VLC media player requires no introduction. It's undoubtedly one of the most popular music and video players for Windows. The software comes with a huge number of built-in video codecs, opens multimedia files in most formats, plays Blu-ray and DVD discs, and handles network streaming. Besides Windows, VLC media player is available across multiple other platforms, including Mac OS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome OS, Windows Phone, and Apple TV.
Key features
Ones of the most notable functions of VLC media player is its ability to play damaged or incomplete video files. Moreover, the player streams YouTube videos and torrent files, records your desktop, converts movies to any format, supports 360-degree videos and offers filters to rotate, split, distort, and mirror video files. You can use VLC to search and play Internet radio stations, enable a graphic equalizer for your audio files, and synchronize subtitles with videos. There's also a wide range of plug-ins that can greatly extend the functionality of the player. Check the full list of formats supported by the software.
Drawbacks
As any other programs, VLC comes with a number of downsides. The software is great for playing videos, but it lacks advanced music player options, like music library managing, a rating system, or audio files sorting. In addition, VLC media player doesn't open videos at the same point as you closed them the last time and has no native option to pause or play when clicking on a movie.
Alternatives
There's a broad array of media players available on the market, but the most known alternative tools to VLC media player are KMPlayer, Media Player Classic, and GOM Player. KMPlayer offers the remote control option, but supports less formats than VLC and is available only for Windows and Android. Media Player Classic is lightweight and extremely responsive. MPC supports even more codecs than VLC, but lacks most streaming functions VLC offers and runs only on Windows. GOM Player allows remote control via an app on your phone, but comes with third-party software components and occasionally displays ads.
Conclusion
All in all, VLC Media Player is one of the best of its kind. It can handle almost any media file you throw at it and comes packed with a large variety of features. Moreover, a huge number of plug-ins can be used to extend its functionality even further.