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The Best Free Media Players for 2023
The media players featured in this compilation possess remarkable strength and offer seamless compatibility with a wide range of file formats. As a result, you can place your trust in this comprehensive list to guarantee the finest viewing experience on your system. With their formidable capabilities, these media players empower you to enjoy various multimedia content without any compatibility issues or limitations.
By accommodating numerous file formats, they eliminate the need for tedious conversions or searching for alternative software. Rest assured that with these powerful media players at your disposal, your system will become the ultimate hub for immersive and uninterrupted entertainment.
1. VLC Media Player
With its extensive range of features, customizable skins, and useful customization options, VLC undoubtedly deserves recognition as one of the top media players in 2023. It has consistently maintained its position in the popularity rankings for several years.
VLC Media Player is a free multimedia player that is available on various widely-used platforms. Developed by the VideoLAN project, VLC supports numerous audio and video compression methods and file formats. Throughout its existence, it has gained a reputation as a versatile video player capable of handling a wide range of formats, including 3D videos. Additionally, VLC allows users to capture screenshots of their desktop. However, it may encounter occasional difficulties with high-resolution video files, but it still outperforms many other competitors in the market.
2. Windows Media Player
In the Windows 11 release, Microsoft introduced Windows Media Player as a replacement for Groove Music, offering the ability to play both movies and music. While Windows Media Player may not provide the extensive customizations and features found in VLC or Kodi, it serves as a reliable option for basic tasks such as watching movies or listening to music.
Windows Media Player offers a few noteworthy features, including the ability to adjust video playback speed, a built-in casting option, an equalizer, and a skip menu for navigating between previous and forward tracks. However, these features represent the extent of its capabilities. The user interface aligns with Windows 11’s new design standards, providing a refreshing and modern look to the player overall.
3. KMPlayer
KMPlayer is an exceptional and free media player for Windows 10/11 that offers extensive compatibility with almost all mainstream video and audio file formats. Furthermore, it allows users to enhance compatibility by adding external codecs. Notably, KMPlayer supports 3D, 4K, and UHD content, and its 64-bit version enables playback of videos in up to 8K resolution at 60 frames per second on hardware-capable PCs.
One of the standout features of KMPlayer is its broad format support, ensuring users have ample choices for audio and video effects. This comprehensive support guarantees that users will not be lacking in features or compatibility. Despite facing strong competition, KMPlayer has managed to maintain a substantial user base and is unlikely to disappoint.
4. PotPlayer
Created by Kakao, a South Korean company, PotPlayer, a feature-rich video player for computers, has the potential to challenge VLC’s dominance. Although initially less recognized, PotPlayer has experienced a significant surge in popularity over the past few years.
PotPlayer provides an extensive array of customization choices, enabling users to personalize the software according to their preferences. By employing advanced technologies such as CUDA, QuickSync, and DXVA, PotPlayer ensures optimal performance and a seamless user experience. This is why PotPlayer is currently ranked as the second-best media player available.
5. Media Player Classic – Black Edition
Media Player Classic – Black Edition (MPC-BE) is a continuation of the legacy of the now-defunct Windows 10 media player. It is a fork of MPC – Home Cinema edition, which was previously included in our list.
MPC-BE stands out as a lightweight yet powerful video player designed for Windows 10 and older versions. It features a dark-themed user interface that bears a resemblance to the aesthetics of Windows Media Player.
This open-source media player made its debut in 2012 and offers several notable features. It includes support for hardware decoding and deinterlacing, ensuring smooth playback. Additionally, MPC-BE receives regular software updates, further enhancing its performance and compatibility. It is capable of playing a wide variety of audio and video formats, making it a versatile choice for media playback.
6. DivX Player
The next media player on our list of the best options for Windows 10 in 2023 is DivX Player. It prides itself on being the first media player of its kind to provide free HEVC playback. Naturally, DivX Player is optimized for seamless playback of video files in popular formats like MP4, MKV, DivX, and AVI.
One of the key features of DivX Player is its support for UltraHD (4K) playback, allowing users to enjoy high-resolution content. Additionally, DivX Player serves as a streaming media player, enabling users to stream music, videos, and photos to any device compatible with the DLNA standard. This feature adds versatility and convenience to the player, enhancing its usefulness beyond local playback capabilities.
7. Kodi Media Player
Kodi, previously known as XBMC, is a free and open-source media player that offers a highly customizable experience. It can be used on laptops or desktops to create a media center-like environment, making it an excellent alternative for those missing the Windows Media Center on Windows 10.
Kodi stands out as a strong contender for the best media player for streaming, particularly when paired with an external larger display, thanks to its 10-foot user interface designed for comfortable viewing from a distance. However, it’s important to note that Kodi has gained attention in recent times due to pre-loaded Kodi boxes and add-ons that facilitate piracy.
Please note that piracy is illegal and unethical. It is recommended to use Kodi responsibly, adhere to copyright laws, and use legitimate sources for content streaming.
8. MediaMonkey
If your main objective is to keep your media collection organized, MediaMonkey for Windows (MMW) is a noteworthy freemium software option among the available free media players for Windows 10. This media player is commonly referred to as MMW, an abbreviation for MediaMonkey for Windows.
Similar to other prominent media players, MediaMonkey for Windows PC offers the capability to expand its functionality through the use of plugins. These plugins can be utilized to enhance the player’s visual appearance, improve device support and playback capabilities, and incorporate new music discovery features. Moreover, the player includes a party mode and supports synchronization with both Android and iOS devices, adding convenience and versatility to its features.
9. GOM Media Player
GOM Player, also known as Gretech Online Movie Player, is a free alternative media player for Windows that provides built-in support for a wide range of popular video and audio formats. This means it can handle various commonly used formats such as AVI, MKV, MP4, FLV, and MOV.
In addition to offering the basic functionalities found in other popular PC media players, GOM Player comes equipped with numerous advanced features. These include A-B repeat for precise playback control, Media Player Capture for capturing screenshots or recording videos, speed control for adjusting playback speed, and various audio/video effects for enhancing the viewing experience. The software also allows users to change skins and customize the overall appearance of GOM Player according to their preferences.
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