Best Free Video Players 2026: 6 Options Compared

A good free video player plays almost any file without hunting for codecs, and the real choice is between simple and configurable. VLC is the default for a reason: it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, plays most formats and streams, and the VideoLAN site describes it as free with no spyware, ads or tracking. mpv is a command-line player with a minimalist interface and high-quality playback if you do not mind editing a config file; mpv.net gives it a Windows graphical interface with scripting. MPC-HC is a lightweight Windows-only DirectShow player with a familiar classic layout. SMPlayer is a graphical player for Windows, Linux and Mac with YouTube support. Kodi is different: it is a media centre built for a TV, with libraries, add-ons and remote control, rather than a player for a single file. Pick VLC if you just want things to work. Pick mpv if you care about smooth playback and keyboard control. Pick Kodi for a living-room box. For a library you want to stream to other devices, you need a media server instead of a player, and the media server list covers that.

VLC media player

GPL-2.0-or-later media player (libVLC under LGPL) for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. The safe default, though its interface is plainer than modern players.

Price: Free (VLC media player pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. GPL-2.0 and LGPL-2.1 (open source).

Project activity: 20.3k GitHub stars · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Playing nearly anything.

mpv

Command-line player under GPL-2.0-or-later with a minimal on-screen interface. Strong playback quality and scripting, but setup and keybindings take learning.

Price: Free (mpv pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux. GPL-2.0-or-later (LGPL-2.1 build option) (open source).

Project activity: 37.6k GitHub stars · latest release v0.41.0 (Dec 21, 2025) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Keyboard-driven, high-quality playback.

mpv.net

GPL-2.0 Windows player built on mpv and libmpv with a graphical interface, themes and Lua/JavaScript scripting. Windows only.

Price: Free (Free and open source) (mpv.net pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows. GPL-2.0 (open source).

Project activity: 5.5k GitHub stars · latest release v7.1.2.0 (Jan 9, 2026) · last commit Feb 9, 2026

Best for: mpv power with a Windows GUI.

Worth knowing: Windows media player built on mpv and libmpv with a graphical interface, themes and Lua/JavaScript scripting.

SMPlayer

GPL-2.0 player for Windows, Linux and macOS with YouTube support. The repository does not say which playback engine it uses.

Price: Free (SMPlayer pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows, Linux, macOS. GPL-2.0 (open source).

Project activity: 1.1k GitHub stars · latest release v26.8.29 (Aug 30, 2026) · last commit Oct 25, 2026

Best for: A graphical front end with extras.

MPC-HC

GPL-3.0 player for Windows 7 to 11, built on DirectShow so you can add third-party filters. Familiar and light, but Windows only.

Price: Free (MPC-HC pricing, checked 2026-10-23).

Platforms and license: Windows. GPL-3.0 (open source).

Project activity: 16k GitHub stars · latest release 2.8.4 (Oct 18, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026

Best for: Lightweight classic Windows playback.

Kodi

GPL-2.0 media centre for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and tvOS. It organises libraries and works on a TV but is not a Plex-style remote server.

Price: Free (Free open-source media center; it plays and organizes media rather than acting as a Plex-style remote streaming server) (Kodi pricing, checked 2026-10-22).

Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, tvOS. GPL-2.0 (open source).

Best for: Living-room TV setups.

Which one to pick

• You want one player that plays everything: VLC media player
• You want smooth playback and keyboard control: mpv
• You use Windows and like the classic layout: MPC-HC
• You are building a TV box: Kodi