Design, Video & Audio

Best Video Player Software in 2026

The right video player depends on the files you watch, your device, and the controls you want. Compare codec support and maximum resolution with hardware acceleration, subtitle formats, and playback speed control.

01 5KPlayer
It suits people looking for a free player with broad listed media-format support and wireless streaming options.

Free plan Windows · macOS · iOS
8.9 Visit Specs
02 Infuse
Infuse suits Apple-device users who want to play local, network, cloud, or server-hosted video.

From $1.42/mo Free plan macOS · iOS
8.8 Visit Specs
03 KMPlayer
KMPlayer suits people who want a player across desktop and mobile, with subtitle controls and broad listed format support.

Free plan Windows · macOS · iOS · Android
8.6 Visit Specs
04 Dragon Player
Free plan Open source Linux
8.5 Visit Specs
05 Flowplayer
Free trial Web · iOS · Android · API
8.5 Visit Specs
06 mpv
mpv suits people comfortable with a command-line-oriented player and a minimal on-screen controller.

Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
8.5 Visit Specs
07 ALLPlayer
It suits people who want a free media player across Windows, Android or iOS, with subtitle and speech features.

Free plan Windows · iOS · Android
8.4 Visit Specs
08 MediaElement.js
It suits developers building audio or video playback into web projects who need a shared interface across browsers.

Free plan Web · iOS · Android · API
8.4 Visit Specs
09 Bitmovin Player
Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · iOS
8.2 Visit Specs
10 Cisdem Video Player
It suits Mac and Windows users who want free video and audio playback with subtitle, playlist, and track controls.

Free trial Windows · macOS
8.2 Visit Specs
11 Haruna
Free plan Windows · Linux
8.2 Visit Specs
12 IINA
Free plan macOS · Browser extension
8.2 Visit Specs
13 QMPlay2
QMPlay2 suits people seeking a free desktop player for varied audio and video formats, including users who want network playback, subtitles, or hardware decoding.

Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
8.2 Visit Specs
14 VLC media player
VLC suits people who want one free player for files, discs and streams across desktop and mobile platforms.

Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS
8.2 Visit Specs
15 Elmedia Player
Free plan macOS
7.9 Visit Specs
16 MPC-HC
Free plan Windows
7.9 Visit Specs
17 RealPlayer
RealPlayer suits people who want video downloading alongside playback and library organization.

From $4.99/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · iOS · Android
7.9 Visit Specs
18 SMPlayer
SMPlayer may suit people who want a free desktop player for common audio and video formats, including network playback and subtitles.

Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
7.9 Visit Specs
19 Celluloid
Free plan macOS
7.8 Visit Specs
20 Clappr
Web · iOS · Android
7.8 Visit Specs
21 MPC-BE
Free plan Windows
7.8 Visit Specs
22 mpv.net
Free plan Windows
7.8 Visit Specs
23 Just (Video) Player
Free plan Android
7.7 Visit Specs
24 Lumen Player
Windows · macOS · Linux
7.7 Visit Specs
25 Video Hub App
Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
7.7 Visit Specs

How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Supported platforms can help narrow options for your setup, while a portable version may suit a routine that moves between devices. mpv, Bitmovin Player, and Infuse are among the entries to consider. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the listed playback features to see how each option fits your viewing needs.

Compare 5KPlayer and Infuse Get a place on this list

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