Comparison of video player software

The following comparison of video players compares general and technical information for notable software media player programs.

For the purpose of this comparison, video players are defined as any media player which can play video, even if it can also play audio files.

Name	Author	First public release	Stable version	Cost	Software license	Framework used	Written in
Banshee	Aaron Bockover	2005-02-17	2.6.2 (February 18, 2014; 11 years ago (2014-02-18)^[29]) [±]	No cost	MIT	GStreamer	C#
CorePlayer	CoreCodec Inc.	2006	3.0.1.0 (September 9, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-09-09)^[30]) [±]	?	Proprietary	?	?
Creative MediaSource	Creative Technology	2002	5.10.38 (December 22, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-12-22)) [±]	Requires Creative product	Proprietary	DirectShow	?
DSPlayer	DSPlayer team	2002	0.889 (12 February 2007; 18 years ago (2007-02-12)) [±]	No cost	Proprietary		Object Pascal (Delphi), C++
Media Player Classic	Gabest	May 29, 2003	6.4.9.1 Revision 107 (February 14, 2010; 15 years ago (2010-02-14)) [±]	No cost	GPL-2.0-or-later	DirectShow	C++
Ogle	Chalmers University of Technology	1999	0.9.2 (November 6, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-11-06)) [±]	No cost	GPL	?	C
Quintessential Player	Paul Quinn	1997	5.0.121 (February 18, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-02-18)) [±]	No cost	Proprietary	?	?
Songbird	Tom Lord	February 8, 2006	2.2.0, Build 2453 (February 4, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-02-04)) [±]	No cost	GPL	GStreamer, XULRunner	C++
The Core Pocket Media Player	Gabor Kovacs	2004 Jul as "BetaPlayer"	0.71 (November 23, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-11-23)) [±]	No cost	GPL	FFmpeg + original	C++
TotalMedia Theatre	ArcSoft	November 15, 2009	6.7.1.199 June 6, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-06-06)	?	Proprietary	original	C++
QuickTime	Apple Inc.	1991-12-02	7.7.9 (January 7, 2016; 9 years ago (2016-01-07)) [±]^[31]^[32]	No cost	Proprietary	QuickTime	Cocoa (on OS X)
Winamp Lite, Full, Bundle	Nullsoft	Jun 1997	5.9.2 Build 10042^[33] (April 26, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-04-26)) [±]	No cost	Proprietary	?	?
Winamp Pro	Nullsoft	Jun 1997	5.9.2 Build 10042^[34] (April 26, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-04-26)) [±]	?	Proprietary	?	?
Windows Media Player	Microsoft	Nov 1992	April 2025 Update (11.2504.4.0) (20 May 2025; 1 day ago (2025-05-20)^[35]) [±]	No cost	Proprietary	DirectShow	C++ (COM)
Name	Author	First public release	Stable version	Cost	Software license	Framework used	Written in

Video player	Windows	Windows IoT (formerly Windows Embedded)	macOS	iOS	Android	Linux	BSD Unix	Solaris	Unix-like	DOS	BeOS, Haiku, ZETA	OS/2
ALLPlayer	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Apprentice Video	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
DivX	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
GOM Player	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Microsoft Movies & TV (formerly Xbox Video)	Yes	?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
iTunes	Yes	No	Included	Included	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
jetVideo	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
JRiver Media Center	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
K-Multimedia Player	Yes	No	Alpha version	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Mac Blu-ray Player	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Media Player Classic Home Cinema	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
MediaPortal	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
MPlayer	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
mpv	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Plex Media Player	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
PotPlayer	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
QuickTime Player	Yes	No	Included	Included	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RealPlayer	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
SMPlayer	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Videostream	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
VLC	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Winamp	Yes	No	Beta version	No	Yes	Last version is Winamp 3	No	No	No	No	No	No
Windows Media Player	Included	?	Dropped (WMP9)	No	No	No	No	Dropped (WMP6.3)	No	No	No	No
Kodi (formerly XBMC)	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
xine	unmaintained	No	WIP for 1.2 series	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
sView	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Video player	Windows	Windows IoT (formerly Windows Embedded)	macOS	iOS	Android	Linux	BSD Unix	Solaris	Unix-like	DOS	BeOS, Haiku, ZETA	OS/2

Video player	Outbound streaming	Skinnable	Media database	Gapless audio decoding	Visualizer	Audio equalizer	Remote controllable	Intelligent playlists from database (based on criteria)	HDR video playback	Stereoscopic 3D Playback	360-degree video playback
ALLPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
Apprentice Video	No	No	No	Yes	No	?	only on OSX	No	?	?	?
DivX	Yes (DLNA)	No	Yes (limited)	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
GOM Player	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	?	Yes	No	No	?	Yes
iTunes	Yes	Partial^{[v 1]}	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
jetAudio	Partial^{[v 1]}	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	?	?	?	?
JRiver Media Center	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
K-Multimedia Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	No^{[featurenotes 1]}	Yes	?	Yes	No	?	?	?
Mac Blu-ray Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	No	No	?	?	?
Media Player Classic Home Cinema	?	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?
MediaPortal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
MPlayer	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	?	Yes	No	No	?	No
mpv	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	?	Yes	No	Yes	?	No
Plex Media Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	Yes	No	?	?	?
PotPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
PowerDVD	?	Yes	No	?	Yes	?	?	No	?	No	?
QuickTime Player	Partial^{[featurenotes 2]}	Partial^{[featurenotes 3]}	No	Yes	No	?	Yes	No	?	?	?
RealPlayer	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	?	?	?
SMPlayer	?	Yes	No	?	?	?	?	No	?	?	?
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)	No	No	No	No	Yes	?	No	No	?	?	?
VLC	Yes	Yes	yes, not macOS	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Some^{[featurenotes 4]}	?
Winamp	Partial^{[v 1]}	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Partial^{[v 1]}	Yes^{[featurenotes 5]}	?	?	?
Windows Media Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
Kodi (formerly XBMC)	Yes^{[featurenotes 6]}	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
xine	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	No	?	?	?
sView	No	No	No	Yes	No	?	? (WebUI)	No	No	Yes	Yes
Video player	Outbound streaming	Skinnable	Media database	Gapless audio decoding	Visualizer	Audio equalizer	Remote controllable	Intelligent playlists from database (based on criteria)	HDR video playback	Stereoscopic 3D Playback	360-degree video playback

Video player	Color controls	Time stretching	Pitch shifting	A-B repeat	Seek bar preview tooltip	Interactive playback zoom	Audio resync	Subtitle resync	Chapter (DVD, mkv, mp4, ogm)	Bookmark (DVD, video, audio)	Auto resume (DVD, video, audio)	Shutdown on play complete
ALLPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Apprentice Video	No	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Banshee	?	No	No	?	No	?	?	?	?	Yes	?	?
DivX	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
FFplay	No	No	No	No	?	?	?	No	No	No	No	Yes
GOM Player	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
iTunes	No	Yes	No	No	?	?	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
jetAudio	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
JRiver Media Center	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	Yes	?	Yes	?
K-Multimedia Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some^{[featurenotes 7]}	Yes	Yes
Mac Blu-ray Player	No	No	No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	No
Media Player Classic Home Cinema	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
MediaPortal	?	No	No	Yes	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
MPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes^{[featurenotes 8]}	Yes^{[featurenotes 8]}	?	?	Yes	Yes	Partial	No	No	Yes
mpv	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Partial	No	Yes	Yes
Plex Media Player	No	Yes	No	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
PotPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
PowerDVD	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
QuickTime Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes^{[featurenotes 9]}	?	?	?	?	Yes	?	?	No
RealPlayer	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
SMPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes^{[featurenotes 10]}	?	?	Yes	Yes	Partial	No	Yes	Yes
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)	Yes	No	No	No	?	?	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
VLC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (from 2.2)	Yes
Winamp	No	Yes	Yes	?	No	?	?	?	?	Yes	?	?
Windows Media Player	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	?	No	No	DVD only	No	Partial^{[v 1]}	Partial^{[v 1]}
WinDVD	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	Yes	No	Yes	?
Kodi (formerly XBMC)	Yes	No	No	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
xine	Yes	Audio plugin	No	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
sView	Yes	No	No	No	?	?	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Video player	Color controls	Time stretching	Pitch shifting	A-B repeat	Seek bar preview tooltip	Interactive playback zoom	Audio resync	Subtitle resync	Chapter (DVD, mkv, mp4, ogm)	Bookmark (DVD, video, audio)	Auto resume (DVD, video, audio)	Shutdown on play complete

Video player	MPEG-1	MPEG-2	MPEG-4 Part 2 (ASP)	MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264 (AVC)	WMV	RealVideo	Theora	Flash	Dirac	VP8	VP9	HEVC (H.265)
ALLPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
Apprentice Video	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
DivX	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
FFplay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GOM Player	Yes	Partial^{[v 2]}	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^[36]	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Yes
iTunes	Yes	Partial^{[v 4]}	Yes	Yes	Partial^{[v 5]}	No	Partial^{[v 6]}	Partial^{[v 7]}	No	Partial^{[v 7]}	?	?
jetAudio	Yes	Partial^{[v 2]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^[36]	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	?	?
JRiver Media Center	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	?	Yes
K-Multimedia Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
Mac Blu-ray Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	?	?
Media Player Classic Home Cinema	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
MediaPortal	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
Microsoft Movies & TV	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
MPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
mpv	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Plex Media Player	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?
PotPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
QuickTime Player	Yes	Partial^{[v 4]}	Yes	Yes	Partial^{[v 5]}	No	Partial^{[v 6]}	Partial^{[v 7]}	No	Partial^{[v 7]}	?	?
RealPlayer	Yes	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Yes	Partial^{[v 1]}	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	?	?
SMPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	Yes^{[v 8]}	?
VLC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Winamp	Yes	Partial^{[v 2]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^[36]	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	Partial^{[v 3]}	Yes	?	?
Windows Media Player	Yes	Yes^{[v 2]}	Yes^{[v 9]}	Yes^{[v 9]}	Yes	Partial^[36]	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 3]}	Partial^{[v 10]}	?	?
Kodi (formerly XBMC)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
xine	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?
sView	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video player	MPEG-1	MPEG-2	MPEG-4 Part 2 (ASP)	MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264 (AVC)	WMV	RealVideo	Theora	Flash	Dirac	VP8	VP9	HEVC (H.265)

Comparison of video player software

General

Active players

Inactive players

Operating system compatibility

Features

Extended features

Consumer video format ability

Production video format ability

Audio format ability

Container format ability

Streaming support

Playlist format ability

Electronic program guide format ability

Subtitle ability

Metadata ability

Optical media ability

See also

Notes

References

Wikiwand - on

Video player	MPEG-4 SStP	AVC-Intra	AVC-Ultra	XAVC	Apple ProRes	VC-2 /Dirac Pro	VC-3 /Avid DNxHD	VC-5 /GoPro CineForm	Redcode RAW	ARRIRAW	CinemaDNG	Cineon /DPX sequence	OpenEXR sequence	TIFF sequence	PNG sequence	JPEG sequence	JPEG 2000 sequence
FFplay	Yes^[37]	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some^[38]	No	No^[39]	Yes	Some	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes
MPlayer	?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	Yes	Some	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes
VLC	?	Yes	No	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	No	No	Yes	?	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes