Your media, your way
VLC is a sturdy, capable player that can run nearly any file, CD, disk, or DVD without issues. It can even play broken and fragmented files.
Media on demand
Watch videos, listen to music, and stream your webcam with ease in this powerful multimedia program that’s just a download away.
VLC is one of the most popular players out there, and for good reason. It can run almost any media file available. There are a variety of video and sound file types in the world. Having one program to run all of them makes your life easier, and putting in your favorite album is a breeze. It’s easy to download and set it up. Once you get it going, you’re ready to run any media type you encounter.
VLC can also run DVDs and CDs, which is great. The only catch with a DVD is that you won’t be able to record any video footage from within the media player. But VLC still boasts high system compatibility as it will run on almost any computer, no matter how dated it is.
There are a couple of issues with VLC, one of which is the interface; it’s not particular attractive. In fact, it looks like something from the early 2000s. However, this doesn’t mean it’s complicated or painful to use. Aside from the visuals, you’ll notice that the software can become buggy or even crash at random times. This is usually caused by RAM-related issues, though a problem like this does imply a memory leak in the software.
With the many powerful and free programs out there, you need to be careful that you aren’t installing adware or spyware as an extra feature. Fortunately, VLC doesn’t come with any of those; it’s entirely ad-free and contains no malicious software.
Where can you run this program?
It’s available for the latest versions of Windows, Mac OS, Android, IOS and Linux.
Is there a better alternative?
No, VLC is a compelling media player. But if you find the user interface unpleasant, you can look at alternatives such as Eltima. Both software compete to be the best media players.
Our take
VLC is packed full of features and capability, but its instability presents some issues. In the face the expansion of QuickTime’s capabilities, users of newer versions of Mac OSX might find VLC to be a bit redundant. If you’re on an older version, however, VLC could be for you.
Should you download it?
Yes, if you’re looking for a new way to experience multimedia content, DVDs or CDs. It can read almost any video or sound file you’ll want to play.