Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' note: The VLC Media Player source code is also available.
CNET Editors' review
What's the top media player? Opinions differ, but if you mean one that's open-source freeware, plays more files than the others, can be totally customized and configured to suit, and is not only updated frequently but also regularly offers new features and options created by a huge community of programmers and users, the answer is VLC Media Player.
Our default media player for years, VLC has managed to stay ahead of the competition in features and performance, if not always looks, though that's easy enough to fix if you want to. VLC and its source code are maintained by the all-volunteer VideoLAN Organization.
VLC is quick and easy to install. You can make VLC your default media player for various (or all) file types, but if you just want to try VLC without giving up your current player, you can skip the file associations. We clicked the familiar orange-and-white traffic cone icon to open VLC's famously plain interface, which is also a model of efficient layout design (and completely customizable, in any case: clicking the skinned player option in VideoLAN's Start Menu folder opens VLC in a sleek new view).
Effects? VLC has 'em: Audio, Video, and Synchronization effects, including a graphic equalizer with many presets; totally customizable dynamic range compression; an audio spatializer tool; AtmoLight video effects; interactive zoom; logos and overlays; and even special effects like blur, wave, water, and mirror effects. VLC's minimized interface hides the player's controls until you need them, and a raft of hot keys make it easy to toggle between views and to quickly access any of VLC's features. Playback quality is as good as it gets. We've used VLC to play MP3s, WAVs, CDs, DVDs, Flash video, and other formats. As for support, few programs of any sort can match VLC's Help files and wikis, and its dedicated community of users, forums and other online resources.
From myriad file types to playlists to codecs and video capture, if it's useful to have in a media player, VLC has probably got it or soon will. VLC plays everything: if there's a media file it can't play but should, just ask!
VLC Media Player:Publisher's Description
From VideoLAN Project:
VLC (initially VideoLAN Client) is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, MP3, and OGG, as well as for DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It also can be used as a server for unicast or multicast streams in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network.
What's new in this version: Version 2.0.3 includes updates for 18 translations and adds support for Uzbek and Marathi.
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 3,440 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 41 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Horrible at what I need it to do."
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
I won't argue with what CNET and the rest of the reviewers say about VLC; for all I know, they're right and it plays more file formats than any other player out there and has less problems doing so.
Cons
The BIG issue I have is that I have over 50,000 mp3's and I NEED a good media library database and player all in one. I was extremely disappointed with VLC in this regard - the media player ONLY allows me to sort by folders for songs. With Winamp I can sort by artist, title, track number, album, year, and about a hundred other criteria if I wish, as well as change mp3 tags easily.
Summary
I wanted VLC to replace Winamp (and looking back now, I'm not even sure why); unfortunately, it doesn't come close as a media library. I thought Itunes was bad, but this program is basically unusable for that. Hopefully some developer will take the ball and run with it. Provide support across every platform and every filetype AND provide a serious media library like Winamp, and you've got a winner.
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"The Best You Can Get."
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
- plays almost all files
- you can easily speed up or slow down. (ideal if you are a guitar player and want to learn that awesome riff or lick)
- you can loop (also great to learn that awesome solo)
- easily use subtitles and you can sync them through software if they appear to slow or to fast
- no heavy cpu-usageCons
not one I can think of.
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"One of the best"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
Works with almost all media types (can't think of any that it doesn't work with!) Simple, doesn't add baggage to your computer.
Cons
nothing here
Summary
Extremely worthwhile addition!
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"Best media player ever!"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
-Stable, never crashes (not even once)
-Plays almost all formats (lets just say this is the only media player that was able to play my childhood videos from the early 90's)
-User friendly and simple
- Free and no annoying popups with offers or asking for donations etc.
-Doesn't have a million useless upgrades
-Subtitles supportedCons
None so far, its been perfect.
Summary
Seriously....its the best.
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"Great, uncluttered solution for novice or power users."
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
Simple, compact and versatile playback of many - probably all - the most used formats, even when they are less than perfect. (even the 'stabilized' Zapruder film of the JFK assasination). No sound problems so far (using Win-7 64 bit).
Cons
A small quibble: I wish the playback SPEED controls were more easily accesible. As it is you either go through the top menus (2 clicks) or Right click on screen plus menus (3 clicks), and often have to repeat the process. Also some kind of indicator as to level of speed change would be welcome.
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"A very usable player"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
Plays a wide variety of files.Easy to organise whatever media you are using.
Cons
If it could play midi files that would be great.
Summary
A great all round player.Worthy of serious consideration from anyone.
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"VLC Media Player, its free, and its great"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
One word, options, when it comes to free media players the options usually take a hit unless you buy the paid version, but VLC has tons of options for sound and video, and the playback video looks great and sounds great, VLC is the best free media player you can get,
Cons
I see in some reviews about VLC having a virus or crashing, one thing people dont understand when you download a program is sometimes that certain program is clashing with some other program on your computer, so if you download VLC and have issues, then uninstall it because its not compatible with something on your computer, as far as a virus, VLC has no virus problems, and it has never crashed on me,
Summary
VLC Media player is the best free audio and video player you can get, if for some reason its not compatible with your computer than go to the second best media program, REAL PLAYER
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"Best player !"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
Plays everything.
Cons
None so far.
Summary
Great player that plays every format I tried so far.
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"Virus after about 30 days"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
Could have been a great program for older machines and new alike. Asking for donations fairly common. Has 264 encoding. Foreign Country (allegedly). I'm not alone, I see another had a virus. Someone in the chain before you get VLC alters the program, I don't know, mine occurred 3 years ago, with a direct cause & effect. It's a pain to register just to warn others. Maybe your luckier.
Cons
I'm not the only one to come up with a virus after using this program whatever the problem was. Avasti Virus Scanner ID the problem, I had Mcaffrey or McDaffy Virus Scanner, which didn't have a clue it destroyed windows xp & win 98. I had two hard drives at the time. It starts by hitting your video programs, so you can't correct it, in a few days everything becomes unusable junk. Virus scanner ID the program VLC, Makes a person want to reach out and touch someone several times. Reading rodmbauer statement brought back memories, so I'm going through this trouble to warn you.
Summary
It was a great and easy to use program. I can't say they knew personally the viral potential, it may have been modified by the download server (giving the benefit of a doubt). At that time contacting them was impossible, just numbers of all the clients (allegedly) downloading the product.
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"good player"
Version: VLC Media Player 2.0.3
Pros
open all formats
Cons
sometimes not open some formats
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