As there are tons of software available for Windows platform, choosing the right one for your computer isn’t an easy task. Also, with the increasing number of newer media formats, not all free media players are capable of running all popular file formats like MKV, FLV, AVI, MP4, MOV, etc. That’s why very often people send us emails asking the question “Which is the best media player for Windows?” This has prompted me to prepare a list of the best free media players for Windows operating system. You can also check our previous lists of top video players for Android and Linux.
Apart from being a free video media player, it should also be lightweight to make sure that your multitasking doesn’t take a hit while watching movies and TV shows. So, let’s take a look at different options and help you make the best possible decision:
11 Best Media Players for Windows
1. VLC Media Player
Whenever we start any discussion of the best media players and how great they are, the name VLC automatically comes at the top. But, why is it so? What’s the reason behind its massive popularity? VLC Media Player is a free and open-source media player that’s available for all popular platforms. Created by the VideoLAN project, VLC Media Player is known to support a vast number of audio and video compression methods and file formats. Over the years, VLC has earned the reputation of being the “play everything” video player.
VLC is one of the best PC media players due to its fast and simple nature that doesn’t involve any painstaking steps. The software also features different customization options that can help you improve your viewing experience and change the look of the player. It’s also often used a streaming media player. This amazing Windows Media Player alternative also receives frequent updates and has a large user community. It runs on all Windows versions, from Windows 10 to Windows XP SP3. From time-to-time, this free movie player keeps receiving new features and updates. You can also check out our dedicated article on VLC tricks.
What sets VLC apart?
- Free and open source
- Plays almost anything
- Available on almost all platforms
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
– VLC Media Player website
2. PotPlayer
Competing with other video players like VLC, PotPlayer has managed to earn a good reputation in recent times. This multimedia software for Windows platform has been developed by South Korean internet company named Kakao. PotPlayer has tons of features and specialties that can easily give VLC a run for its money. This recommended media player comes with a wide range of customization options that allow you to make this software fit for your needs. Using the techniques like CUDA, QuickSync, and DXVA, PotPlayer is able to deliver maximum performance and lightweight experience. That’s why PotPlayer is the second best media player on the list.
Compared to VLC, PotPlayer might be less popular but it supports even more file types. It goes without saying that it’s a great player for MP4/FLV/AVI/MKV files, which are very common. You have the option to make a choice between sound cards, bookmark your favorite scenes and preview them, etc. You also get filters for brightness, contrast, hue, noise reduction, etc. It also comes with lots of built-in keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys. But, what makes VLC more popular than PotPlayer? Well, for most of the users, the long list of features and settings might be just too much. Also, PotPlayer is limited to Windows. Overall, PotPlayer is one of best media players around if you want to ditch VLC Media Player.
Why use PotPlayer?
- Attractive interface
- Better audio performance
- Tons of customisation options
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
– PotPlayer website
3. KMPlayer
KMPlayer is another great and free Windows 10 media player that possesses the ability to play almost all mainstream video and audio files. As it has an inbuilt codec for Windows 10, the users don’t need to look for any different codec. To increase its compatibility even further, you can add external codecs. With the support for 3D, 4K, UHD support, the users can enjoy high definition videos on your devices.
KMPlayer is also known for its wide range of support for formats. The users have lots of choices when it comes to audio and video effects which makes sure that you don’t feed the dearth of any feature or support. You can choose the parts of videos as favorites, make them repeat, remap the keys for remote interface, etc. You also get the feature of editing subtitles right inside the player. First released in 2002, KMPlayer free media player was acquired by a Korean streaming company Pandora TV in 2007.
Why use KMPlayer?
- Robust media organization
- Highly customizable
- KMP Connect feature
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
– KMPlayer website
4. Media Player Classic – Home Cinema
Just like its name signifies, Media Player Classic is a classic media player that was bound to be featured on our list of best media players. Build after the halted development of the original Media Player Classic, the Home Cinema version is an effort made by the community of its fans. Together, the developers have improved the older version and made a speedy and lightweight software. The other fork of the original Media Player Classic is the Black Edition. If we compare both of them, Home Cinema ranks better and keeps improving its feature set to rank among the best media players.
Talking about all the fancy features, just like other software on this list, Media Player Classic doesn’t come loaded. But, that doesn’t mean that it’s going to disappoint you. This free multimedia player can be used even on your old computer without any hassle. Media Player Classic is a great Windows 10 Media Player alternative and it also features a DVD player software on Windows 10, subtitle download option, Skype integration, etc.
Why Use MPC?
- Supports even more formats than VLC
- Better audio performance
- More responsive than others
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
– MPC-HC website
5. ACG Player
If you’re looking for a UWP media player app for Windows 10 that’s clean looking, it’s time to stop your search becauase ACG Player could be your final choice. It’s a lightweight media player that has all the essential features like audio and video effects, music visualizer, art font subtitle, gesture control, background music. etc. ACG Player supports most media codecs out-of-the-box and follows no-nonsense policy. It also supports playback from external devices, files, and discs. An even more lightweight version of ACG Player is available in the form of Ax-Lite, which is its faster version without some features. Do give it a try for its clean and zippy interface.
What’s special about ACG Player?
- Lightweight experience
- Touch gestures and interface
- Minimalist design
Supported Platforms: Windows 10
– ACG Player website
6. GOM Media Player
GOM Player, or Gretech Online Movie Player, is a completely free Windows media player alternative that comes with inbuilt support for the most popular video and audio formats. That means it can play all the most popular video formats like AVI, MKV, MP4, FLV, MOV, etc. Apart from the basic functionalities that come loaded with other popular PC media players, GOM Player comes with lots of advanced features like A-B repeat, Media Player Capture, speed control, audio and video effects, screen capture, etc. It also gives you the choice to change skins and make the whole look of GOM Player highly customized.
Using GOM’s own library, you can download lots of subtitles and enjoy movies and TV shows in your preferred language. You can also link this awesome media player for PCs with the vast database of OpenSubtitles.org. It could be possible that this media player software might not support some uncommon types. For that scenarios, GOM Player’s Codec Finder service will let you search for the missing codec. GOM Player for Windows supports a wide range of operating systems, ranging from Windows 10 to Windows XP SP3.
Why use GOME Player?
- Codec and subtitle finder
- Clean, colorful interface
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
– GOM Player website
7. DivX Player
The #7 entry on our list of best media players is DivX Player for Windows. It calls itself the first of its kind media player that offers free HEVC playback. With this popular and useful media player, you can also enjoy UltraHD (4K) playback. It goes without saying that DivX player is optimized for played video files in the most popular formats like MP4, MKV, DivX, and AVI. DivX also acts as a streaming media player that lets you stream music, video, and photos to any DLNA-compatible device.
DivX player also comes with advanced features like Trick Play, which lets you jump to your favorite scenes easily. With the support for Chapter Points, you can simply play different scenes. Its smart media library keeps track of the purchased as well as private video content. The support for multiple audio means that you can switch among different soundtracks without hassle. With its Resume Play feature, you can simply jump to the point where you left off.
Why use DivX player?
- Full of features
- DivX To Go feature
- DLNA streaming support is great
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
– DivX Player website
8. Kodi
Kodi, formerly called XBMC, is a free and open source media player. It’s a highly customizable media player that you can use on your laptop or desktop to get a media center experience. Just in case you’re missing Windows Media Center on Windows 10, Kodi is a great alternative. This contender for the top media player for streaming content is even better if you’re using it with an external, larger display because of its 10-foot user interface. In the recent past, Kodi has been in the headlines due to pre-loaded Kodi boxes and add-ons that support piracy.
Kodi plays almost all popular video and music formats, podcasts, and other digital media stored locally or on the internet. Initially, Kodi was independently developed and called Xbox Media Center for the 1st gen Xbox gaming console. This recommended media player also has plug-ins that can be used to expand its features and include functionalities like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Veoh, etc. Kodi’s source code is open source and developed by a global community of unpaid volunteers.
Why prefer Kodi?
- Media center experience
- Content streaming
- TV interface
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
– Kodi website
9. Plex
Back in 2015, Plex made a big change and replaced their Plex Home Theater with its new Plex Media Player. Plex lets you easily take care of your large media collection, which can include anything like videos, TV shows, movies, photos, personal videos and music, etc. It organizes your collections and makes it look great. With its easy-share nature, you can pick and choose what to make public and give your family access.
It supports almost all file types, including hi-fi music and video formats. As it’s Chromecast supported, you can cast the videos on your larger TV screen. You can also use the Plex app 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 media player as well.
Why use Plex?
- Media management
- Takes care of metadata
- Most platforms are supported
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
– Plex website
10. 5KPlayer
5KPlayer, the final entry on the list of recommended Windows media players, is a top-rated video player for Windows 10 as it’s extremely compatible. It claims to play almost all kinds of videos and music without any plug-ins, and it actually delivers. Its interface is very clean and simple. It’s also known for its more streaming options. 5KPlayer also lets you import videos and music from websites like YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, MTV, etc. It goes without saying that it’s compatible with common formats like MP4, MOV, M4V, MP3, AAC, etc.
Why use 5KPlayer?
- Built-in AirPlay support
- Video downloader for many video sites
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
– 5KPlayer website
11. MediaMonkey
The latest addition to our list of free media players that you can install to enjoy watching media on your Windows 10 computer. Also commonly called MMW (MediaMonkey for Windows), this freemium software is known to provide a helping hand to people who wish to keep their music organized.
Just like other notable movie players, MediaMonkey for Windows also comes with the ability to extend the functionality with the plugins. You can use them to make the look of player more appealing, enhance device support and playback, and newer music discovery features.
MediaMokey’s best features?
- Intelligent file tagging
- Heavily configurable
Supported Platforms: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
– MediaMonkey website
So, which free media player is best in your eyes? Which one do you use to enjoy movies and other media content? Don’t forget to share your views and become a part of the discussion.
