VLC media player
Free GPL-2.0 player from VideoLAN that plays discs and streams without codec packs
Video player for PC: ten Windows options compared
The ten Windows players in this category split into two groups. Most are local-file players: VLC, MPC-HC, PotPlayer, mpv, GOM Player, MPC-BE and SMPlayer. Kodi, Plex and Jellyfin Media Player are built around libraries and media servers, so they solve a different problem.
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Pick by what you play and how much you want to configure. VLC and SMPlayer both come with built-in codec support, while MPC-HC is a DirectShow player that accepts third party filters.
Size differs a lot too. MPC-BE is 19 MB and MPC-HC 22 MB, while GOM Player is 212.8 MB and Plex 178.8 MB.
All ten are free, so the choice comes down to your files and how much tweaking you enjoy.
Apps in this category
MPC-HC
Light, open-source Windows player with bundled HDR renderer and DirectShow filters
PotPlayer
Free Windows player from Kakao Corp. for many video formats, 48.9 MB
Kodi
Free open source media center for Windows, version 21.3 with faster rescans
mpv (shinchiro build)
Free mpv 0.41.0 Windows build with installer file associations, 36 MB
Jellyfin Media Player
Free GPL-2.0 Windows desktop client for Jellyfin servers, version 1.12.0
Plex
Plex 1.115.0 for Windows: client–server video and music streaming
GOM Player
Free Windows video player with 100+ formats, built-in codecs and VR mode
MPC-BE
Free GPL-3.0 Windows player with NVDEC 4:2:2 and BT.2020 fixes in 1.9.2
SMPlayer
Free GPL-2.0 Windows player with built-in codecs and resumable playlists
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Top 5 picks
VLC media player
VLC from VideoLAN is version 3.0.24, updated September 21, 2026, at 44.1 MB under GPL-2.0. Its listing names MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM and WMV as playable without codec packs, and it also covers discs, webcams and streams. It suits people who want one player for mixed sources.
MPC-HC
MPC-HC 2.8.4 was updated October 18, 2026 and weighs 22 MB, licensed GPL-3.0. It is a DirectShow player for Windows only, which means third party filters can extend it. It offers a simple interface and a large amount of functionality. A fit for users who already know which filters they want.
mpv (shinchiro build)
mpv 0.41.0 is the shinchiro Windows build, packaged with a native installer that handles Default Apps, context menus and file associations. It is 36 MB, GPL-2.0-or-later, and was updated March 2, 2026. It supports many formats, codecs and subtitle types.
PotPlayer
PotPlayer from Kakao Corp. is freeware at version 26.10.21.0, updated November 2, 2026, the most recent update among the ten. It is 48.9 MB and supports varied codecs and formats.
Kodi
Kodi 21.3.0.0 from the XBMC Foundation is a media center with a 10-foot interface for televisions and remote controls. It plays media from local and network storage and the internet. At 74 MB under GPL-2.0-or-later, it was last updated November 23, 2025, which is older than most picks here.
Questions and answers
Do I need a codec pack for a video player on PC?
The VLC and SMPlayer listings both say no separate codec pack is needed. MPC-HC works differently: it is a DirectShow player, so third party filters can extend what it plays.
Which video players are the lightest?
By download size, MPC-BE is smallest at 19 MB, followed by MPC-HC at 22 MB and mpv at 36 MB. GOM Player at 212.8 MB and Plex at 178.8 MB are the largest.
Are these video players free?
Every app here is free. Licenses vary: GOM Player is proprietary, PotPlayer is freeware, and Plex is Freemium and GPL-2.0, so read its terms before assuming everything is included.
Related categories
Best-of lists
Start with one light player and add a library tool only if you need it. For loose files, VLC or MPC-HC covers most cases, at 44.1 MB and 22 MB. If you keep media on a home server, Plex at version 1.115.0 or Jellyfin Media Player at 1.12.0 act as clients for that setup.
Check the update date before installing. Jellyfin Media Player was last updated March 19, 2025, and GOM Player August 27, 2025, while MPC-HC, MPC-BE and PotPlayer all have October or November 2026 dates. Version and date are the main signals for these Windows builds.