--- title: VLC media player canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/vlc/ category: Media Player Software points: 86 rank: 1 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # VLC media player Free, open-source video and music player with downloads for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. 86 points out of 100. #1 of 12 media players. Vendor: VideoLAN. Website: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ - VLC costs nothing; VideoLAN says it has no spyware, no ads and no user tracking [1]. - Downloads are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS [1][6][7]. - VideoLAN says VLC plays most codecs with no codec packs needed [1]. - Windows playback includes HDR10 output in Direct3D11 and HEVC hardware decoding through DxVA2 and D3D11 [4]. - The Windows download page offers 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 installers (version 3.0.24) [3]. Verdict: VLC suits anyone who wants a single player that costs nothing, carries no ads and has downloads for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS [1][6][7]. It opens discs, network streams (including HLS and RTSP) and HDR video, and accepts Lua add-ons [2][4][10][11][12]. The catch is thin documentation: the vendor's pages do not name ReplayGain, gapless playback, a media library or subtitle search, so those earn nothing here [2][8][9]. Best for: People who want one free player for any file, with no ads. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | 12/12 | VideoLAN's site offers macOS, Linux, Android (Play Store, APK) and iOS (App Store, IPA) downloads [1][6][7]. | | Video | Disc playback | Yes | 5/5 | The Open Disc dialog offers DVD, Blu-ray, Audio CD and SVCD/VCD [11]. | | Video | No codec pack needed | Yes | 6/6 | VideoLAN says VLC plays most codecs with no codec packs needed [1]. | | Video | Hardware video decoding | Yes | 7/7 | The 3.0 release notes describe HEVC hardware decoding on Windows through DxVA2 and D3D11, on by default [4][5]. | | Video | HDR playback | Yes | 5/5 | The 3.0 release notes list HDR10 support in Direct3D11 and HDR tone-mapping [4]. | | Video | Subtitle features | External subtitle files, Embedded subtitle tracks, Styled ASS/SSA subtitles | 6/8 | The manual covers subtitle files and embedded subtitles; the features page lists SSA1-5. No subtitle search is named [2][8]. | | Streams, audio and library | Network streams | HTTP or HTTPS URLs, HLS, RTSP or RTMP | 6/8 | Features page lists HTTP/FTP input; 3.0 notes add HLS v4 to v7; the streaming guide shows receiving with vlc rtsp://… [2][4][12]. | | Streams, audio and library | Audio features | Equaliser, Exclusive audio output (WASAPI or ASIO) | 4/8 | The manual describes a 10-band equalizer; the 3.0 notes list WASAPI pass-through. Gapless and ReplayGain are not named [9][4]. | | Streams, audio and library | Media library | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's features page or user manual [2][8]. | | Streams, audio and library | Plugins or add-ons | Yes | 3/3 | The user manual has an Add-ons section for Lua extensions copied into VLC's program folder [10]. | | Ads and privacy | Open-source apps | Yes | 8/8 | VideoLAN describes VLC as free and open-source software under open-source licences [1]. | | Ads and privacy | No ads or bundled offers | Yes | 8/8 | VideoLAN states VLC has no spyware and no ads; the Windows download page shows no bundled offers [1][3]. | | Ads and privacy | States no tracking | Yes | 4/4 | VideoLAN's home page says VLC has no user tracking [1]. | | Price | Price of the player | $0 | 12/12 | Free to download and use; a donation link is optional [1][3]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | VLC media player | Free [1][3] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, with no ads and no user tracking, according to VideoLAN [1]. - Official downloads for five systems, including an APK from VideoLAN's mirrors and an IPA from its servers [6][7]. - Plays DVD, Blu-ray and VCD discs through the Open Disc dialog [11]. - Supports HLS versions 4 to 7 and HDR10 in Direct3D11 [4]. - Includes a 10-band graphical equalizer [9]. ## Limits - The vendor's pages do not name a media library [2][8]. - Subtitle search or download inside the player is not described in the user manual [8]. - ReplayGain and gapless playback are not named on the vendor's pages [2][9]. - The main Windows download button points to the 32-bit installer [3]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - VideoLAN says VLC offers the most complete feature set for video, subtitle synchronisation and filters [2]. - VideoLAN says VLC plays most codecs with no codec packs needed [1]. ## Sources 1. [VLC: Official site](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [VLC features](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Official download of VLC media player for Windows](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [VLC 3.0.0 release notes](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/3.0.0.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [VLC 3.0.21 release notes](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/3.0.21.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Official download of VLC media player for Android](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-android.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Official download of VLC media player for iOS](https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-ios.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [VLC user documentation: Subtitles](https://docs.videolan.me/vlc-user/desktop/3.0/en/basic/subtitles.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [VLC user documentation: Adjustments and effects](https://docs.videolan.me/vlc-user/desktop/3.0/en/basic/settings/adjustmentsandeffects.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [VLC user documentation: Add-ons](https://docs.videolan.me/vlc-user/desktop/3.0/en/addons/index.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [VLC user documentation: Media](https://docs.videolan.me/vlc-user/desktop/3.0/en/basic/media.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [VLC user documentation: Stream using RTSP](https://docs.videolan.me/vlc-user/desktop/3.0/en/advanced/streaming/rtsp_session.html), VideoLAN, accessed 2026-10-09