--- title: MPC-BE canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/mpc-be/ category: Media Player Software points: 53 rank: 6 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # MPC-BE Free, open-source Windows video and audio player with its own decoders and hardware decoding. 53 points out of 100. #6 of 12 media players. Vendor: MPC-BE team. Website: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mpcbe/ - MPC-BE is free and open source under GPLv3, and runs on Windows only [1][2]. - Its built-in video decoder supports D3D11 hardware decoding [4]. - In most cases it needs no extra DirectShow filters or codec pack [6]. - The changelog lists HDR metadata support and HDR-to-SDR conversion [7]. - It plays DVDs, opens Blu-ray folders and mounts ISO images automatically [1][7]. Verdict: MPC-BE suits Windows users who want a free, open-source player that decodes on the graphics card and needs no codec pack [1][4][6]. It supports HDR and HLS, and it loads external subtitle files automatically [5][7]. The catch: it runs on Windows only, and its pages do not name a media library or a way to add plugins [2][7]. Best for: Windows users who want a light, free player with built-in filters. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | None | 0/12 | Windows only. The README lists Windows 7 to 11, and SourceForge lists Windows as the only operating system [1][2]. | | Video | Disc playback | Yes | 5/5 | SourceForge says it mounts ISO images automatically; changelog entries cover DVD playback and Blu-ray folders [1][7]. | | Video | No codec pack needed | Yes | 6/6 | The wiki says that in most cases MPC-BE needs no additional DirectShow filters; LAV Filters are optional [6]. | | Video | Hardware video decoding | Yes | 7/7 | SourceForge lists hardware decoding; the wiki says the built-in decoder supports Direct3D11 decoding; the changelog lists DXVA2 [1][4][7]. | | Video | HDR playback | Yes | 5/5 | The changelog lists HDR metadata support and conversion of HDR to SDR [7]. | | Video | Subtitle features | External subtitle files, Styled ASS/SSA subtitles | 4/8 | The wiki covers automatic loading of external .srt files; the changelog covers SSA/ASS rendering. Online subtitle download was removed in 1.6.8 [5][7]. | | Streams, audio and library | Network streams | HTTP or HTTPS URLs, HLS | 4/8 | The changelog lists a UDP/HTTP reader and HLS Live support. It names no RTSP, RTMP or DLNA [7]. | | Streams, audio and library | Audio features | Exclusive audio output (WASAPI or ASIO) | 2/8 | The changelog says the audio renderer supports WASAPI exclusive and shared modes. Gapless, ReplayGain and equaliser are not named [7]. | | Streams, audio and library | Media library | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the project page, wiki or changelog [1][3][7]. | | Streams, audio and library | Plugins or add-ons | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the project page, wiki or changelog [1][3][7]. | | Ads and privacy | Open-source apps | Yes | 8/8 | The README says the code is licensed under GPL v3; SourceForge lists GPLv3 [1][2]. | | Ads and privacy | No ads or bundled offers | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the project page, README or wiki [1][2][3]. | | Ads and privacy | States no tracking | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the project page, README or wiki [1][2][3]. | | Price | Price of the player | $0 | 12/12 | SourceForge describes MPC-BE as a free and open source player [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | MPC-BE | Free [1] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free and open source under GPLv3 [1][2]. - Built-in decoders, so a codec pack is normally not needed [6]. - D3D11 decoding is built in; the changelog also lists DXVA2 [4][7]. - HDR metadata support and HDR-to-SDR conversion are in the changelog [7]. - WASAPI exclusive and shared audio modes [7]. ## Limits - Windows only; the README lists Windows 7 to 11 and the SourceForge page lists Windows as the only operating system [1][2]. - The wiki and changelog do not name a media library or a plugin system [3][7]. - The changelog lists no ReplayGain, equaliser or gapless playback [7]. - Subtitle download from the online database was removed in version 1.6.8 [7]. ## Sources 1. [MPC-BE project page](https://sourceforge.net/projects/mpcbe/), SourceForge, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE](https://github.com/Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [MPC-BE wiki](https://github.com/Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE/wiki), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [D3D11 decoder support](https://github.com/Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE/wiki/D3D11-decoder-support), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [Automatic loading of external tracks](https://github.com/Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE/wiki/Automatic-loading-of-external-tracks), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 6. [LAV Filters](https://github.com/Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE/wiki/LAV-Filters), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 7. [MPC-BE changelog](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Aleksoid1978/MPC-BE/master/docs/Changelog.txt), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09