- Video Player Guide
Top 10 Best Video Players for PC (2025 Expert Picks)
Jul 01, 2025• Proven solutions
We often need video players for our Windows PC, but it is good to get some information about it before installing new software. It is good to pre-rate its performance based on supported video file formats and ease of use.
The article below will help you get detailed information about the top 10 video players that you can use on your PC. They can be easily installed on Windows. By the end, you will be able to choose a video player that best suits your needs.
Content:
01 What to Look for in the Best PC Video Player
02 Top 10 Video Players/Media Players for PC
03 Summary. Best Video Players/Media Players for Windows
04 Bonus: No Video to Play? Create One From Just an Idea with Filmora's AI
06 FAQs About Windows Video Player/Media Player
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What to Look for in the Best PC Video Player
Not all video players are created equal. To avoid frustration with unsupported files or laggy playback, it's essential to know what features matter most. Here are the five key criteria to consider when choosing the best video player for your Windows PC:
- Ease of Use: It should have a simple, intuitive interface. Customizable themes and controls are a plus.
- Format Support: Make sure it supports all popular formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and more.
- Playback Controls: Look for features like playback speed adjustment, resume playback, frame-by-frame viewing, and media library management.
- Performance: Choose a player that runs smoothly, uses minimal CPU and RAM, and supports HD playback with hardware acceleration.
- Advanced Features: If needed, pick a player that offers extra tools, like video editing or format conversion.
Top 10 Video Players/Media Players for PC
After discussing essential factors, it is time to explore available options to choose the best option. Whether you need a feature-rich tool or a lightweight video player offering simplicity, this section covers them all. Discover the best video player for PC to unlock the full potential of your PC’s entertainment library:
1 - VLC Player | 2 - GOM Player | 3 - Pot Player | 4 - Media Player Classic |
5 - MPV Player | 6 - KM player | 7 - AllPlayer | 8 - Real Player |
9 - Miro | 10 - Plex |
1 VLC Player
One of the key players in the media player software industry is the VLC video player for Windows. It’s an open-source, cross-platform media player developed by the VideoLAN project. This video player supports all file formats and can play discs, webcam content, and streams. VLC supports playback controls, multi-track audio, and SSA compatibility.

Best For: Linux and GNU users
Supported Video Formats: Indeo Video v3 (IV32), Sorenson 1/3, MPEG-1/2, Cinepak, Real Video, MPEG-4 AVC, MPEG-4 ASP, WMV 3/ WMV-9/ VC-1.
G2 Rating: 4.7/5
Price: Free
2 GOM Player
This video player for Windows allows users to watch videos from 360 degrees by rotating. It boasts a user-friendly interface with customizable skins that show the functions you need. Moreover, it comes with various codecs and a searchable codec library. Users can control the playback speed, loop a movie section, and automatically sync subtitles.

Best For: Playing videos with subtitles and customizable interface.
Supported Video Formats: MPG, MKV, FLV, TS, and AVI.
G2 Rating: 4.6/5
Price: $22/year license (GOM Player Plus Business)
3 PotPlayer
Another name for the best video player for PC is PotPlayer, which is known for enhanced H/W acceleration. It holds compatibility with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7 and uses minimum resources for maximum performance. Furthermore, it supports different types of 3D glasses to provide a 3D viewing experience on a PC. It can fine-tune sounds with the help of a built-in graphic equalizer.

Best For: Video customizations with innovative playback controls
Supported Video Formats: MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV, FLV, etc.
G2 Rating: 4.7/5
Price: Free
4 Media Player Classic
For a hassle-free media playback experience, it is the first choice of skilled professionals. Although this tool discontinued its service, it remains the biggest threat to the VLC video player for Windows. The reason is its open-source design, incredible features, and lightweight application. It provides support for all video and audio formats, which can be accessed through third-party sources.

Best For: Watching and listening to any file, no matter what format it is.
Supported Video Formats: VCD, DVD, SVCD, Blu-ray, and DVB TV signals.
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: Free
5 MPV Player
MPV is open-source media player software that runs on almost all operating systems. This cross-platform video player strives for minimalism and provides a small controller on top of videos. It has OpenGL, D3D11, and Vulkan-based video output that is capable of many features. With popular high-quality algorithms, it can display frame timings, interpolate, and perform color management.

Best For: Advanced video rendering techniques
Supported Video Formats: MP4, MP3, and MKV
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: Free
6 KM Player
Due to a user-friendly interface, KM player is considered an excellent video player for PC. It is known for playing all video formats, including ultra-HD with 4K resolution. Apart from that, it contains high-quality codecs to provide better video quality. KM player provides full control over playback such as post-processing effects, resizing, and codec configuration.

Best For: Professionals who look for advanced features.
Supported Video Formats: MPG, MPV2, OGV, WMV, MOV, EVO, FLV, 3GPP, AMV, SKM, etc.
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: Free
7 AllPlayer
With countless features, this video player for laptops is popular worldwide. The reason is its operational resemblance with mobile devices rather than the traditional Windows environment. Besides, it can download perfectly matched subtitles with the collaboration of subtitles services like Opensubtitles.org. For easy sharing with friends, it generates URL links to media.

Best For: Parental controls and Subtitles
Supported Video Formats: AC3, MPG, 3GP, MP4, AVI, FLV, MOV, FLV, WAV, OGG, etc.
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: Free
8 Real Player
Do you want a full-screen theater and uninterrupted cinematic experience on your PC? If yes, this tool will prove worthwhile, as it supports ultra-HD quality videos. Moreover, it can automatically organize your videos with artists' faces on them. Users can browse duplicate videos, remove them, and create video playlists.

Best For: Video library organization and playlist creation
Supported Video Formats: MP4, AVI, FLV, WMV, WAV, MKV, etc.
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: $4.99/month (Premium)
9 Miro
Individuals consider Miro, an open-source video player that streams movies and shows on TV. It doesn’t require you to install separate players; it can play videos and audio of any format. Additionally, it allows you to download media from Amazon, YouTube, and podcasts. When two Miro devices are under the same Wi-Fi network, they can transfer music and video files.

Best For: Fast torrent downloading.
Supported Video Formats: MPEG, Flash video, AVI, QuickTime, DIVX, etc.
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: Free
10 Plex
Technically, Plex is a streaming service with an extensive media collection of movies, TV shows, and videos. It lets you organize your personal collection of TV shows, movies, and new music. With this media player, you can watch media offline and screencast videos on a bigger display. This QuickTime movie player for Windows supports almost all video formats to play.

Best For: Movies, series, and music streaming
Supported Video Formats: AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, DIVX, etc.
G2 Rating: N/A
Price: $4.99/month, $39.99/year, $119.99/lifetime
Summary: Best Video Players/Media Players for Windows
Analyzing and encoding all the above information abruptly in the brain is difficult. So, here is a summary of the earlier explained best video players for a clearer picture of the tools.
Player |
Video File Format Support |
Playback Customization Options |
Video Quality Limit |
Pricing |
Video Downloading |
VLC Player |
Indeo Video v3 (IV32), Sorenson 1/3, MPEG-1/2, Cinepak, Real Video, MPEG-4 AVC, MPEG-4 ASP, WMV 3/ WMV-9/ VC-1. |
Yes |
8K |
Free |
No |
GOM Player |
MPG, MKV, FLV, TS, and AVI. |
Yes |
8K |
$22/year License (GOM Player Plus Business) |
No |
Pot Player |
MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV, FLV, etc. |
Themes, Skins, and Playback speed customizations |
4K |
Free |
No |
Media Player Classic |
VCD, DVD, SVCD, Blue-rays, and DVB TV signals. |
Only playback speed and keyboard hotkeys |
8K |
Free |
No |
MPV Player |
MP4, MP3, and MKV |
Only playback speed customization |
4K and HDR |
Free |
No |
KM Player |
MPG, MPV2, OGV, WMV, MOV, EVO, FLV, 3GPP, AMV, SKM, etc. |
Personalized player screen and color themes |
4K |
Free |
No |
AllPlayer |
AC3, MPG, 3GP, MP4, AVI, FLV, MOV, FLV, WAV, OGG, etc. |
Adjust colors, contrast, brightness, monitor details, OSD sizing |
4K Ultra HD |
Free |
Download subtitles |
Real Player |
MP4, AVI, FLV, WMV, WAV, MKV, etc. |
No |
8K |
$4.99/month (Premium) |
Download videos online |
Miro |
MPEG, Flash video, AVI, QuickTime, DIVX, etc. |
No |
Not given |
Free |
Download videos from Amazon, YouTube, etc. |
Plex |
AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, DIVX, etc. |
Premium users can access multi-color themes |
1080p |
$4.99/month, $39.99/year, $119.99/lifetime |
No |
Bonus: No Video to Play? Create One From Just an Idea with Filmora's AI
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- True AI-Generated Footage: The AI creates original video clips to match your script, ensuring a unique final product.
- AI Voiceover & Lip Sync: Choose from natural-sounding AI voices that are perfectly synced with AI-generated characters.
- Full Production Control: Set your desired aspect ratio, style (e.g., anime, realistic), and duration before generation.
This is the future of content creation. Stop searching for videos to play — start creating them from your imagination. Try Filmora's AI Video Generator Now!
Conclusion
To summarize, selecting a video player for PC is challenging because of the countless choices online. Therefore, this article tries to help by providing comprehensive details of top-tier video players for PC. You can pick one platform based on your needs and enjoy immersive video watching. If you need to create videos, you should consult Wondershare Filmora. It can help you create videos effortlessly with AI features and provide you with high-quality previews.

Edit Video with AI for Video Playing
FAQs About Windows Video Player/Media Player
-
What is a video player?
A video player is fundamental software designed to facilitate the playback of digital content. It is used mostly on smartphones and computers to enhance viewing experiences. Video players include playback options like play, pause, rewind, display time, fast forward, etc. -
Is there a better video player than VLC?
There isn’t a single better video player, as your needs will determine which one you need. You can look for a player that supports most formats and offers high-quality playback and customization options. In this regard, one can count Pot Player and MPV players as good options. Additionally, using Wondershare Filmora for video editing and previewing would prove worthwhile. -
Are there any benefits to purchasing a premium video player for Windows?
Free and open-source video players offer almost all the core functionalities of media previewing. However, if you need specific features like parental control and subtitle editing, purchasing a premium player is justified. -
How do I determine the best video player for my needs?
If you are confused about determining which platform is better for you, create a roadmap. Consider your needs regarding playback quality, file format support, and media library management. Besides, analyze what level of simplicity you need and which operating system you have. While looking at these needs, you can determine a suitable video player instantly. -
Why do some videos fail to play on my PC, and how can I fix it?
Playback issues on your PC might be caused by several factors, such as damaged video files, compressed video, or a lack of a codec to support the video format. To resolve this issue, update the software, install the required codec, or switch to another video player. -
What is the most common video format used today?
MP4 is among the most common video file formats that balances high-quality videos with small file sizes. Moreover, it is compatible with most OS and online video platforms. -
Does Windows 11 come pre-installed with any media player?
Yes, Media Player is a built-in video player for Windows 11, like Windows Media Player in Windows 10. It was released in 2022 for Windows 11 and supports the preview of common media formats.
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