On the net we can find a large number of free multimedia players. These usually offer everything that any average user needs. However, except for a specific program, to be able to play some formats we will have to manually install and configure the codecs on our computer.
It must be taken into account that everything related to the multimedia sector is growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. This includes applications that help us play all kinds of video contentas well as listening to music. Apart from the innumerable streaming services that we can use at the moment, many other users prefer to consume this type of file locally from their computers. That is precisely where certain programs that we download and install on our computer come into play in order to enjoy the content that we mention to you to the fullest.
But not only do we have to take into account the number of files with these characteristics that we can play on our computers, the different qualities that we can use Hence the importance of the codecs and compatible files that the programs that we will talk about below can offer us. In this way, what we avoid is having problems related to the compatibility with certain files and being able to watch our videos or play any audio file without any problem.
VLC
When we talk about media players, the best known and used around the world is VLC. This multimedia player is free and open source and its main feature is that it comes with all kinds of codecs so you don’t have problems playing any type of content.
VLC is designed to play local files that we have stored on our computer. However, we can also use it to play DVDs, Blu-Rays and all kinds of optical drives thanks to the “Open disc” option.
If this is one of the most widespread and used multimedia programs around the globe, it must be for a reason. And it is that if something characterizes VLC It is the enormous compatibility with all types of multimedia files that it offers us by default. In addition, we cannot forget the reliability that it presents in terms of its operation and all the additional functions that it makes available to us to personalize its use. Hence, it could be considered that this multipurpose player is designed to meet the needs of both new users and the most advanced in the sector.
Can download VLC for free from the .
MPC-HC
Another well-known option to play all kinds of multimedia content is Media Player Classic – Home Cinema. This player is also free and open source, and for many users it is superior to VLC in many ways. For example, MPC-HC is characterized by being much lighter and easier to use than the VideoLAN player and has a large number of customization options.
Although the original project was abandoned some time ago, it is still maintained today by one of its original developers. And although it does not receive major changes or news, the codecs and other content included in the browser is still supported. In addition, if something characterizes this specific proposal, it is the good reliability that it offers us in its operation.
Can download MPC-HC for free from the .
GOM Media Player
GOM is another popular free multimedia player that we can install on Windows and that will allow us to play all kinds of files. This is mainly characterized by its simplicity, in addition to bringing a large collection of codecs that, although it is not as complete as that of VLC, will allow us to play most of the most popular formats without any problem. As one would not expect otherwise, it has full capacity for reading optical discs, whether they are DVD or Blu-ray, as well as the classic CDs.
It is also worth mentioning other features of this powerful multimedia player such as its full compatibility with the 360 degree video playback, so that we can fully enjoy this mode of immersion. In addition, it allows us play damaged AVI filesas well as play those video files that we are downloading, so that we can view the downloaded parts without having to wait for the download to complete 100%.
Another advantage of this player is that it works smoothly even on older versions of Windows such as XP. Can download GOM Media Player from the .
SMPlayer
Another free alternative that we can find to play DVDs and Blu-Ray in Windows is SMPlayer. This program is also open source and is specifically a frontend for MPV, an excellent player that does not have a graphical interface and that is executed from the command line.
This multimedia player is compatible with all the audio and video formats that we can find, it is highly customizable and has advanced functions, such as filters, enhancements and even the possibility of searching for and downloading subtitles for our videos.
Other of its features to highlight is its ability to create playlists, it allows you to take screenshots and it has an equalizer for both audio and video. It should also be noted that it is compatible with Google’s Chromecast so we can play the content of our DVD and Blu-ray on the television from the computer. In addition, it supports the playback of YouTube videos.
Can download SMPlayer from the .
5KPlayer
This multimedia player, previously known as DAPlayer, is characterized by being compatible with the latest security measures used by companies to avoid copying movies, including the controversial AACS.
This player allows us to play any movie with just a couple of clicks and is also compatible with 320 video formats and 120 audio formats. Its low use of resources makes it a great alternative for users with relatively old computers.
Can download DAPlayer from the .
potplayer
In this case we find a generic player video content that is characterized by its ease of use in Windows. But at the same time it is considered as powerful software due to its wide compatibility and additional features. That is why little by little the world is gaining followers. It should be noted that it has compatibility with all current file formats. At the same time, it is capable of playing both local and online content, and of course to be able to see our DVD and Blu-Ray discs.
One of the functions that draws the attention of many users is that the program natively has a hardware acceleration function. This allows us not to experience cuts in the playback of high definition video files. In addition, it is worth knowing that it even offers us support for 3D or 360-degree recorded videos. For all these reasons, this becomes an excellent alternative for all those who, when watching their DVDs or any other Video format, do not want complications. Of course, this simplicity should not be at odds with functionality and program stability.
To finish, we will tell you that you can download and try this application from your .
BlazeDVD Free
This DVD player may not be well known to the general public, but because of that it fails to offer good features for DVD playback. It stands out for offering stereo audio quality and smooth video playback for DVD, CD, VCD and SVCD. It also offers support for SD quality, 1080p video and audio playback with easy-to-use playback navigation.
To obtain a better user experience we have full control of the playback, as well as several advanced functions that allow us to play with images such as the slideshow, and manage playlists. It features a 10-band preset equalizer value, parental controls, power-saving schemes, and multi-language support.
We can download BlazeDVD Free from its .
Leawo Blu-ray Player
Finally, within the free applications to play DVDs and Blu-Rays, we are going to talk about Leawo Blu-ray Player. This is one more free player, and it has the same features and functions as the previous alternatives. Its main strong point is that it doesn’t give any problems with DVDs or Blu-Rays in ISO format, being able to read them automatically or when they’re mounted on a virtual drive.
It is compatible with the latest high definition image formats (4K UHD HDR) and with the latest video formats such as AVI, MKV, MPEG, ASF, WMV, FLV, MOV among others. And it is that it is a professional tool with which we will be able to play all the Blu-ray discs on the market, as well as folders and files stored in it. In addition to the ability to read Blu-ray discs, it also supports a DVD player, so we can play DVDs, DVD folders, DVD ISO files, as well as IFO files, without quality loss.
It is worth noting that it has a large number of additional options, functions and tools so that users can make the most of playing their favorite movies and series. For example, it is compatible with Dolby, DTS, AAC, TRueHD, DTS-HD sound systems, etc., and it also allows us to adjust the subtitles and audio tracks for a better experience.
Can download Leawo Blu-ray Player from the .
KMPlayer 64X
KMPlayer is a completely free video player capable of playing videos up to 8K resolution at 60 fps, which gives us an idea of what this powerful player offers us, which is also compatible with DVD and Blu-ray discs. The performance of this application is one of the best, consuming at all times the minimum and necessary resources so that the computer does not collapse, especially when it comes to files that take up a lot of space due to their resolution (4K and 8K) or their format ( .mkv).
The application does not include any type of ads, it is compatible with the most modern video codecs such as HEVC (H.265) which offers higher lossless video compression, in addition to VP9 and H.264. It includes a hardware acceleration function, which is ideal if we have a graphics card since it reduces the use of the processor and we can combine playback with other tasks.
In addition to playing both DVDs and Blu-Rays and being compatible with all video formats and resolutions on the market, it also includes a function that allows us to download videos from internet, videos that, obviously, we can also play from the application. In addition, it includes a function to create GIFs of the content we are viewing. This application is translated into Spanish, it is compatible from Windows Vista and the…