R
ReviewerVerified
1 month ago
VLC has opened every obscure video and audio file I've thrown at it without needing a single extra codec. It's free, open-source, and has never tried to upsell me anything. The only reason it's not five stars is that the interface looks a bit dated compared to modern players.
Universal format support, completely free
Dated-looking interface
I've used VLC for years across Windows, Mac, and Android and it just works on all of them. Subtitle handling, playback speed control, and streaming from a URL are all built in. My one small gripe is that some of the advanced settings are buried in menus that aren't very intuitive.
Cross-platform, packed with features
Advanced settings are hard to find
VLC remains my go-to for everything from podcasts to movies. The fact that an open-source project handles formats commercial players choke on is impressive. I dock one star only because audio normalisation sometimes needs manual tweaking to get levels consistent across different files.
Handles formats others can't, dependable
Audio normalisation needs manual tuning
In a world of bloated apps, VLC is a breath of fresh air: lightweight, no ads, and no account required. It handles 4K files smoothly and the converter feature has saved me more than once. It would be perfect if the mobile app's gesture controls were a little more polished.
No ads, handles 4K smoothly
Mobile gestures could be smoother
VLC does what it promises with zero fuss and no hidden costs, which is rare these days. I use it for local files and the occasional network stream and it's rock solid. The skin and customisation options are great too. Knocking off one star simply because startup feels a touch slow on my old PC.
Powerful, free, no hidden costs
Slightly slow startup on older hardware