Jan 30, 2020 Our top choice for playing video files on Mac, Elmedia Player comes with a wide list of supported formats and plenty of other features. This MP4 player Mac-friendly app can easily handle MP4, FLV, AVI, MOV, WMV, MKV, DAT or MP3, among many other formats. It will allow you to play any video file without any errors or extra codec packs. As a powerful Blu-ray player software, UFUShare can be used for Mac and Windows. One of the reasons why this 4K UHD video player is popular among users is that it allows them to perform Blu-ray ISO, CDs and folders without imposing any restrictions.
Do You Need A Different Media Player?
We’ve created a list of the best video players for Windows, and Windows Media Player isn’t one of them. Why? Let’s see why you should consider trying a new video player instead of the default one.
First of all, WMP hasn’t been updated since 2009, and Microsoft isn’t going to waste time and effort on it. In 2017, the company removed Windows Media Player from Windows 10 by accident. Users also noticed that Microsoft actively urged users to switch to its latest Movie and TV app instead of the old player. It’s only a matter of time before Windows Media Player is ancient history.
While Microsoft has been making a pitch for “Movies & TV’s” advantages, which include more compatibility with modern video formats, the reality is that it’s a half-baked replacement for Windows Media Player. Many features found in WMP, such as streaming video from online resources and changing play speed, aren’t even present in the new app.
Movies & TV has solid, but not wide-range, support of video formats. Additionally, its plain interface leaves a lot to be desired. The program lacks the advanced features required from a modern media player which you can easily find using third-party software. That’s why we’ve created a list of the best alternatives available.
Despite all its disadvantages, there is one thing that is worth noticing. Since Movies & TV is Windows 10’s built-in player, it tends to be much gentler on the computer’s battery life than other apps. The Movies & TV app is worth checking out if you’re planning a long trip and want to spend a few hours watching films using your laptop’s battery but isn’t likely to be the best choice in other situations.
Let’s get to the best video players for Windows you should try!
How We Tested and Picked?
The video players listed below have been chosen after an in-depth evaluation. Some of them are lightweight apps with a simple interface, while others are for more advanced and picky users.
To determine the winners, I used a Samsung computer based on Windows 10 and looked at these metrics:
The number of supported formats. As Windows default players have a limited amount of supported formats, this factor was the most significant during our test. Today, with the increasing number of advanced formats such as MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, etc., not all video players are powerful enough to cope. Thus, the best media player should be up-to-date and capable of running the newest file types.
Feature set. The best media player for Windows should not only copy standard WMP features but even surpass them. Among the video players listed below, you can find apps that offer subtitle synchronization, video/audio filters, change of playback speed, and other extra features.
User Interface and User Experience. Choosing the right video player is not only about the features it offers, but the user experience it creates. A well-developed UI and UX can make or break any program. So, when it comes to the video players, intuitive and user-friendly design is what really matters.
Affordability. Most of the video players listed below are free, though some have extra features, such as an ad blocker, that cost money. Thus, our favorite apps offer the best value for the money you shell out.
The Winners
The best video player: PotPlayer
The battle between PotPlayer and VLC was intense, and it took a lot of deliberation to determine which would be considered the best. Recently, PotPlayer has managed to earn a better reputation, and it’s easy to understand why its popularity is growing.
This free multimedia program was developed by Kakao, a South Korean company. It’s pretty lightweight, and it didn’t affect my computer memory. There were no problems with app initialization — everything was perfectly clear. PotPlayer also offers the option to install additional codecs after you install the main file, so it’s scalable.
Compared to VLC, PotPlayer might be less widely used. However, it offers a bunch of features that give VLC a run for its money. When it comes to supported formats, PotPlayer is far ahead of the competition. It easily handles all modern formats and files from local storage, URLs server, DVD and Blu-ray, analog and digital TV. With regular updates, even the newest formats have been getting support quickly.
In addition, PotPlayer is a worthy competitor to VLC because of its feature list. With this app, you’ll get a variety of filters and effects to manage your video and audio playback. The equalizer is easy to use; you can play around with it to get better sound or change the video brightness to suit your needs. The player also comes with subtitle tools, scene previews, bookmarks, 3D Video mode, 360-degree output, Pixel Shader, and built-in hotkeys.
Aside from a perfect feature set, PotPlayer also offers tons of design customization options. It allows you to choose between different skins, logos, and color themes. Even though it’s free, there is no annoying advertising. During my testing, PotPlayer did a great job dealing both with large and small files without any glitches.
Runner-Up: VLC Media Player
When it comes to the best media players for Windows 10, VLC is always near or at the top of the list. It’s an absolutely free (but without ads) program with a simple interface and a great set of features. VLC Player is available on a number of platforms including Microsoft, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
The player supports almost all video and audio formats and can play all standard media types including DVDs and Blu-Ray. With VLC you can also stream video URLs in real-time and enjoy 360-degree videos. The program completes these tasks without the need to download any additional codecs.
Another useful feature is subtitle synchronization, which is especially helpful if you’re watching movies to learn foreign languages or are hearing impaired. Despite its minimalistic simplicity, VLC player offers a rich catalog of audio and video filters as well as customization options.
If you’re looking for extremely light, simple to use and easy to understand program, you should install VLC on your computer. As my testing shows, it’ll take only a few minutes. On my computer, the player runs smoothly. But compared to PotPlayer, it had some problems, including slow performance when playing large-sized files. Give it a try and see for yourself whether VLC meets your need or not.
Great Video Player & Data Manager: Plex
Plex is powerful enough to do much more than your regular media player. It’s an outstanding all-in-one media sharing server that you can use to share content from your computer to any room in your house.
It uses your PC as a handy media library to access and manage data you already have on your devices (Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Android, TiVo, Android/iOS phones and tablets, etc.). The player works both on Windows and Mac and is intended to look perfectly well on your big-screen TV.
When it comes to video, the player supports almost all advanced formats, from MP4 and MKV to MPEG and AVI. The program can automatically transcode any other format when required, so there is no need to convert them.
Plex’s drawback is the installation and setup process. To get to the media player, I had to create a MyPlex account and download the Plex Media Server app. Still, once it was up and running, I found it to be a lightweight and user-friendly piece of software. Once you tell Plex which folders to look in, the app will detect your media and then manage the library almost automatically.
Despite the fact that Plex is free you can upgrade to PlexPass and get additional features for $4.99 per month.
The Plex UI is pure joy. It made me fall in love with this app at first sight. Even its painful installation process, which could benefit from being streamlined and simplified, didn’t change that. The settings are easy to navigate and give you lots of options to customize your experience. It also adds cover art and descriptions to each video that makes the library look even more gorgeous.
The Alternatives
Media Player Classic — Home Cinema
Media Player Classic (MPC-HC) is a free app for Windows that plays almost any media file. The Home Cinema version of the original Media Player Classic was created by the fan community after the development of the original software was halted.
Although the player looks quite retro, it still supports modern file formats. MPC-HC doesn’t have enough power to cope with the most advanced formats, but it still performs well when working with the mainstream ones: WMV, MPEG, AVI, MP4, MOV, and VOB.
When it comes to advanced features and tools, MPC-HC doesn’t come loaded as other options on our list. But if you have an older generation computer or just need a practical player with the basics, this one won’t disappoint you.
GOM Player
GOM Player is a free media player for Windows 10 that comes with built-in support for most video formats (MP4, AVI, FLV, MKV, MOV) and even 360-degree video.
Apart from basic features that come with other video players for Windows, GOM Player has some advanced features like speed control, screen capture, codec search function, various audio and video effects. Because of the vast Subtitle Library, GOM Player can automatically search and sync subtitles for the movie being played.
This player allows you to watch videos directly from YouTube. It’s also able to run damaged files or files being downloaded. However, during testing, GOM had an issue playing large-sized files. Besides, the app is full of pesky ads. It’s a constant source of annoyance as the ads pop up from every side. To get an ad-free version of the player, you need to purchase a permanent premium license for $15 (with 40% discount).
5KPlayer for Windows
5KPlayer is known for its streaming features and built-in DLNA Sharing option. The player also gives users access to online radio. Although the software claims to run almost all types of videos without any plugins, it didn’t work smoothly on my computer and showed a lot of annoying ads. Additionally, there are no video enhancement features.
After installation, 5KPlayer will ask you to register to get free access to several features like Apple AirPlay mirroring and video download from 300+ websites (Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook, MTV, etc.). The company will also send you a promo email with a coupon to save $39 on VideoProc, its video processing software.
ACG Player
ACG Player is a media player developed specifically for Windows 10. It promises to play almost any common video format, but in reality, it’s just a lite player with no codec add-ons.
The software was created with a simple UI. In addition to screen-casting and online streaming, there are some customization features that you can use such as changing skins and panel buttons, choosing a font style for subtitles, controlling swipe speed, etc.
Although the program is free without any functional limitations, it’s full of ads that you can only remove by paying. Note that language availability is quite limited. You can download it from the Microsoft Store.
RealPlayer
RealPlayer is one of the oldest video players for Windows on the market. The app can help you download videos and convert them to the most common formats. It’s also able to turn video files into MP3 so that you can listen to them on the go.
You can use the player free of charge, but the premium version is $35.99 with access to all advanced features and ad removal. The program has tons of positive reviews on the web. Unfortunately, RealPlayer fell short of my expectations as it couldn’t play a full-length movie on my computer, while a short MP4 movie trailer ran without any issues.
Parma Video Player
Parma Video Player is a universal application for Windows 10 which is rated highly on the Microsoft Store. The player promises to find and list all movies on your device to create a comprehensive video library. It supports all major formats and subtitle synchronization. The developers also equipped the app with a video streaming feature, speed changer, and support touch control.
However, I had no opportunity to play around with Parma Video Player, as it just didn’t work on my computer (running Windows 10). However, you can try and see whether this popular application suits your needs or not.
KMPlayer
KMPlayer (K-Multimedia player) is the last but not least option in our list of the best video players for Windows. This player for power users works well with most popular video formats, including Ultra HD with 4K resolution and movies in 3D.
The interface of KMPlayer is nothing special, yet it looks smooth and straightforward. There are also various customization features to modify the outlook up to your needs.
A Final Word
When it comes to video players for Windows 10, there are programs to suit every taste. The media players we’ve mentioned in this list meet the needs of users with varied requirements, so hopefully, you’ll notice one that’s a good fit for you. If you’ve tried another great program that’s worth being featured in this review, feel free to leave a comment and let us know.
With the increasing popularity of 4K, more and more people tend to watch and play 4K video or movie to get the excellent Ultra HD movie experience. Many people make use of 4K TV and 4K video streaming sources to enjoy 4K movies directly, while some others may use 4K device for desktop and 4K player software. The latter solution requires a quality-lossless 4K media player. For those who would like to buy a 4K video player, this post is of great help for them. You could get the best 4K player software here. In this post, we have collected 5 best 4K media player software for Mac and Windows respectively. Here we go.
Part 1: Know about 4K
Before we go, somebody may still feel not clear about what 4K actually means and what benefits it can bring to us. 4K refers to one of two high definition resolutions: 3840 x 2160 pixels or 4096 x 2160 pixels. It is 4 times the pixel resolution, or twice the line resolution (2160p), of 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels). 4K is a new resolution standard designed for digital cinema and computer graphics. In television and consumer media, 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD) is the dominant 4K standard, whereas the movie projection industry uses 4096 × 2160 (DCI 4K). It features higher image definition quality, more detailed picture, better fast-action and larger projection surface visibility. Yes that is right. The technology has transformed the way we see the world and best of all, we can now reach the clearest world with 4K technology.
Part 2: 4K vs Blu-ray
In the market, there are different kinds of 4K players and Blu-ray players. Then you may be wondering about what the relation between 4K and Blu-ray is.
Well, this side-by-side comparison video of 4K HDR Ultra HD and Blu-Ray doesn’t show the true technological difference between the two. But it does illustrate how there is a visual difference between the two that go beyond just more resolution. From the definition, Normal Blu-ray discs resolution is 1080P (1920×1080 pixels), at up to 60 (59.94) frame rate. It is undoubtedly suitable for HDTV display. 4K Blu-ray is 3840 x 2160 pixels. Basically, Blu-ray or Blu-ray Disc (BD) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was designed to supersede the DVD format, and is capable of storing hours of video in high-definition (HDTV 720p and 1080p) and ultra high-definition resolution (2160p). Ultra HD Blu-ray players will play Blu-ray discs, DVDs, SACDs, DVD-Audio, and Redbook CDs. Both standard 1080p Blu-ray discs and DVDs will be up-converted to UHD resolution for playback on 4K UHD TVs. Now you may be more confident to go on reading the rest of this post. You will have fun.
Part 3: 5 Best 4K Video Player Software for Mac and PC
If you prefer to watch 4K movies with your 4K display and computer, what you need is a 4K video player for Mac or PC computer. The below 5 best 4K media players are all top-notch 4K player software for you to choose. All of these 5 4K media player software could be available in both Mac and Windows versions.
No.1 Best 4K Player – Leawo Free Blu-ray Player
As one of the best free Blu-ray players , Leawo Blu-ray Player is not only a zero-cost and region-free Blu-ray player software app, but also a free 4K media player that could perform as free 4K Blu-ray player and free player for 4K for people to play 4K video without any quality loss. This means you could play 4K Blu-ray video with this free 4K movie player regardless of disc protection and region restriction. You could use this 4K video player software to play any 4K video in any 4K format like 4K MKV or 4K MP4. The most important features from this software are that it’s totally free and quality lossless. Your 4K ultra HD video player is here.
No.2 Best 4K Player – VLC Media Player
Another player that is well known for its ability to play back files and codecs that may cause other programs to fail is VLC player. This player was recently updated to include support for 4K video playback in version 2.1. This player has support for a very large range of codecs, making it possible to play back virtually any type of video file (as well as audio).
No.3 Best 4K Player – KMPlayer
KMPlayer is a lightweight audio and video player for Windows that supports a wide range of different file formats, including AVI, ASF, WMV, AVS, FLV, MKV, and many more. KMPlayer has a small desktop footprint and its minimalist interface makes video playback quick and hassle-free. The player’s interface is simple and user-friendly. And there are some nice aesthetic touches, such as the changing of colour on the player with every new track and the ability to automatically import album art.
No.4 Best 4K Player – CyberLink PowerDVD PRO 14
Best Video Player Software For Mac Computer
CyberLink is well known for its affordable and intuitive video editing software, as well as for their DVD and video playback software. PowerDVD can play back DVD and Blu-ray discs, as well as any video file formats. It supports Ultra HD videos, which can be even further enhanced with their unique TrueTheater Lighting technology that enhances detail and colors. The TrueTheater Surround feature gives you expanded stereo output options if you want to connect it to your home theater for a complete surround sound experience.
No.5 Best 4K Player – DivX Player
DivX Player is promoted as a very high quality media player and is one of the most popular choices for people to enjoy HD movies. Now it supports playback of files up to 4K in resolution. It supports DivX HEVC video with the HEVC plugin, as well as regular DivX and DivX Plus. Some of the unique features are well worth mentioning with this 4K video player software including the ability to quickly switch between subtitles in various languages. You can also easily flick through different soundtracks in order to hear features like the director’s commentary, or the motion picture in another language when available.
Part 4: How to Watch 4K Video or 4K Blu-ray on PC
Being the best 4K video player software, Leawo Blu-ray Player offers you the best movie watching experience for you to watch 4K movies at home. It’s easy to use even for green hands. The below guide would show you how to use this free player for 4K to play 4K movies.
Free Blu-ray Player
– Region-free Blu-ray player software to play Blu-ray disc and DVD disc for free, regardless of disc protection and region restriction.
– Play 4K FLV videos, 4K MKV videos, 4K MP4 videos, etc. without quality loss.
– Play 1080P videos, 720P videos with lossless quality.
– Free audio player to play AAC, FLAC, MP3, and other audio files free.
– Freely select subtitles and audio tracks, even add external subtitles.
– Free ISO player software to play ISO image file directly.
– Play videos downloaded from YouTube, Facebook, and other sites free.
– Useful power manager function to control computer battery easily.
– Virtual remote control lets users select disc menu during Blu-ray/DVD disc playback.
– Set program skin and background image according to personal preferrence.
Step 1: Download and install free 4K Blu-ray player on your computer.
Choose the one according to your computer system. Meanwhile, get your source 4K video content ready.
Free Video Players For Mac
Step 2: Add source 4K movie.
Click the green “Open File” button to browse and load source 4K movie/video content into this free 4K player software. If you want to play 4K Blu-ray disc, insert the 4K Blu-ray disc into the Blu-ray drive and then click the related box on the main interface of this 4K Blu-ray disc player to load and play.
Step 3: Adjust playback
Video Players For Mac
During playback, you could do some playback settings like: select subtitles, set video and audio, click for full-screen playback, add another 4K content into the playlist, etc. All in all, with Leawo Blu-ray Player, you will find the most comfortable setting to enjoy your movie.