Best Media Player Software in 2026
Updated
In short: mpv is ranked #1 of 76 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of SMPlayer and MPlayer. The best-ranked option with a free plan is SMPlayer. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Infuse at $1.42/mo.
Choosing media player software starts with the files and devices you want to use. Compared on format support, 4K playback, hardware acceleration, subtitle support, and network playback, these entries also show supported platforms and license models. mpv, SMPlayer, and MPlayer are among the options to compare against your playback needs. Check whether the formats and subtitles you rely on are covered, and whether network playback matters for your setup. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide further details to weigh.
76 media player software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
12 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | mpvWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 8.2 | |
| 2 | SMPlayerWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 3 | MPlayerWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.9 | |
| 4 | InfuseMac · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $1.42/mo | 7.9 | |
| 5 | 5KPlayerWindows · Mac · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.9 | |
| 6 | DivX PlayerWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 7 | RealPlayerWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 8 | BS.PlayerWindows · Android | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | €19.90/mo | 7.6 | |
| 9 | VLC media playerWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 7.3 |
| 10 | KMPlayerWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 7.2 |
| 11 | doubleTwistWindows · Mac · Android | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.1 | |
| 12 | MediaPortalWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 6.9 |
| 13 | foobar2000Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 6.9 |
| 14 | ShowboardMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.9 | |
| 15 | GOM PlayerWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $22/mo | 6.8 |
| 16 | Elmedia PlayerMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $19.99/mo | 6.8 | |
| 17 | EmbyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 18 | AnyTVMac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 19 | OSMCLinux | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 20 | PlayerXtremeAndroid · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 21 | HarunaWindows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 22 | QMPlay2Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 23 | Music Player DaemonWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 24 | PotPlayerWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.4 |
| 25 | MPC-BEWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.4 |
Is your app 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 media player software is ranked first on Freedom251?
mpv is ranked #1 of 76 with a score of 8.2. SMPlayer is second and MPlayer third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 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 free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.