. It is known to support a large number of audio and video compression methods as well as file formats.
Over the years, the VLC has earned a reputation as the media player capable of “play all”. It is known to be one of the best media players for PC because of its quick and simple nature, which does not involve minute steps. The software also features different customization options that can help you improve your viewing experience and change the appearance of the player.
O VLC it also receives frequent updates and has a large user community. It runs on all versions of windows, being the best choice to meet all media playback needs.
Highlights
- Simple interface, easy handling and understanding;
- Subtitle compatibility and offers where to download subtitles;
- Plays almost any file type.
PotPlayer
O PotPlayer has managed to gain a good reputation in recent times among video players. This multimedia software for Windows platform was developed by South Korean company Kakao and has tons of features and specialties that can easily compete strongly with VLC. This media player comes with a wide range of customization options that allow you to make this software suitable for your needs.
Using techniques such as CUDA, QuickSync and DXVA, the PotPlayer is capable of providing maximum performance and a great user experience. There is an option to choose between sound cards, bookmark your favorite scenes for later viewing, etc. You also get filters for brightness, contrast, hue and noise reduction, as well as plenty of keyboard shortcuts. Its only downside is that it is only compatible with Windows system.
Highlights
- A very robust machine is not needed;
- Supports multiple codecs;
- Variety of customization.
KMPlayer
O KMPlayer is another excellent free video player that has the ability to play almost all conventional audio and video files. As it has a built-in codec for Windows 10, users don't need to install new codecs. To further increase its compatibility, you can add external codecs.
It is also known for its wide support for different formats like 3D, 4K and UHD, allowing users to enjoy high definition videos on their devices. You will also have the ability to edit subtitles directly within the player. In addition, the video player is also available for mobile devices: both Android as iOS.
Highlights
- PC and mobile version with similar functionality;
- Support for various formats such as 3D;
- Great file organization.
Media Player Classic – Black Edition
O Media Player Classic is a classic media player that has in its version Black Edition a program built by the effort of the fan community based on its original version. Together, the developers improved the old version of the program and made the software even faster, lighter and, above all, practical!
This free multimedia player can be used even on your old computer without any hassle. THE Media Player Classic – Black Edition is a great alternative to Windows Media Player and also has a subtitle download option, supports several file formats, among other functions.
Highlights
- Improved version of the original program;
- Extremely light;
- Contains recent updates.
ACG Player
If you're looking for a video player that has a clean look, it's time to stop your search because the ACG Player will be your final choice. It is a lightweight media player that has all the essential features like audio and video effects, music viewer, subtitle font art, gesture control and even background music.
Furthermore, the ACG Player supports most out-of-the-box media codecs and doesn't have many restrictions. It also supports playback from external devices, files and disks. An even lighter version of ACG Player is available in the form of Ax-Lite, which is its fastest version without some features.
Highlights
- Pollution-free interface;
- Various fonts for subtitles;
- Ease of playback on external devices.
GOM Player
O GOM Player, or Gretech Online Movie Player, is a completely free alternative to Windows Media Player, which comes with built-in support for the most popular video and audio formats. That means it can play all popular video formats like AVI, MKV, MP4, FLV, MOV and etc.
In addition to the basic functionality that comes with other popular PC media players, the GOM Player It has many advanced features such as AB repeat, Media Player Capture, speed control, audio and video effects, screen capture, among others. It also gives you the option to change skins and make the entire GOM Player look highly customized.
Using the library itself GOM, you can download lots of subtitles and watch movies and TV shows in your preferred language. You can also link this amazing video player for PCs with the vast OpenSubtitles database.
Highlights
- The most varied interface options;
- The paid version removes all advertisements;
- Link to opensubtitles makes the tool more robust.
DivX
O DivX was one of the first video players to offer playback HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding) for free and with it you can also enjoy UltraHD (4K) playback. The player is optimized for video files played in the most popular formats like MP4, MKV and AVI. It also acts as a streaming media player that lets you stream music, videos and photos.
DivX also comes with advanced features like Trick Play, which lets you jump to your favorite scenes with ease. Furthermore, with support for Chapter Points, you can simply play different scenes and with the Resume Play, you can also jump to the point where you stopped playback. Also available for Mac.
Highlights
- Better audio options in the paid version;
- Various reproduction tools;
- Possible to play 4K media in the free version.
Kodi
Formerly called XBMC, the Kodi is a highly customizable free open source video player that you can use on your laptop or desktop to get a high quality experience. Among the video players mentioned, this one is suggested for users who have a wide screen, as its technology offers the best possible quality.
O Kodi plays almost all popular video and music formats, podcasts and other digital media stored locally or on the Internet. Initially, the media player was independently developed and called Xbox Media Center for the first Xbox. Kodi's source code is open source and developed by a global community of volunteers.
Highlights
- Advantage in wide monitors;
- Mobile version;
- It has streaming content.
Plex
Plex is a video player that allows users to easily take care of their large media collection, where they can include anything like videos, TV shows, movies, photos, videos and personal music. He organizes his collections and makes them very accessible. With its easy sharing nature, you can choose what to make public and grant access to your contacts.
It supports almost all file types, including hi-fi music and video formats. How is it compatible with chromecast, you can stream the videos on your bigger TV screen. You can also use the app Plex on your phone or tablet to take control of your player. Use this app to streamline your video content library and get the advantage of a feature rich video player too.
Highlights
- Great library organizer;
- Ease of sharing content;
- Use the smartphone app to control the program.
5KPlayer
Last but not least in our list of best video players, the 5KPlayer, is a top-notch player. It is capable of playing almost all types of videos and music without any plugins installed. Its interface is very clean and simple.
Also known for its streaming options, the 5KPlayer It also allows you to import videos and music from sites like YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, MTV and etc. In addition to all this, it is compatible with common formats such as the aforementioned MP4, MKV and AVI. The player is available for Windows and Mac.
Highlights
- Play videos in 360º;
- Download video from sites like YouTube;
- Plays media to wireless devices with as little quality loss as possible.
BONUS: Stremio
One of the most used applications recently without a doubt is the Stremio and we cannot fail to make this honorable mention. This program allows the user to have access to different streaming titles and thanks to its system of add-ons, you will find the most varied quality possibilities, thus being able to filter exactly how you want to watch the videos.
Just connect an account from Facebook or create an account on the website itself to have access to the application. Currently, all content is available online, however, developers have plans for you to download available titles to watch whatever you want offline. There is also a mobile version but iOS users suffer from a reduction in add-ons.
Highlights
- Wide variety of voiceovers and subtitles;
- Totally free;
- Ease of access.
Reminding PC users that Windows 10 already has a video player, the Windows Media Player, which offers some of the resources mentioned here, as well as the Media Player Classic – Home Cinema, then the suggestions are an alternative to the video players that already exist in this operating system.
While the options are more geared towards the individual experience and also considering the COVID-19 pandemic, you may also be interested in discovering ways to watch movies in a group!
So which one of these video players that we have listed that you liked the most and would you like to try it? Tell us in the comments!
Source: TechRadar, Fossbytes and Twitgoo.
