Let’s see which are the best free video players for Windows 10 compatible with all formats, useful for watching movies and TV series on your PC.
A good PC video player must meet specific minimum requirements. On the one hand, it must be able to reproduce all types of formats and, on the other hand, it must have a good accumulation of functionality. What are the best ones to watch videos smoothly from a Windows computer?
Before going into the merits, it would be advisable to talk a little about codecs. When we watch a video we use what are commonly known as codecs.
The word codec derives from the union of the Anglo-Saxon terms “coder” and “decoder“. Basically, it is a program responsible for encoding (compression) and decoding (playing from a compressed medium) of an audio and video multimedia file.
There are different codecs for each type of data. Therefore, video codecs are responsible for processing sequential images and audio codecs do the same for sounds. In this way, when we want to play a video with audio, we use both types of codecs.
One of the most important factors of a codec is its simplicity and speed in the data processing. If a codec is too heavy or our device is not powerful enough, the playback will be weighted and we will have cuts or blocks.
To decode audio/video files we usually use multimedia programs or as everyone normally knows them- video players for PC.
With these video players, you no longer have to worry about having to download a codec to watch one of your movies from your Windows 10 operating system.
The best video players for Windows
In many cases, we have problems playing some video formats in the default Windows player. So if you are looking for the best multimedia experience, we offer you the best with the best free video players for Windows 10. Of course, we will also take into account other important issues such as the design and features that each one offers.
The most common video formats are:
AVI (an acronym for Audio Video Interleave) is an audio and video container format released by Microsoft in 1992.
MOV. Video format created in 1991 by Quicktime. It has become the standard format for this player.
FLV. Also known as Flash Video and requires that you have the Flash Player program on your computer.
MKV. Matroska is an open container format that includes video, audio, and subtitles. A video format is known in high definition video.
MPEG. The Moving Picture Experts Group is an expert working group formed by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission to establish the standards for audio and video transmission. It is one of the oldest on the list and was created in 1988.
DIVX. Initially, it was only a codec for videos but over time it has become a standard video format and widely used for example to compress DVDs.
WMV. Windows Media Video is a native player format that incorporates Windows and is well known to all (Windows Media Player).
3GP. It is a video format created for mobile devices.
M4V. The M4V file format is a video container format developed by Apple very similar to the MP4 format. The main difference is that M4V files can be optionally protected by digital rights management and copy protection.
There are many other video formats, but at least these are the most common.
Importantly, these video players can play DVDs, Blu-ray and fully updated formats, such as mp4. In addition, we will see their features, main options and additional tools such as subtitles, equalizer, playback controls, among other things.
5Kplayer
This video player for Windows 10 is composed of a totally minimalist design, capable of playing videos up to 4K / 8K HDR videos in MP4, H.265 / 264, VP8 / VP9, MTS, MKV, and FLV, including also Online broadcasts, HD dashcam, phone recordings and DVD videos loaded with tracks of various subtitles.
With the new hardware acceleration, this software intelligently improves your visual experience with minimal CPU and GPU consumption in terms of decoding and similar rendering. Start enjoying 4K 8K HDR video quickly and without interference.
In addition, this player can convert videos from Web pages to mp4 or other formats that may be available for download within the application.
Main features:
- Play videos in 4K / 5K / 1080p HD, DVD, and radio with a revolutionary design.
- Play perfectly music AAC APE FLAC MP3 to activate your senses.
- Wireless audio-video streaming via AirPlay and DLNA without quality loss.
- Download online videos from YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, etc.
Parma Video Player
Parma Video Player is characterized by having a great aesthetic appeal, in which it maintains total elegance through its interface. It is a universal application for Windows 10 that supports most existing formats.
One of its greatest virtues is that it organizes films and videos in folders and subfolders very well so that it is easier to manage and play your files.
The main reason why many prefer this application is its simple and intuitive interface. When playing a video or audio file, a convenient home menu opens with the options you need to play it and manage it quickly.
Furthermore, in the upper right part, there is also a space for tools and adjustments.
Main features:
- Supports SRT subtitles
- Touch controls (slide)
- Support for films in multiple languages
VLC Media Player
VLC is a classic multimedia player and known for all audio and video formats. Lately, it is one of the most used and is characterized by being one of the most reproduced codecs, without the need to install additional packages.
At the moment it has a simple interface where we can add subtitles, effects, and filters and convert files to different formats.
Its main features:
- Play all: files, discs, webcams, and streams.
- Plays most codecs without the necessary codec packages: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, MP3.
- Executable on all platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Unix, iOS, Android.
- Completely free: no spyware, no advertisements, and no user tracking.
KMPlayer
KMPlayer previously called “KMP“ is a free media player, which can be used without any configuration using a standalone codec. For many, it is a video player very similar to that of VLC, with the difference that this has a classic style interface. There is not much more to say about it, it is a simple reader, easy to use and of the few still free.
It is currently available for Windows, Mac OS, and mobile devices.
Potplayer
When you want to find a powerful player, capable of playing a wide variety of multimedia formats; Potplayer is the solution, it can also resist OpenCodec so you can do it manually.
It is also compatible with 3D format with special lenses and basic functions such as subtitles, SMI and SRT titles, both for Blu-ray and other devices that can read the same.
PotPlayer is a very fluid player, it is also able to play up to 1,000 files and remember the exact point where the last 200 were and then continue playing from there. To all this, we must add the variety of customization options offered at the level of filters, audio and subtitles.
Perhaps one of the things that can be considered a disadvantage is that it is not translated into Spanish.
CyberLink PowerDVD 18
Considered by many to be the number 1 media and movie player for all discs, files and video streams. Unlike the other programs mentioned, PowerDVD is the most complete, since it integrates many features, not only for PC but also to realize the potential of the TV and the audio system.
It plays almost any disc or file format and is compatible with the latest technology files such as VR content and 360º video. On top of all that, it has some unique features like streaming and downloading YouTube and Vimeo videos. If you are looking for power and many customization options; PowerDVD is the ideal reader for you.
Of course, not everything can be good, since if you want to enjoy the premium features of this software you have to pay for the license, even if honestly what the free version offers is more than necessary.
