5 Best Open Source Video Players in 2024

If you enjoy watching movies but don’t want to shell out your money on expensive software, make sure to use the best open source video players. Nowadays, you can find plenty of video players with advanced options that allow you to watch media content.

I have compiled this list to make it easier for you to select the best option for your needs. Similarly to other open-source programs, such video players are quite reliable and don’t cost a dime. Besides, they are regularly updated.

Top 5 Open Source Video Players

  1. DVDFab Player 6 - Offers two display modes
  2. VLC - No annoying ads
  3. MPV - Allows high quality video content streaming
  4. Banshee - Simple to operate
  5. FFmpeg - Cross-platform

Since the best open source video players have been on the market for years, you don’t need to worry that the developers will stop supporting them. If you have advanced programming skills, you can join the developer team and improve your favorite product.

1. DVDFab Player 6 - Our Choice

Offers two display modes
  • PC Mode and TV Mode
  • Provide menu support for DVD and Blu-ray discs, folders
  • Many file formats supported
  • Easy to use
  • None

Verdict: DVDFab Player 6 is one of the open source video players that you can use to view your DVDs. It is also known as the Linux Movie Player. It has an advanced and user-friendly interface which allows you to browse through the different categories of movies.

The software is supported by a large number of video files such as AVI, MKV, AVCHD, etc.

dvdfab player 6 interface

2. VLC

No annoying ads
  • Simple to setup and use
  • Doesn't require additional codecs
  • Tons of advanced settings
  • Large amount of extensions
  • Absence of personalization

Verdict: It is one of the most popular open source video players in 2021. It features an extremely simple interface, completely free distribution and "omnivorous" for working with most video and audio formats.

From personal experience, I can recommend this 4K video player, since its functionality will suit both lovers of fine-tuning the entire process and ordinary users who prefer everything to work right away.

vlc interface

3. MPV

Allows high quality video content streaming
  • Needs no additional codecs
  • Integrates with streaming services
  • Extremely responsive
  • Super fast
  • It is not available for 32-bit CPU

Verdict: MPV Player is a completely new development of an open source video player based on the famous MPlayer. It is convenient, fast, minimalistic and is a console player, but don't let that scare you.

This free DVD player software integrates perfectly into the context menu, and is also easily operated with a transparent, pop-up control window. The program can play not only video but also music.

mpv open source video players interface

4. Banshee

Simple to operate
  • Metadata editor
  • Cross-platform
  • Allows using extensions
  • The equalizer is very good
  • Updates issues
  • Has problems with large libraries

Verdict: Banshee is a multimedia playback and management software for the GNOME (Unity) environment that allows you to import audio CD content, maintain a media library, create playlists based on specified criteria, sync music to iPod and other media devices, play video files and burn CDs.

banshee open source video players interface

5. FFmpeg

Cross-platform
  • Multiple graphical front-ends
  • Free and open source
  • Screen capture
  • Extensive list of formats supported
  • Steep learning curve
  • Sometimes can be slow

Verdict: Ffmpeg is an open source video player that is available for download free of charge and supports Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. It has a simple, uncomplicated layout, and the program is extremely easy to use, with its short and simple user manual. A majority of the features are customizable or can be disabled.

Although this free video player is comparatively new, it has already established a firm place among the multimedia community, due to its strong multimedia support and high reliability.

ffmpeg open source video players interface
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