Windows Media Player vs VLC Media Player

Compare features, pricing, and capabilities to find which solution is best for your needs.

Windows Media Player icon

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a built-in multimedia player and manager for Windows, enabling users to play audio, video, and view images. It also provides functionalities for Rip and burn CDs and synchronize media to portable devices. by Microsoft

Free

Platforms: Windows

Screenshots:

Alternatives Details

VS

VS

VLC Media Player icon

VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. Known for its robust format support and stability, VLC is a favorite for playing virtually any media file without the need for external codecs. by VideoLAN

Open Source

Platforms: Mac OS X Windows Linux Android iPhone Chrome OS Windows RT Android Tablet BSD Windows Phone iPad Apple Watch Apple TV PortableApps.com Kindle Fire Haiku Solaris Xfce

Screenshots:

Alternatives Details Website

Comparison Summary

Windows Media Player and VLC Media Player are both powerful solutions in their space. Windows Media Player offers windows media player is a built-in multimedia player and manager for windows, enabling users to play audio, video, and view images. it also provides functionalities for rip and burn cds and synchronize media to portable devices., while VLC Media Player provides vlc media player is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files as well as dvds, audio cds, vcds, and various streaming protocols. known for its robust format support and stability, vlc is a favorite for playing virtually any media file without the need for external codecs.. Compare their features and pricing to find the best match for your needs.

Pros & Cons Comparison

Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player

Analysis & Comparison

Advantages

Bundled with Windows, no separate installation needed.

Good for basic playback and media organization.

Includes CD ripping and burning capabilities.

Generally stable and light on system resources for basic use.

Limitations

User interface can feel dated compared to newer players.

Limited support for newer or less common media formats without extra codecs.

Advanced features are not always intuitive to find.

Features for online media streaming are less prominent in newer versions.

VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player

Analysis & Comparison

Advantages

Supports nearly every audio and video format without external codecs.

Free and open-source with no ads or bundled software.

Available on a wide range of operating systems and devices.

Lightweight and efficient, even on older hardware.

Includes built-in media conversion capabilities.

Excellent subtitle support with automatic download.

Limitations

Some advanced settings can be complex for beginners.

The default UI might appear basic to some users (though customizable).

Limited features for managing large media libraries compared to dedicated media server software.

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