The following comparison of video players compares general and technical information for notable software media player programs.

For the purpose of this comparison, video players are defined as any media player that can play video, even if it can also play audio files.

General

Active players

NameAuthorFirst public releaseStable versionCostSoftware licenseFramework usedWritten in
ALLPlayerALLPlayer Group Ltd. Partnership1998(1998)8.9.2 (April 4, 2022; 4 years ago(2022-04-04)) [±]No costProprietaryFFmpeg + original + DirectShowObject Pascal (Delphi)
Apprentice VideoPavel Koshevoy29 May 2010(2010-05-29)r407 and laterNo costMITFFmpegC++ (Qt)
DivXDivX, LLC15 July 2001(2001-07-15)11.14 (December 11, 2025)No costProprietaryProprietaryC/C++ (Qt)
FFplayFFmpeg project20 December 2000(2000-12-20)8.1 16 March 2026No costLGPL-2.1-or-later, part GPL-2.0-or-laterFFmpegC
GOM PlayerGOM & Company7 January 2003(2003-01-07)Windows 2.3.116 (February 24, 2026; 52 days ago(2026-02-24)) iOS 1.5.1 (February 26, 2020; 6 years ago(2020-02-26)) Android 1.6.1 (August 30, 2021; 4 years ago(2021-08-30)) [±]No costProprietaryFFmpeg?
iTunesApple Inc.9 January 2001(2001-01-09)No costProprietaryQuickTime?
jetAudio (Basic)Cowon Systems1997(1997)8.1.8.20800 (6 August 2020; 5 years ago(2020-08-06))No costProprietaryFFmpegC++
jetAudio (Plus)Cowon Systems1997(1997)8.1.8.20800 (6 August 2020; 5 years ago(2020-08-06))$29ProprietaryFFmpegC++
JRiver Media CenterJRiver, Inc.1998(1998)34.0.24 (Windows) (May 6, 2025; 11 months ago(2025-05-06)) [±]$69.98 to $89.98Proprietaryoriginal + DirectShowC++, SSE/MMX assembly
K-Multimedia PlayerYoungHuee Kang1 October 2002(2002-10-01)4.2.2.588 (3 December 2021; 4 years ago(2021-12-03)) [±]No costProprietaryDirectShowObject Pascal
Mac Blu-ray PlayerMacgo Inc.2011(2011)3.3.21 (28 August 2021; 4 years ago(2021-08-28))$59.95Proprietary??
MediaPortalTeam MediaPortal2004(2004)2.4 (December 30, 2021; 4 years ago(2021-12-30)) [±]No costGPLDirectShowC#, C++
Media Player Classic Home CinemaGabest29 March 2006(2006-03-29)2.3.8 (November 27, 2024; 16 months ago(2024-11-27)) [±]No costGPL-3.0-or-laterFFmpeg + DirectShowC++
Microsoft Movies & TV (formerly Xbox Video)Microsoft26 October 2012(2012-10-26)No costProprietary
Microsoft PhotosMicrosoft26 October 2012(2012-10-26)No costProprietary
MPlayerÁrpád GereöffySeptember 2000(2000-09)1.5 27 February 2022No costGPL-2.0-or-laterFFmpeg + originalC
mpvmpv Community7 August 2013(2013-08-07)0.41.0 21 December 2025No costGPL-2.0-or-later, part LGPL-2.1-or-laterFFmpegC, Objective C, Lua
Plex Media PlayerPlex, Inc.21 May 2008(2008-05-21)Windows: 2.57.0.1074 (May 5, 2020; 5 years ago(2020-05-05)) [±] macOS: 2.57.0.1074 (May 5, 2020; 5 years ago(2020-05-05)) [±]iOS: 7.28.1 (February 8, 2022; 4 years ago(2022-02-08)) [±]Android: 8.29.1.30697 (February 15, 2022; 4 years ago(2022-02-15)) [±]No costProprietaryFFmpegC++
PotPlayerKakao2006(2006)1.7.22618 (September 17, 2025(2025-09-17)) [±]No costProprietaryDirectShow?
PowerDVD StandardCyberLink1998(1998)PowerDVD 24 (2025-07-08) [±]$59.99ProprietaryDirectShow?
PowerDVD ProCyberLink1998(1998)PowerDVD 24 (2025-07-08) [±]$79.95ProprietaryDirectShow?
PowerDVD UltraCyberLink1998(1998)PowerDVD 24 (2025-07-08) [±]$99.99ProprietaryDirectShow?
QuickTime XApple Inc.28 August 2009(2009-08-28)10.5 (August 31, 2018; 7 years ago(2018-08-31)) [±]No costProprietaryQuickTimeCocoa (on OS X)
RealPlayerRealNetworksApril 1995(1995-04)Windows: 25.0.0.316 (November 1, 2025; 5 months ago(2025-11-01)) [±] OS X: 12.0.1.1750 (September 7, 2012; 13 years ago(2012-09-07)) [±]Windows Mobile: 1.1 (July 30, 2009; 16 years ago(2009-07-30)) [±]Android: 1.61 (October 23, 2024; 17 months ago(2024-10-23)) [±]No costProprietaryoriginal?
SMPlayerRicardo Villalba11 December 2006(2006-12-11)25.6.0 8 June 2025No costGPL-2.0-or-laterMPlayerC++ (Qt)
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)The GNOME ProjectFebruary 2003(2003-02)43.2 21 May 2025No costGPL-2.0-or-later + exceptionGStreamerC
VideostreamVideostream TeamFebruary 2014(2014-02)2.1.3.15No costProprietaryChrome + FFmpegJavaScript, C++
VLCVideoLAN1 February 2001(2001-02-01)Windows, Linux, & macOS3.0.23 / 8 January 2026; 3 months ago(8 January 2026)Android3.6.5 / 7 May 2025; 11 months ago(7 May 2025)ChromeOS1.7.3 / 23 December 2015; 10 years ago(23 December 2015)iOS, Apple TV3.7.0 / 8 January 2026; 3 months ago(8 January 2026)Windows (UWP)3.1.2 / 20 July 2018; 7 years ago(2018-07-20)Windows Phone3.1.2 / 20 July 2018; 7 years ago(2018-07-20)No costGPL-2.0-or-later, LGPL-2.1-or-laterlibVLC + FFmpegC, C++
Windows, Linux, & macOS3.0.23 / 8 January 2026; 3 months ago(8 January 2026)
Android3.6.5 / 7 May 2025; 11 months ago(7 May 2025)
ChromeOS1.7.3 / 23 December 2015; 10 years ago(23 December 2015)
iOS, Apple TV3.7.0 / 8 January 2026; 3 months ago(8 January 2026)
Windows (UWP)3.1.2 / 20 July 2018; 7 years ago(2018-07-20)
Windows Phone3.1.2 / 20 July 2018; 7 years ago(2018-07-20)
WinDVD ProCorel1998(1998)WinDVD Pro 12 Service Pack 8 (April 28, 2021; 4 years ago(2021-04-28)) [±]$79.99ProprietaryDirectShow?
Kodi (formerly XBMC)Team-Kodi (formerly Team-XBMC)2002(2002)19.3 (codename: "Matrix") (October 25, 2021; 4 years ago(2021-10-25)) [±]No costGPL-2.0-or-laterFFmpegC++
xinexine Team15 August 2000(2000-08-15)0.99.14 (January 7, 2023; 3 years ago(2023-01-07)) [±]No costGPL-2.0-or-laterxine-lib + FFmpegC
sViewKirill Gavrilov2009(2009)22.01 (January 6, 2022(2022-01-06))No costGPL-3.0-or-laterFFmpegC++
IPTVXIPTVX LLC3 April 2019(2019-04-03)14.4.2 (tvOS), 5.4.2 (iOS)$13.99/yearProprietaryVLCKitObjective-C / Swift / Kotlin
NameAuthorFirst public releaseStable versionCostSoftware licenseFramework usedWritten in

Inactive players

NameAuthorFirst public releaseStable versionCostSoftware licenseFramework usedWritten in
BansheeAaron Bockover2005-02-172.6.2 (February 18, 2014; 12 years ago(2014-02-18)) [±]No costMITGStreamerC#
CorePlayerCoreCodec Inc.20063.0.1.0 (September 9, 2011; 14 years ago(2011-09-09)) [±]?Proprietary??
Creative MediaSourceCreative Technology20025.10.38 (December 22, 2006; 19 years ago(2006-12-22)) [±]Requires Creative productProprietaryDirectShow?
DSPlayerDSPlayer team20020.889 (12 February 2007; 19 years ago(2007-02-12)) [±]No costProprietaryObject Pascal (Delphi), C++
Media Player ClassicGabestMay 29, 20036.4.9.1 Revision 107 (February 14, 2010; 16 years ago(2010-02-14)) [±]No costGPL-2.0-or-laterDirectShowC++
OgleChalmers University of Technology19990.9.2 (November 6, 2003; 22 years ago(2003-11-06)) [±]No costGPL?C
Quintessential PlayerPaul Quinn19975.0.121 (February 18, 2009; 17 years ago(2009-02-18)) [±]No costProprietary??
SongbirdTom LordFebruary 8, 20062.2.0, Build 2453 (February 4, 2013; 13 years ago(2013-02-04)) [±]No costGPLGStreamer, XULRunnerC++
The Core Pocket Media PlayerGabor Kovacs2004 Jul as "BetaPlayer"0.71 (November 23, 2005; 20 years ago(2005-11-23)) [±]No costGPLFFmpeg + originalC++
TotalMedia TheatreArcSoftNovember 15, 20096.7.1.199 June 6, 2014; 11 years ago(2014-06-06)?ProprietaryoriginalC++
QuickTimeApple Inc.1991-12-027.7.9 (January 7, 2016; 10 years ago(2016-01-07)) [±]No costProprietaryQuickTimeCocoa (on OS X)
Winamp Lite, Full, BundleNullsoftJun 19975.9.2 Build 10042 (April 26, 2023; 2 years ago(2023-04-26)) [±]No costProprietary??
Winamp ProNullsoftJun 19975.9.2 Build 10042 (April 26, 2023; 2 years ago(2023-04-26)) [±]?Proprietary??
Windows Media PlayerMicrosoftNov 1992October 2025 Update (11.2510.7.0) (3 December 2025; 4 months ago(2025-12-03)) [±]No costProprietaryDirectShowC++ (COM)
NameAuthorFirst public releaseStable versionCostSoftware licenseFramework usedWritten in

Operating system compatibility

This section lists the operating systems on which the player works. There may be multiple versions of a player, each one for a given operating system.

Video playerWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidLinuxBSD UnixSolarisUnix-likeDOSBeOS, Haiku, ZETAOS/2
ALLPlayerYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Apprentice VideoYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
DivXYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
GOM PlayerYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Microsoft Movies & TV (formerly Xbox Video)YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
iTunesYesIncludedIncludedNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
jetVideoYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
JRiver Media CenterYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
K-Multimedia PlayerYesAlpha versionYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Mac Blu-ray PlayerYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
MediaPortalYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
MPlayerYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes
mpvYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesNoNoNo
Plex Media PlayerYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
PotPlayerYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
QuickTime PlayerYesIncludedIncludedNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
RealPlayerYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNo
SMPlayerYesNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)NoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesNoNoNo
VideostreamYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
WinampYesBeta versionNoYesLast version is Winamp 3NoNoNoNoNoNo
Windows Media PlayerIncludedDropped (WMP9)NoNoNoNoDropped (WMP6.3)NoNoNoNo
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
xineunmaintainedWIP for 1.2 seriesNoNoYesYesYesYesNoNoNo
sViewYesYesNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Video playerWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidLinuxBSD UnixSolarisUnix-likeDOSBeOS, Haiku, ZETAOS/2

Features

Video playerOutbound streamingSkinnableMedia databaseGapless audio decodingVisualizerAudio equalizerRemote controllableIntelligent playlists from database (based on criteria)HDR video playbackStereoscopic 3D Playback360-degree video playback
ALLPlayerYesYesYesNoYes?YesYes???
Apprentice VideoNoNoNoYesNo?only on OSXNo???
DivXYes (DLNA)NoYes (limited)NoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
GOM PlayerYesYesNoNoNo?YesNoNo?Yes
iTunesYesPartialYesYesYes?YesYes???
jetAudioPartialYesYesYesYes?Yes????
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYesYesYes?YesYes???
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesNoYes?YesNo???
Mac Blu-ray PlayerYesYesYesYesNo?NoNo???
Media Player Classic Home Cinema?YesYesNoNo?YesYesYesNo?
MediaPortalYesYesYesYesYes?YesYes???
MPlayerYesYesNoNoNo?YesNoNo?No
mpvYesYesNoYesNo?YesNoYes?No
Plex Media PlayerYesYesYesNoNo?YesNo???
PotPlayerYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes
PowerDVD?YesNo?Yes??No?No?
QuickTime PlayerPartialPartialNoYesNo?YesNo???
RealPlayerNoYesYesNoYes??Yes???
SMPlayer?YesNo????No???
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)NoNoNoNoYes?NoNo???
VLCYesYesyes, not macOSNoYesYesYesNoYesSome?
WinampPartialYesYesYesYes?PartialYes???
Windows Media PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes???
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYes?YesYes???
xineNoYesNoYesYes?YesNo???
sViewNoNoNoYesNo?? (WebUI)NoNoYesYes
Video playerOutbound streamingSkinnableMedia databaseGapless audio decodingVisualizerAudio equalizerRemote controllableIntelligent playlists from database (based on criteria)HDR video playbackStereoscopic 3D Playback360-degree video playback

Extended features

Video playerColor controlsTime stretchingPitch shiftingA-B repeatSeek bar preview tooltipInteractive playback zoomAudio resyncSubtitle resyncChapter (DVD, mkv, mp4, ogm)Bookmark (DVD, video, audio)Auto resume (DVD, video, audio)Shutdown on play complete
ALLPlayerYesYesYesYes??YesYesYesYesYesYes
Apprentice VideoNoYesNoYes??NoNoYesNoNoNo
Banshee?NoNo?No????Yes??
DivXNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
FFplayNoNoNoNo???NoNoNoNoYes
GOM PlayerYesYesNoYes??YesYesYesYesYesYes
iTunesNoYesNoNo??NoNoYesYesYesNo
jetAudioYes?YesYes???YesYesYesYesYes
JRiver Media Center????????Yes?Yes?
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesYes??YesYesYesSomeYesYes
Mac Blu-ray PlayerNoNoNoNoNo?NoNoNoNoNoNo
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYesYes
MediaPortal?NoNoYes???YesYesYesYesNo
MPlayerYesYesYesYes??YesYesPartialNoNoYes
mpvYesYesYesYes??YesYesPartialNoYesYes
Plex Media PlayerNoYesNoNo??YesYesYesYesYesYes
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYesYes
PowerDVDYesYesYesYes????YesYesYesNo
QuickTime PlayerYesYesYesYes????Yes??No
RealPlayer????????????
SMPlayerYesYesYesYes??YesYesPartialNoYesYes
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesNoNoNo??NoNoYesNoYesNo
VLCYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYesYes (from 2.2)Yes
WinampNoYesYes?No????Yes??
Windows Media PlayerYesYesNoNoNo?NoNoDVD onlyNoPartialPartial
WinDVDYesYesYesYes????YesNoYes?
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesNoNoNo??YesYesYesYesYesYes
xineYesAudio pluginNoNo??YesYesYesNoNoYes
sViewYesNoNoNo??YesNoNoNoYesNo
Video playerColor controlsTime stretchingPitch shiftingA-B repeatSeek bar preview tooltipInteractive playback zoomAudio resyncSubtitle resyncChapter (DVD, mkv, mp4, ogm)Bookmark (DVD, video, audio)Auto resume (DVD, video, audio)Shutdown on play complete

Consumer video format ability

Information about what video formats the players understand. Footnotes lead to information about abilities of future versions of the players or plugins/filters that provide such abilities.

Video playerMPEG-1MPEG-2MPEG-4 Part 2 (ASP)MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264 (AVC)WMVRealVideoTheoraFlashDiracVP8VP9HEVC (H.265)
ALLPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes??
Apprentice VideoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes???
DivXYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
FFplayYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
GOM PlayerYesPartialYesPartialYesPartialPartialYesPartialPartialYesYes
iTunesYesPartialYesYesPartialNoPartialPartialNoPartial??
jetAudioYesPartialPartialPartialYesPartialPartialYesPartialYes??
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYesYesYesYesPartialYesPartialPartial?Yes
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes??
Mac Blu-ray PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo??
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
MediaPortalYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes??
Microsoft Movies & TVYesYesYesYesYes???????
MPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
mpvYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Plex Media PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes???
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
QuickTime PlayerYesPartialYesYesPartialNoPartialPartialNoPartial??
RealPlayerYesYesPartialPartialYesYesPartialYesPartialPartial??
SMPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes??
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
WinampYesPartialPartialPartialYesPartialPartialYesPartialYes??
Windows Media PlayerYesYesYesYesYesPartialPartialPartialPartialPartial??
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
xineYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes????
sViewYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Video playerMPEG-1MPEG-2MPEG-4 Part 2 (ASP)MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264 (AVC)WMVRealVideoTheoraFlashDiracVP8VP9HEVC (H.265)

Production video format ability

Video playerMPEG-4 SStPAVC-IntraAVC-UltraXAVCApple ProResVC-2 /Dirac ProVC-3 /Avid DNxHDVC-5 /GoPro CineFormRedcode RAWARRIRAWCinemaDNGCineon /DPX sequenceOpenEXR sequenceTIFF sequencePNG sequenceJPEG sequenceJPEG 2000 sequence
FFplayYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesSomeNoNoYesSomeSomeYesYesYes
MPlayer?YesNoYesYesYesYesYesSomeNoNoYesSomeSomeYesYesYes
VLC?YesNo?YesYesYes??NoNoYes?SomeYesYesYes

Audio format ability

Information about what audio formats the players understand. Footnotes lead to information about abilities of future versions of the players or plugins/filters that provide such abilities.

Video playerLossy compressionLossless compression
MP3WMARealAudioVorbisMusepackAACAC-3OpusAPEFLACALACSHNWV
ALLPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYes
Apprentice VideoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYes
DivXYesNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
FFplayYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
GOM PlayerYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
iTunesYesyes, no DRMNoPartialNoYesNo?NoPartialYesNoNo
jetAudioYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesNoNoYes
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesPartialYesYesYesPartialYes
Mac Blu-ray PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYes???????
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
MediaPortalYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYes
MPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
mpvYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Plex Media PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYes
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
QuickTime PlayerYesPartialNoPartialNoYesPartial?NoPartialYesNoNo
RealPlayerYesYesYesPartialNoYesNo?NoNoNoNoNo
SMPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYesYesYesYes
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
VLCYesYesPartialYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
WinampYesYesPartialYesPartialYesPartialPartialPartialYesPartialPartialPartial
Windows Media PlayerYesYesPartialPartialPartialPartialPartialPartialPartialPartialPartialPartialPartial
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
xineYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?NoYesYesYesYes
sViewYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Video playerMP3WMARealAudioVorbisMusepackAACAC-3OpusAPEFLACALACSHNWV

Container format ability

Information about what container formats the players understand. Footnotes lead to information about abilities of future versions of the players or filters that provide such abilities.

Video playerAVIASFQuickTimeOggOGMMatroskaMP4NUTFLVWebM
ALLPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?
Apprentice VideoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?
DivXYesNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNo
FFplayYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
GOM PlayerYesYesYesVorbis onlyYesYesYesNoYesYes
iTunesNoWindows: yes macOS: file is parsableYesPartialNoNoYes???
jetAudioYesYesPartialVorbis onlyYesYesPartial??Yes
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?Yes?
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?
Mac Blu-ray PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?Yes?
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
MediaPortalYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?
Microsoft Movies & TV (formerly Xbox Video)YesYesYesNo?YesYes?No?
MPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
mpvYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Plex Media PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?Yes?
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYes
QuickTime PlayerYesPartialYesPartialNoYesYes?YesYes
RealPlayerYesYesYesPartialPartialNoYes???
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYes
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
WinampYesYesPartialVorbis onlyPartialPartialYes??Yes
Windows Media PlayerYesYesWMP12 YesPartialPartialPartialWMP12 Yes?Yes?
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
xineYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?Yes?
sViewYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Video playerAVIASFQuickTimeOggOGMMatroskaMP4NUTFLVWebM

Streaming support

Information about which protocols the players understand, for receiving streaming media content.

Video playerHTTPHTTPSHLSDASHHDSSmoothFTPSFTPRTSP RTSPU/RTSPTMMS MMSU/MMSTRTMPPodcastRDT/RealRTSPRTPDAAPDLNA
ALLPlayer????????????????
AmarokYes???????YesYes?Yes??Yes?
Apprentice VideoYesNoPartial???No?YesYesYesNoNoYesNoNo
DivXNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
FFplayYesYesYesYespatch availableNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNo
GOM PlayerYesYesYes?????NoYes?No?Yes??
iTunesYes???????YesNo?Yes??Yes?
jetAudioYes???????No???????
JRiver Media CenterYes??????????Yes???Yes
K-Multimedia PlayerYes???????YesYes?No????
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesNoYes??YesYesYesNo?Yes??
MediaPortalYesYes????Yes??Yes???Yes??
MPlayerYes?????Yes?YesYesNoYes?Yes??
mpvYesYesYesYes??Yes?YesYesNoYes?Yes??
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
QuickTime PlayerYes???????YesNo?Yes????
RealPlayerYes???????YesYes?Yes????
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesYesYesYes??Yes?YesYesYesNo?YesYesYes
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
WinampYes???????NoYes?Yes????
Windows Media PlayerYes???????YesDropped (WMP10)?Yes???Yes
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYes???Yes?YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
xineYes???????YesYes?No????
sViewYesYesYesNoNoNo?????No??NoNo
Video playerHTTPHTTPSHLSDASHHDSSmoothFTPSFTPRTSPMMSRTMPPodcastRDT/RealRTSPRTPDAAPDLNA

Playlist format ability

Information about which playlist formats the players understand.

Video playerasx/wax/wvxm3u/m3u8plsxspfram/rmmsdprplxplbdmvwmx
ALLPlayerNoYesYes???????
Apprentice VideoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
DivXNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
FFplayNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo??
GOM PlayerASX support?Yes??????
iTunesNoNoNoNo??????
jetAudio?YesYes???????
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYes???????
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYes?Yes?????
Mac Blu-ray Player??????????
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoYesYes
MediaPortal?YesYes???????
MPlayerYesYesYesNo??????
mpvNoYesYesNo??????
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes
QuickTime Player??????????
RealPlayerYesYesYes?YesYesYesYes??
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesYesYesYesYesYes????
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYes??Yes?
WinampYesYesYesYes??????
Windows Media PlayerYesYesNo???????
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYesYes??YesYes
xine??????????
sViewNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Video playerasx/wax/wvxm3u/m3u8plsxspfram/rmmsdprplxplbdmvwmx

Electronic program guide format ability

Information about which Electronic program guide format the players viewable.

Video playerPSI EITPSIPXMLTV
ALLPlayer???
Apprentice Video???
FFplayNoNoNo
DivXNoNoNo
GOM Player???
iTunes???
jetAudio???
JRiver Media Center???
K-Multimedia Player???
Mac Blu-ray Player???
Media Player Classic Home Cinema???
MediaPortal???
MPlayerNoNo?
mpvNoNo?
PotPlayerYesYesNo
QuickTime Player???
RealPlayer???
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)???
VLCYesYes?
Winamp???
Windows Media Player???
Kodi (formerly XBMC)Partial?Partial
xine???
sViewNoNoNo
Video playerPSI EITPSIPXMLTV

Subtitle ability

Information about what subtitle formats the players understand. Footnotes lead to information about abilities of future versions of the players or filters that provide such abilities.

Video playerTextBitmap
SubRip (.srt)SubStation Alpha (.ssa+.ass)MicroDVD (.sub)SAMI (.smi)SubViewer (.sub)RealText (.rt)Text file (.txt)Universal Subtitle Format (.usf)Closed captioningMPEG-4 Part 17SCTE-27TTML/ SMPTE-TTWebVTT (.vtt)VobSub (.idx+.sub)XSUB (.divx embedded subtitles)DVD subtitlesDVB subtitles
ALLPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNo?????YesYes??
Apprentice VideoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo????YesYesYesYes
FFplayYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesNoNo?YesYesYesYes
GOM PlayerYesPartialYesYesNoYesNoNo????YesYesNoYes?
iTunesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo????NoNoNoNo
jetAudioYesPartialYesNo?NoYesYesYes????YesNoYes?
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?????YesYesYesYes
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?????YesYes??
Mac Blu-ray Player?????????????????
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes??YesYesYesYesYes
MediaPortalYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes????YesYesYesYes
MPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYes????YesYesYesYes
PotPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes??YesYesYesYesYes
QuickTime PlayerYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo?????NoNo??
RealPlayerYesNoYesYes?YesYesNo?????YesNo??
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesPartial?No?No?No?????YesNo??
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesSomeYesYesYesYesYes
WinampYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes?????YesYes??
Windows Media PlayerYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes?????YesYes??
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes????YesYesYesYes
xineYesPartialYesYesYesNoYesNo?????YesNo??
sViewYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesNoNo?YesYesYesYes
Video playerSubRip (.srt)SubStation Alpha (.ssa+.ass)MicroDVD (.sub)SAMI (.smi)SubViewer (.sub)RealText (.rt)Text file (.txt)Universal Subtitle Format (.usf)Closed captioningMPEG-4 Part 17SCTE-27TTML/ SMPTE-TTWebVTT (.vtt)VobSub (.idx+.sub)XSUB (.divx embedded subtitles)DVD subtitlesDVB subtitles

Metadata ability

Information about what metadata, or tagging, formats the players understand. Most other containers have their own metadata format and the players usually use them. Footnotes lead to information about abilities of future versions of the players or plugins that provide such abilities.

Video playerID3v1ID3v2APEv2 tagVorbis commentAMFASF metadataMOV metadataCue sheetCD-Text
ALLPlayerYesYesNoNo???NoNo
Apprentice VideoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNo
FFplayYesYesYesYesYesYesYespatch availableNo
GOM PlayerNoNoNoNo?????
iTunesYesYesNo???Yes?Yes
jetAudioYesYesYesYes???Partial?
JRiver Media CenterYesYesYesYes???YesYes
K-Multimedia PlayerYesYesYesYes???YesYes
Mac Blu-ray Player?????????
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYesYes?YesYesYes?
MediaPortalYesYesYes??????
MPlayerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesPartial?
PotPlayerYesYesYes????Yes?
QuickTime PlayerYes????????
RealPlayerYesYes?No???Yes
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesYesYesYes?YesYes??
VLCYesYesYesYesYesYesYesPartialYes
WinampYesYesPartialYes???PartialYes
Windows Media PlayerYesPartial?Partial?Yes?NoPartial
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesYesYesYesNoNoNoYesPartial
xineYesPartial?Yes?????
sViewYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoNo
Video playerID3v1ID3v2APEv2 tagVorbis commentAMFASF metadataMOV metadataCue sheetCD-Text

Optical media ability

Information about what kinds of optical discs the players can play. Footnotes lead to information about abilities of future versions of the players or plugins that provide such abilities. Playback of Super Audio CD is not possible for any media player, because no suitable hardware exists. All media players capable of audio CD playback will also play the Redbook core of any HDCD disc, providing no sound-quality benefits over standard audio CDs.

AudioVideo
Video playerCDDVD-AudioHDCDSuper Audio CD (SACD)Video CD (VCD)SVCDDVDBlu-ray DiscHD DVDUHD BD
ALLPlayerYes????NoYes??
Apprentice VideoNoNoNo?NoNoNoNoNo
FFplayvia libcdioNovia libcdio?NoNoNovia libblurayNo
GOM PlayerYesNoNo?YesYesYesNo?
iTunesYesNoNo?NoNoNoNoNo
jetAudioYesNoNo?YesYesYesNoNo
JRiver Media CenterYesNoNo?YesYesYesYes?
K-Multimedia PlayerYesNoNo?YesYesYesNoNo
Media Player Classic Home CinemaYesYesYes?YesYesYesCommercial BDs unsupportedYes
MediaPortalYesYesYes?YesYesYesNo?
MPlayerYesNoNo?YesYesYesNoNo
PotPlayerYesYesNo?YesYesYesYesNo
PowerDVDYesNo longer supported??YesYesYesYesNo longer supportedYes, limited
QuickTime PlayerYesYesYes?YesNoYesNoNo
RealPlayerYesNoNo?YesYesYesNoNo
GNOME Videos (formerly Totem)YesNoNo?YesYesYesNoNo
VLCYesYesNo?YesPartialYesCommercial BDs unsupportedYes
WinampYesNoYes?NoNoNoNoNo
Windows Media PlayerYesYesYes?YesYesYesNoNo
Kodi (formerly XBMC)YesNoNo?PartialPartialYesCommercial BDs unsupported?
xineYesNoNo?YesYesYesNoNo
WinDVDYes???YesYesYesYesNo
sViewNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Video playerCDDVD-AudioHDCDSuper Audio CD (SACD)Video CD (VCD)SVCDDVDBlu-ray DiscHD DVD

See also

Related lists on other projects

  • Open Source Toolset - short sections on Audio editing and Video editing
  • Software - short lists of Ogg audio and video editors
  • Help:Converting video - tools for manipulating audio and video

Notes