2 Open Source Alternatives To Windows media player

mpv is a free, open source, and cross-platform media player designed for the command line. It supports a wide variety of media file formats, audio and video codecs, and subtitle types, making it a versatile choice for all your media playback needs.

• Scripting: Powerful scripting capabilities allow for extensive customization. A large selection of user scripts is available on the wiki.
• On Screen Controller: Minimalistic on-screen controller for basic video control, maintaining the player's minimalist design.
• High Quality Video Output: Supports OpenGL, Vulkan, and D3D11 for high-quality video output features like video scaling, color management, frame timing, interpolation, and HDR.
• GPU Video Decoding: Leverages most hardware decoding APIs across platforms, enabling hardware decoding at runtime on demand.
• Embeddable: Offers a straightforward C API for easy integration into other applications.
• Active Development: Continuously developed with a focus on code refactoring, cleanups, and feature additions. Users can post patches or request features.

mpv is an actively developed project that aims to provide a high-quality, customizable media player experience through a minimalist interface and powerful capabilities.

VLC media player is a free and open-source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most multimedia files, as well as DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. Developed by the VideoLAN non-profit organization, VLC is known for its versatility and robust performance across different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It is a highly customizable player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats without the need for additional codecs, making it a go-to choice for millions of users worldwide.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: VLC runs on all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
• Wide Format Support: Plays virtually all multimedia files, including MPEG, AVI, MP4, MKV, and many more, without the need for additional codecs.
• Customizable Interface: Users can customize the interface with skins and extensions to suit their preferences.
• Streaming Protocols: Supports various streaming protocols, allowing users to stream media from the internet or local networks.
• Advanced Control: Offers advanced control options like synchronization of subtitles, video and audio filters, and more.
• Open Source: Completely free and open-source, licensed under various open-source licenses.

VLC media player stands out for its simplicity, speed, and powerful capabilities. Whether you're a casual user looking to play media files or a tech-savvy individual seeking advanced control options, VLC provides a comprehensive solution for all your multimedia needs.