The best Windows video player.
Do you want to use your Windows computer to create a true home theatre experience? As everyone knows, a lot of things affect it, such as the media player you’re using. A decent video player should not only be feature-rich and easy to use, but it should also be inexpensive, lightweight, and intuitive.
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Selecting the best free media player for your Windows 10 machine can be difficult because there are so many options available. However, you’ve come to the correct spot if you’re searching for the greatest video player. Following extensive testing and evaluation of numerous PC media players, we selected three standout apps that will benefit all moviegoers.
PotPlayer
PotPlayer is a competitive option to VLC, which is widely used as a substitute for Windows Media Player. PotPlayer, developed by Kakao, is a step ahead of its rivals. The app’s sophisticated feature set and user-friendly layout make it stand out. It’s slightly more battery-life efficient than VLC. Even if PotPlayer is still only compatible with Windows, it still merits the top spot on our list.
VLC
The renowned cross-platform media player VLC Player has been downloaded over 26 million times. Created by VideoLAN, it’s a straightforward yet effective replacement for Windows’ built-in apps. Virtually any type of multimedia file, including MKV, MPEG, and FLV, may be played with VLC.
You may easily customize its slick UI to your tastes. Additionally, the program is accessible on nearly every platform.
Plex
Plex is more than just your average video player. It is designed to function as the ideal data organizer in addition to being a feature-rich media player. Plex captivated us with its beautiful design and convenient media streaming features, even with its challenging installation process.
Are you interested in learning more about the winners? Continue reading! We’ll also provide you with a selection of more helpful Windows video players so you can choose the best one for your machine.
Does Your Computer Require a Different Media Player?
Windows Media Player is not included in our list of the top video players for Windows. Why? Let’s examine the reasons why you ought to give a different video player—rather than the default—a go.
First off, Microsoft isn’t going to waste time and effort updating WMP since it was last updated in 2009. The business inadvertently uninstalled Windows Media Player from Windows 10 in 2017. It was also seen by users that Microsoft was actively pushing users to replace their outdated player with its newest Movie and TV app. The days of Windows Media Player being obsolete are not far off.
Microsoft has been touting the benefits of “Movies & TV,” such as its increased compatibility with contemporary video codecs, but in actuality, it’s just a shoddy substitute for Windows Media Player. The new program lacks several of the functions that were featured in WMP, like the ability to change play speed and stream video from internet sources.
Movies & TV offers good video format support, albeit a limited selection. Its simplistic interface also needs a lot of improvement. The program is devoid of sophisticated capabilities that are essential for a contemporary media player and are readily obtainable through third-party applications. For this reason, we have compiled a list of the top options.
One thing stands out about it despite all its drawbacks. Windows 10’s built-in player, Movies & TV, is generally considerably kinder to the computer’s battery life than other apps. If you have a long vacation planned and want to use your laptop’s battery to view movies for a few hours, the Movies & TV app is worth checking out. However, in other circumstances, it might not be the greatest option.
Now let’s explore the top Windows video players you ought to attempt!
How We Selected and Tested Windows Video Players
The video players in this list have been selected following a thorough assessment. Certain programs are designed for people who are more experienced and particular, while others are lightweight and have a basic UI.
I looked at these stats on a Samsung PC running Windows 10 to select the winners:
The number of formats that are supported. This feature proved to be the most important in our test because the default players on Windows only support a restricted number of formats. Not all video players are capable of handling the growing number of complex codecs available today, including MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, and so on. As a result, the greatest media player ought to be current and able to open the most recent file formats.
feature set. The finest Windows media player should outperform the built-in WMP features, not just mimic them. You may find programs that include features like changing the playing speed, adjusting the audio and video filters, and subtitle synchronization among the video players listed below.
User Experience and User Interface. Selecting the best video player involves considering its user experience as much as its features. Any program can be made or broken by its user interface and user experience. Therefore, a design that is clear and easy to use is crucial when it comes to video players.
Cost-effectiveness. The majority of the video players on this list are free, although some charge for additional features like an ad blocker. As a result, our top applications provide the most value for the money you spend.
Windows 10’s Greatest Video Player: Our Top Picks
PotPlayer is the best option.
There was fierce competition between PotPlayer and VLC, and it required careful consideration to decide which would be deemed the best. PotPlayer’s reputation has improved recently, and it’s understandable why is gaining more and more traction.
Kakao is a South Korean business that produced this free multimedia program. It is rather small and did not cause any issues with my computer’s memory. Everything about the app’s initialization was crystal obvious, thus there were no issues. PotPlayer is scalable since it allows you to add more codecs after installing the core file.
PotPlayer may not be as frequently used as VLC. On the other hand, it has several features that rival those of VLC. PotPlayer has a far wider range of supported formats than its competitors. All contemporary file formats and formats from local storage, URL servers, DVD and Blu-ray, analog, and digital TV, are simply handled by it. Even the newest formats have been receiving support fast thanks to frequent updates.
Furthermore, PotPlayer’s feature list makes it a competitive alternative to VLC. To control your audio and video playback, this program offers a wide range of filters and effects. The equalizer is simple to use; you can experiment with it to adjust the brightness of the video to your preference or improve the sound.
In addition, the player has built-in hotkeys, 3D Video mode, 360-degree output, subtitle tools, scene previews, and bookmarks.
PotPlayer has an ideal feature set in addition to a tonne of choices for customizing the design. You can select from a variety of skins, logos, and color schemes. It’s free, but it doesn’t have any intrusive ads. PotPlayer performed flawlessly when handling both big and small files during my tests.
Second-placed: VLC Media Player
When it comes to Windows 10, VLC consistently ranks close to the top of the list of the best media players. It is a simple-to-use program with a nice collection of functions that is completely free (but it does not contain advertisements).
Many operating systems and platforms, including Microsoft, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, and Android, support VLC Player.
The player can play all common media kinds, including Blu-Ray and DVDs, and supports nearly all audio and video formats. You may enjoy 360-degree videos and stream video URLs in real time with VLC. These tasks are finished by the program without requiring the download of any extra codecs.
Subtitle synchronization is an additional beneficial function that comes in particularly handy if you have hearing loss or are viewing movies to learn a foreign language. Even with its uncomplicated design, the VLC player provides a wide range of customization choices and audio and video filters.
VLC is an incredibly lightweight and user-friendly program that you should install on your computer. My testing indicates that it will just require a little while. The player operates without any issues on my PC. However, it had some issues in comparison to PotPlayer, such as sluggish performance when playing big files. Try it out and decide if or not VLC satisfies your needs.
Additionally Excellent: Plex
Plex is capable of far more than your average media player. You may share media from your computer to any room in your house with this excellent all-in-one media-sharing server.
It accesses and manages material that is already on your devices (Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Android, TiVo, Android/iOS phones and tablets, etc.) by using your PC as a convenient media library. The player is designed to look great on your large-screen TV and is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Regarding video, the player is compatible with nearly all sophisticated file types, ranging from MPEG and AVI to MKV and MP4. There’s no need to convert them because the program can transcode any other format automatically when needed.
The installation and setup process is the disadvantage of Plex. I had to download the Plex Media Server software and register for a MyPlex account before I could use the media player. Nevertheless, I discovered that it was a simple and lightweight piece of software once it was operational. After you instruct Plex on which folders to search, the program will identify your material and virtually automatically manage your library.
Although Plex is free, you can pay $4.99 a month to upgrade to PlexPass and gain more features.
The installation and setup process is the disadvantage of Plex. I had to download the Plex Media Server software and register for a MyPlex account before I could use the media player. Nevertheless, I discovered that it was a simple and lightweight piece of software once it was operational. After you instruct Plex on which folders to search, the program will identify your material and virtually automatically manage your library.
Although Plex is free, you can pay $4.99 a month to upgrade to PlexPass and gain more features.
Plex UI is a joy to use. I was instantly enamored with this app because of it. That was unaffected even by its arduous installation procedure, which may use some streamlining and simplification. You may easily customize your experience with a wide range of choices available in the settings. It also enhances the library’s appearance by adding explanations and cover art to every film.
