--- title: MPC-HC (Media Player Classic - Home Cinema) canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/mpc-hc/ category: Media Player Software points: 41 rank: 9 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # MPC-HC (Media Player Classic - Home Cinema) Free, open-source Windows video and audio player, maintained as a fork of the original MPC-HC. 41 points out of 100. #9 of 12 media players. Vendor: clsid2 fork. Website: https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc - The player is free and open source under GPL v3 [1][4]. - It runs on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11 only [1]. - HDR video plays through the bundled MPC Video Renderer or madVR [1]. - Subtitle search starts with the D key, or automatically if you turn it on [1]. - Blu-ray discs play, but you need a decrypting tool and Blu-ray menus are not supported [3]. Verdict: MPC-HC suits Windows users who want a free, open-source player with HDR output, Blu-ray playback and built-in subtitle search [1][3][4]. Its pages name Blu-ray playback but not DVD, a media library or add-ons [1][3]. It has no apps for other systems [1]. Best for: Windows users who want a light, free, open-source player. Status: The original MPC-HC site says the project has not been developed since 2017; this record covers the maintained clsid2 fork [1][5]. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | None | 0/12 | README calls it a player for Windows and lists only Windows versions as requirements [1]. | | Video | Disc playback | Yes | 5/5 | Release notes say "MPC-HC also supports Blu-ray playback", with a decrypting tool needed [3]. | | Video | No codec pack needed | Not published | 0/6 | README says new formats are supported but does not say it has its own decoders; it suggests K-Lite for renderers [1]. | | Video | Hardware video decoding | Yes | 7/7 | Release notes say to "change the hardware decoder to D3D11 in LAV Video Decoder settings" for MPC Video Renderer [3]. | | Video | HDR playback | Yes | 5/5 | README says HDR playback needs the included MPC Video Renderer or madVR [1]. | | Video | Subtitle features | External subtitle files, Subtitle search in the player | 4/8 | Release notes add loading a secondary subtitle file [3]; README names subtitle search, libass and WebVTT [1]. ASS and embedded tracks not named. | | Streams, audio and library | Network streams | None | 0/8 | README names only streaming from video websites with yt-dlp, not a protocol; none counted [1]. | | Streams, audio and library | Audio features | None | 0/8 | README names no gapless, ReplayGain, equaliser or WASAPI feature; it mentions only MPC Audio Renderer for speed changes [1]. | | Streams, audio and library | Media library | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's README [1]. | | Streams, audio and library | Plugins or add-ons | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's README [1]. | | Ads and privacy | Open-source apps | Yes | 8/8 | Code is licensed under GPL v3; the repository holds the GPLv3 text [1][4]. | | Ads and privacy | No ads or bundled offers | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the vendor's README or release page [1][2]. | | Ads and privacy | States no tracking | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's README or release page [1][2]. | | Price | Price of the player | $0 | 12/12 | README describes the player as free and open source [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | MPC-HC | Free [1] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, with source code under GPL v3 [1][4]. - Plays HDR video with the bundled MPC Video Renderer or madVR [1]. - Searches for subtitles by key press or automatically [1]. - Still updated: version 2.8.3 is the latest release [2][3]. ## Limits - Windows only; no macOS, Linux, Android or iOS build is listed [1]. - Blu-ray playback needs a decrypting tool, and Blu-ray menus are not supported [3]. - The README and release notes name no DVD playback, media library or add-on system [1][3]. - The README points users to the K-Lite Codec Pack for renderers and an all-in-one install [1][2]. - Streaming from video sites needs yt-dlp placed in the install folder [1]. ## Sources 1. [clsid2/mpc-hc README](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 2. [clsid2/mpc-hc releases](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 3. [MPC-HC 2.8.3 release](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/releases/tag/2.8.3), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 4. [COPYING.txt (GNU GPL v3)](https://github.com/clsid2/mpc-hc/blob/develop/COPYING.txt), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-09 5. [MPC-HC original project site](https://mpc-hc.org/), MPC-HC, accessed 2026-10-09