VLC Media Player is a worldwide media player on multiplatform. You can get comprehensive format support and video streaming/converting/editing functions. There are many positive comments about VLC Media Player. However, some people think VLC Media Player is overpraised. VLC Media Player is not as good as other people describe. Is VLC Media Player the best? You can check the following VLC Media Player review to find your answer. Moreover, you can get some nice VLC Media Player alternatives to play multimedia files smoothly as well.

Part 1: VLC Media Player Review

VLC Media Player is one of the most compatible and user-friendly media player. It can play almost all video file types from any source stored in hard drives, SD cards, CD/ DVD, and others. But as technical glitches can occur anytime, videos may start to stutter, freeze, or show audio lags in VLC Player. VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files, and various streaming protocols. Installer for 64bit version. MSI package for 64bit version. VLC Media Player add-ons are developed by third-parties, who are interested in extending the possibilities of VLC’s usage. Generally those third-parties are promoting their own service(s) with VLC. VLC Addons are downloadable from the official VLC website.

Here are some unbiased reviews of VLC Media Player software. You can know what VLC Media Player is, what you can/cannot get from VLC Media Player and other questions in details.

VLC Media Player Overview

• Multiplatform

VLC Media Player is a free and open source media player that runs on almost all platforms. You can download VLC Media Player for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux from its website or official stores safely.

• Multimedia

Thanks to the powerful input media and formats support, you can use VLC Media Player to play most popular media files. In spite of the common video and audio formats, you can use VLC Media Player to play Blu-rays, DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs and other streaming protocols.

• Safe & free to use

VLC Media Player is completely free to use. There is no spyware, bundleware, ads or user tracking before/during/after playing with VLC Media Player.

VLC Media Player Pros

1. VLC Player is capable to play media files, discs, webcams, devices and streams for free on multiplatform.
2. Play all formats including MPEG-1/2, DivX 1/2/3/4/5/6, MPEG-4, ASP, MPEG Layer 1/2/3, Vorbis, DTS, etc.
3. Convert video/audio, sync subtitles, filter video/audio and apply other effects.
4. Hardware decoding. The media loading speed is fast.
5. Support screen recording with VLC Media Player.

VLC Media Player Cons

1. The VLC video player interface is not straightforward.
2. VLC cannot play damaged or unfinished videos.
3. Still need to download codecs for some video and audio formats.
4. VLC Player crashes during playing or subtitle inserting occasionally.
5. Playing videos with loud volume using VLC will damage the speakers.

Part 2: Top 5 VLC Media Player Alternatives for Windows and Mac

The user-friendlessness UI and unstable media playing problems makes VLC Media Player not so good. If you want to get smooth audiovisual experience, you can try the following media players as well. These are highly-recommended VLC Media Player for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android alternatives.

Top 1: Vidmore Player – Play Videos and Discs What VLC Cannot Play

VLC cannot play DRM-protected Blu-ray and DVD discs. If you want to get seamless Blu-ray and DVD playback, Vidmore Player can be your best VLC alternative. All kinds of discs, folders and ISO files are supported. You can enjoy DVD and Blu-ray movies with HD image quality and lossless sound effect. The intuitive interface and easy-to-use options are friendly to all users.

1. Play the latest Blu-ray or DVD disc, folders and ISO files losslessly.
2. Open all types of videos, including 4K UHD and 1080p/720p HD videos.
3. Offer navigational menu support and customizable controls to personalize video playback experience.
4. Get the surround sound effect with the advanced audio encoding technologies.
5. Adjust image effects, take snapshots, change subtitles, switch audio tracks and enjoy smooth playback.

Top 2: Windows Media Player – Burn CD and DVD with VLC Alternative

Windows Media Player is pre-installed on Windows computers and Windows mobile-based devices. You can use Windows Media Player 12 to play video and audio on Windows 7 for free. Moreover, you can burn CDs and DVDs by using Windows Media Player on your Windows computer. This is a new feature that you cannot get from VLC player for Mac or Windows. In addition, you can use Windows Movie Maker as your free VLC video editor alternative for Windows.

Pros:

1. Create playlists and mix up songs from different albums.
2. Rip a CD for free without installing anything else.
3. Play Blu-rays with Windows Media Player.

Vlc Media Player Mac Official Site

Cons:

1. MP3 and Windows Media Audio are all your choices for output audio formats.
2. There are limited sound quality options in Windows Media Player.

Top 3: Photos – VLC Player Free Alternative for Windows 10

The Photos app is a free VLC Media Player for Windows 10 alternative you can consider. You can open not only images, but also videos on Windows 10 within Photos. There is a built-in Video Editor app within Windows 10 Photos app. You can create a videos using your photos in a short time easily. Compared with VLC player, Photos has a better interface.

Pros:

1. Play, edit and share videos on Windows 10 for free.
2. Trim videos to delete unwanted clips on Windows.

Vlc Media Player For Mac Official Website Download

Cons:

1. No face tagging feature.
2. Lack the panorama stitching or selective focus support.

Top 4: QuickTime Player – A Good Competitor of VLC Media Player for Mac

QuickTime Player can be your free VLC alternative for Mac as well. You can play most videos and music files on Mac directly. Furthermore, the built-in QuickTime screen recording features work better than VLC screen recorder. You can record Mac, iPhone and iPad screen video and audio for free within QuickTime Player.

Pros:

1. Play media files with high quality and 1/2/3x faster playback speed.
2. Watch the local and online streaming videos on Mac.

Cons:

1. Need to upgrade to QuickTime Pro to unlock its video editing and recording features.
2. Cannot work with common subtitle files.

Top 5: MPlayerX – Free and Open Source VLC Alternative

Being a free and open source media player, MPlayerX is often compared with VLC. You can watch videos without extra plugins or codecs on multiplatform. The auto subtitle detecting and converting feature can sync your subtitle seamlessly.

Pros:

1. A lightweight and free media player alternative to VLC on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.
2. Be compatible with Apple Remote. You can control the video playback remotely.

Cons:

1. The MPlayerX in Mac App Store is outdated. You need to update MPlayerX to the latest version manually.
2. MPlayerX download package contains bundled software. You need to be careful and deselect unwanted programs manually.

Part 3: FAQs of VLC Media Player

What VLC Media Player portable alternatives to choose?

If you are looking for VLC for mobile alternatives, you can take a look at GOM Player, MX Player, BS Player, GPlayer, Dice Player, Winamp, KMPlayer and more. These video and audio players are alternative to the VLC Media Player app.

How to fix VLC blinking or flickering?

The VLC video flickering problem is quite common on NVIDIA graphic adapters with HDMI connected projectors. To stop VLC screen flashing issues, you can go to Preferences. Choose Video and then change from direct3d11 to direct3d9. Or you can choose Preferences followed by Input/Codecs to disable hw decoding.

Why is VLC not opening and how to fix?

The VLC registering and setup process may not be completed. Delete the VLC installer folder first. Later, you can uninstall and reinstall VLC Media Player. Restart your computer to see if the VLC won’t open problem still exist or not.

VLC is a free media player and editor that is worth to try. Moreover, there are also many other powerful media players in the market. If you are not satisfied with the VLC disadvantages, you can get a better choice from the above VLC Media Player alternatives.

Now MP3, MPC and OGG, the lossy audio codes, are favored among the audiophiles. With the support of new technologies, these codecs cut a figure and win a group of fans. In this article, we mainly talk about the OGG file and recommend 10 best free OGG player for Mac/Windows. In that way, you can play OGG files at will, no longer having to worry about compatibility issues.

What is an OGG File | OGG VS MP3

Ogg, also called OGG Vobis, is an audio compression format. It can be continuously improved in size and sound quality without affecting the old encoder or player.

OGG VS MP3

OGG is similar to some music formats such as MP3. But what is the difference between OGG and MP3?

1. MP3 is also a lossy compression format, so the compressed data is lossy compared to standard CD music. But the same rate of OGG is better than MP3 when compressed with the same source.
2. The MP3 format is patent protected. If you want to publish your musical work in MP3, you will need to pay royalties to Fraunhofer. While OGG is completely open and free, making OGG files will not be subject to any patent restrictions.
3. MP3 can be played on many media players, but the compatibility of OGG is very poor.

10 Best Free OGG Player for Mac/Windows

NO 1. Cisdem Video Player (Mac)

Developer: Cisdem

OGG Player Download: https://www.cisdem.com/video-player-mac.html

Cisdem Video Player is a feature-heavy OGG Player for both beginners and power users. It stands out from the rest, because of no payment required, blazingly fast speed, a minimalist interface and supporting a number of audio and video codecs.

Helpful Features:

• Play any movie/video/audio files, including playing OGG on mac
• Support high-resolution playback, up to 4K/5K/1080P
• Keep with lossless audio effect
• Hardware accelerated coding and decoding reduces the CPU usage
• Basic playback: play/pause, time display, volume control, zoom, normal and full screen display, etc.
• Get the conversion function via in-app purchase

Need to improve:

• Only a video player for Mac, can’t free play OGG on Windows

No 2. VLC Media Player (Mac and Windows)

Developer: VideoLan

OGG Player Download: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

VLC media player is a wonderful open source OGG player. It holds some awesome tools for tweaking video and audio playback. And it can play OGG on cross-platform for free without spyware, ads or anything else unnecessary.

Helpful Features:

• Help to play files, webcams, devices, discs and streams.
• Support to play about 40 popular file formats
• Add all your OGG files to playlist
• It accepts donations, but it will not force you to buy
• Free open source for Mac, Windows, Ubuntu, Android, IOS

Need to improve:

• The interface is a bit out of date
• Sometimes failed to play the supported file formats
• Error occurs: videos like MKV no sound and external subtitle not loaded

NO 3. KMPlayer (Windows First)

Developer: Pandora TV

OGG player download: http://www.kmplayer.com/

KMPlayer has managed to earn high reputation in the recent times. Its Windows version supports a wide range of formats, including RTS, MPEG1, MPEG2, AAC, WMA7, WMA8, OGG, etc., but the Mac version not. So we prefer using it as a Windows OGG player.

Helpful Features:

• Provide a good viewing experience by supporting 3D, 4K and UHD.
• Basic features: capture screen, load subtitle, adjust brightness/contrast, etc.
• Supports more than 24 international languages

Need to improve：

• Mislead you to download other additional programs during installation
• Mac version is not good enough
• Official site doesn’t look professional

No 4. MPlayer (Mac and Windows)

Developer: MPlayer Team

OGG Player Download: http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/news.html

MPlayer is a very old OGG player for multi-platform. Before developing various front ends, it was primarily a command-line program. Mplayer2 is the fork of MPlayer, which prompted the creation of MPV.

Helpful Features:

• Lost of playback formats supported: physical media, container formats, video formats, audio formats, subtitle formats, image formats, protocols
• No additional codecs required
• Works via CLI and allow to choose many frontends

Need to improve：

• Memory usage is a bit high
• Can’t share videos on social media

NO 5. Windows Media Player (Windows)

Developer: Microsoft Corporation

OGG Player Download: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-media-player-details.aspx?id=8163

Windows Media Player is a free program that is available on Windows. But Microsoft refuses to play OGG file on Windows Media Player, as OGG is an open source format. If you want your windows media player to be an OGG player, you can go to the Vorbis official site and download a decoder: DirectShow Filters for Ogg Vorbis, Speex, Theora, FLAC, and WebM.

Helpful Features:

• Pre-installed on Windows 7, 8.1, 10, XP, etc.
• Play many types of music and videos
• Rip CDs to hard drive
• Sync music and videos to portable device

Need to improve：

• Not a real OGG player, having to download DirectShow Filters
• Limited sound quality choices
• Can't name files flexibly

No 6. QuickTime Player (Mac First)

Developer: Apple

Apple Media Player Download

OGG player download: https://support.apple.com/downloads/quicktime

Like Windows Media Player, QuickTime itself does not support playing OGG files. You have to install a set of decoder packages from xiph.org. Then, any QuickTime-based application like QuickTime player, iTunes, iMovie will be able to handle OGG files.

Helpful Features:

• Play videos stored on hard drive or stream content by supplying the video URL
• Simple recording and editing is possible
• Works with HD videos and perfect audio playback integration
• Pre-installed on Mac

Need to improve：

• Not a real OGG player for Mac, Xiph OGG plugin installation is needed
• Some common formats like DivX, WMV, MKV are not supported

No 7. SMplayer (Mac and Windows)

Developer: Ricardo Villalba

OGG Player Download: https://www.smplayer.info/en/info

SMPlayer is a free OGG player for Windows coming with certain extensive features. Not only does it encompass major audio and video codecs, but also highly portable, stable, light and 30+ languages available.

Helpful Features:

• Well-designed interface makes navigation and custom easier
• Find and play YouTube videos with built-in YouTube player
• Can download subtitles from opensubtitles.org

Need to improve：

• Installer is bundled with OpenCandy

No 8. Elmedia Player (Mac and Windows)

Developer: Eltima

OGG player download: https://mac.eltima.com/media-player.html

Elmedia Player is a super versatile application to open OGG, SWF, FLV, DIVX, DAT, DVD VIDEO_TS folders and other formats. Plus, this best free OGG player enables you to create playlists, grab screenshots, streaming videos within the software.

Helpful Features:

• Play online videos without ads
• Experiment with image layout –mirror, rotate, flip
• Hardware acceleration for brilliant HD experience

Need to improve：

• Quality loss happening when scrubbing back and forth

No 9. Free Mac Media Player (Mac and Window)

Developer: Aiseesoft

OGG player download: https://www.aiseesoft.com/mac-media-player-for-free/

Although named as Free Mac Media Player, it’s also compatible with Windows version. Apart from play OGG file for free, it support various other video and audio formats as well, even including image format JPG, PNG, etc.

Helpful Features:

• Support to player 4K/ 1080P video and DVD
• Support DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD audio playing
• Practical toolbar lets you play OGG file easier

Need to improve：

• No video playlist

No 10. BSPlayer (Windows)

Developer: BSPlayer Team

OGG player download: http://bsplayer.com/

BSPlayer is one of the best free OGG players for Windows out there, and for a good reason. It runs fast, reliable, and has many practical options that do get very comfortable playing of OGG files. But compared to Pro one, the free version is limited in features.

Helpful Features:

• Interchangeable UI Skin
• Manage player both with mouse and keyboard
• Support hardware accelerated playback

Need to improve：

• No attractive interface
• Failed to load subtitles sometimes

Final Words

Well, these were our picks for best free OGG players for Mac/Windows PC. The programs we mentioned above cater to a diverse user base, from advanced users to folks who just want to play OGG files without lags and obstacles. All of these OGG players provide excellent performance with basic and extra playback function. But Cisdem Video Player and VLC Media Player are the most recommended tools due their stability, reliability and effectiveness. Sap gui 7 50 java for mac os. Which is your favorite free .ogg player? Share your thoughts with us.