Looking for the best VLC alternatives? Well, we’re really unsure why the need for the same should even arise. But for whatever the reasons may be, we’ve listed out 7 viable substitutes that are equally capable. So instead of scouring the internet for substitute media players, why not pick one from our roster? Read on to find out where your possible options stand.
1. Windows Media Player –
Just because the Windows Media Player application comes pre-loaded with Microsoft’s desktop OS, doesn’t mean it’s completely incapable of playing popular media formats. Well, it does need the right codec pack to get started. Instead of turning your back to this pre-loaded tool, you can simply enhance its capabilities through a few add-ons. Not only will it enable you to view content encoded in formats that are natively unsupported, but also dismisses the need for third-party tools like VLC. If you’re unsure about what codec to use, we’ve got a list filled with some of the best options available. For a better experience on XP and Vista, it’s recommended to use the latest version of the media player, WMP 11 in this case, whilst Windows 7 comes pre-loaded with the WMP 12 software.
2. RealPlayer –
If you simply can’t comply with the default media player application in Windows, then RealPlayer is one amongst the software like VLC on the internet. What makes it a decent pick is its wide catalog of offerings that surpass those of WPM. Firstly, it brings in support for various popular formats including FLV, AVI, WMV, WMA, MP3, MP4, 3GP, RM and many more. In addition to this, it lets you convert video files into different encoding types and even download streaming content online. On the social side, it allows you to share clips with friends on Facebook and view videos posted by others as well, all in a single interface. Well to top it off, these features won’t cost you a single cent. However, if you wish for more than just the basic stuff, the RealPlayer Plus 15 is available for $39.99, while the RealPlayer SuperPass can be opted for at $4.95 per month after a 1-month trial.
3. Winamp –
There are ample reasons why you could choose the Winamp media player over VLC. But to keep things short, we’ve going to list out its most alluring features that place the software as a viable candidate. With support for AOL Radio that is powered by CBS Radio, the software allows you to stream live channels without the need of running a web browser. You can share music and video files remotely, view H.264 encoded content, import an entire iTunes Library and also download music. The app even lets you sync content from your Android-powered smartphone over Wi-Fi or USB connections. While the full edition is downloadable for free, the feature-loaded Pro option costs a little under $20.
4. KMPlayer –
Amongst the many offerings in the programs similar to VLC array, we have included the KMPlayer, which places itself as a practical pick for those who prefer a simple tool with many capabilities. Compatible with most popular video formats such as AVI, RM, MPEG 1/2/4, ASF, MKV, FLV, DVD, MP4, Xvid, DivX, and H.264, you can even playback audio content in APE, MP3, WAV, MPC, Flac, MIDI, and various other encodings. To deliver a more enriched user experience, you can carry out a number of adjustments like changing the brightness and contrast, activate the noise reduction plug-in, adjust the screen size and even stretch it to completely fill up your display. For a price tag that reads as ‘free,’ there’s absolutely no harm in giving the KMPlayer application a try.
5. Media Player Classic –
If you’ve been a long-time Microsoft loyalist, then you’ll certainly find the Media Player Classic app highly similar to the Windows Media Player 6.4 for Windows 98 and 95 systems. Built as an open-source project, this tool might appear outdated, but it’s apparently capable of playing the most common video formats available even today. Lightweight and simple are basically the appropriate words for the software. And due to such properties, it’s said to run smoothly even on low-end computers or systems with older CPUs. The player also brings in GPU assisted acceleration and image quality enhancing for better playback and decoding of various formats. Being an open-source project, the Media Player Classic software is available for free.
6. Zune –
If you’re looking for software like VLC that is well designed and highly reliable, the Zune software is most likely to top that list. Developed by Microsoft, this application features a stylish UI that flaunts a Metro-styled layout. Amongst its many offerings are the discovery and recommendations attributes called Quickplay and Smart DJ, respectively. The former option allows you to conveniently access all your favorite content as well as recently played and added media files. With Smart DJ, the software will automatically queue up tracks based on the type of song and artist. There’s also a mini mode that can re-size the entire player into a smaller window for better multitasking.
7. DivX –
Last to reside on our recommendations of VLC substitutes is the DivX media player. The software basically comes bundled with 3 key features. Besides playing the most popular video formats, the app lets you watch streaming videos in DivX, AVI and MKV formats through the web player. The codec pack brings in support for high-quality playback of various encoding types, while with the file converter, you can create and back up content as well as convert them into DivX or MKV in a single step. To avail of more offerings, the unlocked version of the DivX Plus player is available for $19.99.
The 7 best VLC alternatives we’ve jotted down should be enough for now. So go ahead and give them all a try, as most of them are free. If you’ve come across any substitute for the media player that we’ve not listed out, do drop in a word.
