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Alternatives

MPC-HC alternatives

MPC-HC is a video player for Windows. If it no longer fits what you need, here are the alternatives worth a look — and an honest note on when MPC-HC is still the better choice.

Open the playerFree Windows app · v0.1.13

Information as of November 2026

Why people look for a MPC-HC alternative

  • They need a player on Windows or Android as well.
  • They want to play a file in the browser without installing anything.

1. PlayAnyVideo — free, no ads

  • No ads, no paid unlocks and no codec purchase — core playback is free.
  • Works in the browser with nothing to install; local files play on your device and are never uploaded.
  • The free Windows app plays HEVC (H.265), MKV with AC-3/DTS, AVI, WMV and more through an open-source LGPL FFmpeg engine.
  • Subtitles: SMI, SRT, VTT and ASS/SSA with automatic encoding detection, sync and style controls.
  • The Windows app can cast to a TV on your home Wi-Fi (DLNA) or open Windows screen mirroring.
  • Timestamped notes, A-B repeat, playlists and resume — in 12 languages.

No native macOS or iPhone app yet: on a Mac or iPhone you use the web player, and format support then depends on the browser.

PlayAnyVideo vs MPC-HC

Other MPC-HC alternatives

2. VLC

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone / iPad · Free · No ads

  • Plays a very wide range of formats out of the box.
  • Open source and free of charge.

PlayAnyVideo vs VLC · VLC alternatives

3. MPC-BE

Windows · Free · No ads

  • Lightweight and quick to start.
  • Open source and free of charge.

PlayAnyVideo vs MPC-BE · MPC-BE alternatives

4. 5KPlayer

Windows, macOS · Free

  • Can send video to other devices such as AirPlay receivers.

PlayAnyVideo vs 5KPlayer · 5KPlayer alternatives

5. SMPlayer

Windows, Linux · Free

  • Remembers settings such as position and audio track for each file.
  • Open source and free of charge.

PlayAnyVideo vs SMPlayer · SMPlayer alternatives

6. mpv

Windows, macOS, Linux · Free · No ads

  • Minimal interface, highly scriptable and configurable.
  • Lightweight and quick to start.

PlayAnyVideo vs mpv · mpv alternatives

When to stay with MPC-HC

MPC-HC may still be the better choice if:

  • you want a very small, classic desktop player
  • an open-source licence matters to you

FAQ

What is a good free alternative to MPC-HC?

It depends on your device. PlayAnyVideo is a free, ad-free option for the browser, Windows and Android; VLC, MPC-BE, 5KPlayer are other popular choices.

Can I try an alternative without installing anything?

Yes. Open the PlayAnyVideo web player in your browser and drop a file in — nothing is installed and the file stays on your device.

Will my subtitle files still work?

PlayAnyVideo reads SMI, SRT, VTT and ASS/SSA subtitles and detects their text encoding automatically.

Related roundups

All alternatives

Information as of November 2026. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners; PlayAnyVideo is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Features, editions and prices change — please check each official website.