Best Video Player Software in 2026
Updated
In short: mpv is ranked #1 of 42 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Bitmovin Player and 5KPlayer. The best-ranked option with a free plan is MPlayer. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Infuse at $1.42/mo.
Video player software varies in the files it supports, playback controls, and platforms it runs on. The ranked entries are compared on codec support, maximum resolution, hardware acceleration, subtitle formats, and playback speed control. Supported platforms and portable-version availability can help you check fit for your devices and viewing habits. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost comparison points. mpv, Bitmovin Player, and VLC media player lead the entries, with KMPlayer next. Compare the listed criteria against the formats you watch, the controls you use, and the setup where you need playback.
42 video player software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  mpv | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 2 |  Bitmovin Player | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Mac, Windows, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Roku, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and web browsers | View |
| 3 |  5KPlayer | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 4 | Infuse | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $1.42/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 5 | KMPlayer | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 6 |  VLC media player | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 7 |  MPlayer | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, BSD, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, QNX | View |
| 8 |  NOVA Video Player | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Android phones, tablets, and Android TV devices | View |
| 9 | SMPlayer | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 10 | DivX Player | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 11 |  GOM Player | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $22/mo | Yes | 22 one-time | — | View |
| 12 |  MPC-BE | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 13 |  QMPlay2 | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 14 | ALLPlayer | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows, Android, iOS | View |
| 15 | Cisdem Video Player | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 19.99 one-time | Windows, macOS | View |
| 16 |  Elmedia Player | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | macOS | View |
| 17 |  Haruna | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 18 |  IINA | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 19 |  Just (Video) Player | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Android | View |
| 20 | Kodi | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android | View |
| 21 |  Mousepad | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Linux | View |
| 22 |  MPC-HC | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 | View |
| 23 |  mpv.net | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 |  Next Player | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Android, Android TV | View |
| 25 |  Clapper | 5.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Linux, Windows | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which video player software is ranked first on Inferse?
mpv is ranked #1 of 42 with a score of 7.4. Bitmovin Player is second and 5KPlayer third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Infuse has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.