Infuse suits Apple-device users who want to play local, network, cloud, or media-server video and organize a library with subtitles and metadata.
Free plan Free trial From $16.99 a year iPhone & iPadMac
- Home
- Cloud, Backup & PC
- Media Player Software
Best Media Player Software 2026
Facts read 21 Sep 2026 – 14 Oct 2026
Infuse leads this list of 76 (record score 8.0, free plan). foobar2000 is next (record score 7.8, free plan), and VLC media player is the next highest-placed with a free plan (record score 7.7).
This list covers media player software for playing local or network video and audio. It helps Galaxy users and other buyers compare platform support, playback features, pricing and licence terms.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Infuse | Infuse suits Apple-device users who want to play local, network, cloud, or media-server video and organize a library with subtitles and metadata. | 8.0 | $16.99 a year | Free plan | iPhone & iPad, Mac | 28 Sep 2026 |
| 02 foobar2000 | 7.8 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 14 Oct 2026 | |
| 03 VLC media player | VLC may suit people who want a free player for local media, discs, webcams, devices, or streams across desktop and mobile systems. | 7.7 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 27 Sep 2026 |
| 04 mpv | mpv suits viewers comfortable with a command-line player and a minimal interface. | 7.7 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, Windows, Mac, Linux | 1 Oct 2026 |
| 05 MediaPortal | MediaPortal provides network playback through web, Windows, iOS and Android versions. | 7.5 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 7 Oct 2026 |
| 06 KMPlayer | KMPlayer suits people who want a player across desktop and mobile devices, with broad format and subtitle support. | 7.4 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 28 Sep 2026 |
| 07 Zoom Player | 7.4 | $19.95 one-time | Free trial | Android, Windows | 7 Oct 2026 | |
| 08 SMPlayer | SMPlayer runs on desktop systems and supports subtitles, network playback and formats including Matroska and H.264. | 7.3 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 3 Oct 2026 |
| 09 Volumio | Volumio runs on Linux, Raspberry Pi, PC, web browsers, iOS and Android for network media playback. | 7.3 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Linux | 11 Oct 2026 |
| 10 MPlayer | MPlayer is a free movie player for desktop systems, with hardware acceleration and streaming input support. | 7.1 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 30 Sep 2026 |
Maker-published listing details include free-plan availability, paid starting prices, trials, supported devices and playback capabilities such as network access, subtitles, formats, hardware acceleration and 4K. The page has not published a ranking basis.
02
foobar2000
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+3 Record7.8 Visit
03
VLC media player
VLC may suit people who want a free player for local media, discs, webcams, devices, or streams across desktop and mobile systems.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+2 Record7.7 Visit
04
mpv
mpv suits viewers comfortable with a command-line player and a minimal interface.
AndroidWindowsMac+2 Record7.7 Visit
05
MediaPortal
MediaPortal provides network playback through web, Windows, iOS and Android versions.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+1 Record7.5 Visit
6
KMPlayer
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Free plan Record7.4 Visit KMPlayer suits people who want a player across desktop and mobile devices, with broad format and subtitle support.
8
SMPlayer
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record7.3 Visit SMPlayer runs on desktop systems and supports subtitles, network playback and formats including Matroska and H.264.
9
Volumio
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+3 Free plan Record7.3 Visit Volumio runs on Linux, Raspberry Pi, PC, web browsers, iOS and Android for network media playback.
10
MPlayer
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record7.1 Visit MPlayer is a free movie player for desktop systems, with hardware acceleration and streaming input support.
11
5KPlayer
iPhone & iPadWindowsMac Free plan Record6.8 Visit 5KPlayer offers network and subtitle playback on Windows and macOS computers.
17
BS.Player
AndroidWindows €29.90 a month Record6.5 Visit It suits Windows or Android users looking for a player with network playback, subtitles, and broad format support.
18
QMPlay2
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record6.5 Visit QMPlay2 runs on desktop systems and supports network playback, subtitles and FFmpeg formats.
19
AIMP
AndroidWindowsLinux Free plan Record6.5 Visit AIMP provides network playback on Windows, Linux and Android.
21
DivX Player
WindowsMac Free plan Record6.3 Visit DivX Player runs on Windows and macOS and supports network playback, with a free plan.
22
PotPlayer
Windows Free plan Record6.3 Visit PotPlayer runs on Windows and supports subtitles, including SRT, Blu-ray and ASS/SSA.
23
Audirvāna
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+2 — Record6.3 Visit Audirvāna may suit listeners who want to manage and play a local music library, or Studio subscribers who also want streaming services and audio-processing tools.
24
RealPlayer
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Free plan Record6.2 Visit RealPlayer may suit people looking for media playback and downloads across desktop and mobile platforms.
Before you choose
Match the software to your devices
Before picking a player, confirm it works on the systems you use, such as Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, iOS or web. A tool that covers your computer and Galaxy devices can reduce platform switching.
Read the payment terms
Free plans are listed separately from freemium pricing. Infuse offers a free plan, with paid access starting at $1.99 per month and a seven-day trial. mpv, foobar2000 and Music Player Daemon also have free plans.
Check playback features
Look across the comparison for network streaming, subtitle handling, supported formats, hardware acceleration and 4K capability. These fields show whether a player fits your files, displays and network library.
Review the licence model
The list includes a licence-model field. Read that field and the maker's terms if redistribution, modification or other usage rights matter to you.
Questions
Which platforms are covered?
Supported platforms in the comparison include Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, iOS and web.
Are free plans listed?
Yes. Free-plan status is a comparison field. mpv, foobar2000 and Music Player Daemon list free plans.
Does any player offer a trial?
Infuse lists a seven-day trial. Trial availability appears in the pricing details when a maker publishes it.
Can I compare 4K playback?
Yes. The comparison includes 4K playback, as well as support for formats, subtitles, network playback and hardware acceleration.
What does the licence field show?
The licence-model field records the model published for a player. Check the maker's terms for use or redistribution questions.
More in Cloud, Backup & PC
Web browsers 154Backup software 151Remote desktop software 135Data recovery software 128Disk Space Analyzers 105File transfer services 105Keyboard and Mouse Customization Software 105File Manager Software 100PC Optimization Software 97PC Benchmark Software 73Photo Storage Services 71File Conversion Software 69Window Management Software 65Cloud Storage Services 64Hardware Monitoring Software 59Download Manager Software 58Desktop Search Software 57SD Card Recovery Software 54