VLC media player vs mpv
Two of the top three media players, compared rule by rule on published facts.
In short
- VLC media player has 86 points and mpv 67, 19 apart on our media player software rules.
- VLC media player earns more on systems and ads and privacy; mpv earns more on streams, audio and library.
- Price of the player: VLC media player $0, mpv $0.
- Only VLC media player meets: no ads or bundled offers and states no tracking.
mpv67/100 #3 of 12
Best for: People who want a free, scriptable player and are fine without a built-in library.
Points by group
| Group | VLC media player | mpv |
|---|---|---|
| Systems of 12 | 12 | 3 |
| Video of 31 | 29 | 29 |
| Streams, audio and library of 25 | 13 | 15 |
| Ads and privacy of 20 | 20 | 8 |
| Price of 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Total | 86 | 67 |
Rule by rule
What each vendor publishes, and the points it earns. Sources are on each product page.
| Rule (points) | VLC media player | mpv |
|---|---|---|
| Other systems (12) | macOS, Linux, Android, iOS 12 | Android 3 |
| Disc playback (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| No codec pack needed (6) | Yes 6 | Yes 6 |
| Hardware video decoding (7) | Yes 7 | Yes 7 |
| HDR playback (5) | Yes 5 | Yes 5 |
| Subtitle features (8) | External subtitle files, Embedded subtitle tracks, Styled ASS/SSA subtitles 6 | External subtitle files, Embedded subtitle tracks, Styled ASS/SSA subtitles 6 |
| Network streams (8) | HTTP or HTTPS URLs, HLS, RTSP or RTMP 6 | HTTP or HTTPS URLs, HLS, RTSP or RTMP 6 |
| Audio features (8) | Equaliser, Exclusive audio output (WASAPI or ASIO) 4 | Gapless playback, ReplayGain or loudness levelling, Exclusive audio output (WASAPI or ASIO) 6 |
| Media library (6) | Not published 0 | Not published 0 |
| Plugins or add-ons (3) | Yes 3 | Yes 3 |
| Open-source apps (8) | Yes 8 | Yes 8 |
| No ads or bundled offers (8) | Yes 8 | Not published 0 |
| States no tracking (4) | Yes 4 | Not published 0 |
| Price of the player (12) | $0 12 | $0 12 |
VLC media player
VLC suits anyone who wants a single player that costs nothing, carries no ads and has downloads for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. It opens discs, network streams (including HLS and RTSP) and HDR video, and accepts Lua add-ons. The catch is thin documentation: the vendor's pages do not name ReplayGain, gapless playback, a media library or subtitle search, so those earn nothing here.
mpv
mpv suits people who want a free player with hardware decoding, HDR handling, disc support and a scripting interface, and who do not mind configuring it. It is offered free of charge. The catch: its project page calls the Windows and macOS binaries third-party builds, and it has no media library.
Both products are scored by the same rules: how we score media players.