11 Best Free Video Players for Mac [2025]

• Eleven free video player for Mac solutions were examined: Elmedia Player, VLC, DivX, IINA, Cisdem Video Player, OmniPlayer, JustPlay, QuickTime Player, 5KPlayer, Movist, and GOM Player. Each delivers something different depending on file type, playback style, or editing quirks.
• Format flexibility is uneven. VLC and GOM Player read over 100 formats. QuickTime favors Apple-native MOV and MP4, though it surprises with older formats like AVCHD. Cisdem and Elmedia handle high-resolution clips without fuss.
• Certain tools excel at specialized functions. GOM Player loops precise segments repeatedly, IINA integrates macOS gestures, and 5KPlayer streams via AirPlay and DLNA while downloading content from online sources. Hardware acceleration helps big files run without overtaxing your Mac.
• Interface matters: Elmedia, IINA, and Movist present a clean visual hierarchy, minimizing menus; OmniPlayer and GOM Player give a thick layer of control that some users prefer. Skins and window tweaks shift focus to content rather than buttons.
• Practical advice: loop clips in GOM or Cisdem for editing finesse. Keep JustPlay or QuickTime handy for long viewing sessions; they remember positions and subtitle settings, saving time when jumping between languages or extended videos.

I rolled up my sleeves, fired up my Macintosh, and tested every single app on this list to help you find the best media player for Mac without you lifting a finger or wading through endless reviews.

Did you know that many Mac video readers still struggle with oddball formats, even though your Mac may already have one built in? Yep, a fun fact: the default QuickTime Player supports lots of formats, but when you hit a weird AVI or MKV, things can get shaky.

So yes, I’ve put all the top contenders through their paces, judged how they handle weird files, weird codecs, and weird moments, and made a clear list of what I think are the best apps for your Apple PC. Whether you just want smooth playback or all the bells and whistles (subtitles, weird formats, streaming), you’ll find your match right here.

Best overall: Elmedia Player

Covers a wide range of media formats on macOS, offers built-in streaming to Chromecast/AirPlay/DLNA, and manages native Apple Silicon support.

Best for users on a tight budget: VLC

Open‑source, covers nearly every file type you’ll encounter, requires no payment or hidden components.

Best for longform & legacy files: QuickTime Player

Already built into macOS, handles older formats cleanly, and offers basic editing/Tilt/Rotate functions out of the box.

Best for modern Mac UI & gestures: IINA

Designed for macOS from the ground up, supports MacBook Pro Touch Bar, picture‑in‑picture, and feels deeply integrated.

Best for format variety & high-resolution playback: Cisdem Video Player

Opens obscure files and works well under MacBook Pro 4K/8K loads; resume‑position feature adds value.

Best for multi‑window & creative export: OmniPlayer

Enables multiple video windows, GIF/screenshot export up to 60s, elegant when juggling lectures, music, and streams.

Why I picked it: something about Elmedia just clicks. It’s that rare macOS software that feels as if it’s been designed by people who actually watch films on their MacBook at 2 a.m.

Among the contenders for the title of best video player for a Mac, one brand stands tall for a reason. Elmedia. It supports nearly everything: MP4, MKV, AVI, FLAC, and whatnot. And it runs without extra codecs.

This free video player for a Mac works fluidly with AirPlay, DLNA, and Chromecast. What does that mean for you? You can stream clips straight to your TV or even send music from your phone back to your Mac!

The software also contains 4K playback and subtitle syncing tools that let you search for subtitles online without leaving the app. The picture-in-picture mode is also sharp, which is absolutely indispensable for multitasking or following tutorials.

You can grab the free version directly from the web and then upgrade at your convenience if you wish to tap into every feature. The free edition covers many functions, yet investing in the premium edition will pay dividends for all your Mac video-viewing. The interface is clean, the settings are broad, and the playback quality depends only on the file you’re trying to watch.

In my daily use, I loaded an entire folder of travel footage from an external SSD – 4K, HDR, mixed formats – and Elmedia handled it as needed. Audio stayed in sync, colors stayed true, and there was zero lag on a MacBook Pro M2. The playlist feature proved useful when previewing multiple edits quickly, while the advanced screenshot tool came in handy for pulling stills directly from videos.

Why I picked it: шt’s the one app that never seems to age, just quietly adapting to every new Mac generation like it was built for it yesterday.

VLC has been around for ages, and epitheting it as one of the best video players for Mac is quite fair. What keeps it ahead is its ability to accommodate nearly every media format you challenge it with. MP4, MKV, AVI, FLAC, even obscure codecs that newer tools sometimes reject – these are all among VLC's capacities.

You can open videos, stream online content, or use it as a straightforward viewer for your favorite TV shows. It’s free software, open-source, and constantly gets full doses of TLC from its developer team. For example, the latest drop, 3.0.21, refines playback on macOS Sonoma and improves HDR output on MacBook Pro screens.

I once used VLC to preview a set of MKV clips from an old hard drive, files that wouldn’t open elsewhere. No conversions, no add-ons, just drag, drop, and watch. That simplicity saves hours when you’re juggling various formats for editing or archiving. And yes, it still reads CDs and DVDs, a rare skill among modern media players for a Mac.

It’s true, VLC doesn’t try to dazzle visually. The layout remains practical, maybe too much so for those who like customizing their workspace. But its no-nonsense interface hides surprising power under the hood: playback speed control, subtitle syncing, frame-by-frame stepping, even the ability to stream from your Mac to other devices through local networks.

Why I picked it: still here, still kicking. Few classic video players have aged this well; it’s like rediscovering an old tool that somehow kept up with the times.

DivX Player has earned its spot among the best video players for Mac (and Windows as well) for one simple reason: it covers nearly every corner of playback needs. From MP4 and MKV to less-common media formats, it opens them all without nagging for add-ons. With over a billion downloads and a new version 11 out, the player combines a library, converter, and media-casting suite inside one clear-cut package.

It runs neatly on macOS Mojave through Ventura and can still live comfortably on older MacBook Pro models. The free version already delivers high-definition playback, but going Pro unlocks cloud access, DTS sound, and ad-free watching. The playlist system is another small pleasure, you can loop clips, organize folders, or shuffle through your own movie marathons.

One evening, I tested it by streaming a set of short documentaries from a MacBook to a living-room TV through the built-in media server. The stream connected instantly. Switching audio tracks mid-film felt quick, subtitles popped up in sync, and the file compressor saved gigabytes without touching the quality.

Why I picked it: something about IINA feels like it was built by people who actually use Macs every day. Precise, good-looking, and tuned to the smallest detail. That is what IINA is all about.

Among the best video players for Mac, IINA shines with its devotion to modern macOS design. It’s not a re-skinned port or a leftover from the early 2010s. Written in Swift, this media reader aligns with Apple’s post-Yosemite style, syncing neatly with the system’s dark mode, gestures, and picture-in-picture feature.

Speaking about the latest improvements, the IINA developers recently introduced a plugin system, giving users space to expand the app’s toolset however they like.

The software reads nearly every video and audio format, MP4, MKV, AVI, and more, straight from the box. Its “Music Mode” flips the interface into a compact player for audio-only sessions, ideal for playlists or background listening. You can modify the look, rearrange controls, and create layouts that feel uniquely yours. For MacBook users, the integration with the Touch Bar adds another layer of quick control, while system media keys react instantly.

I tried it during a trip, using my MacBook Pro to review short clips for a freelance project. Files in different formats opened instantly. Switching from a YouTube stream to an offline video took one click. When I minimized the window, the picture-in-picture kept floating over my notes, steady and clear. I ended up using IINA instead of QuickTime that entire week.

Why I picked it: after realizing how often my Mac refused to play certain MP4 and MKV files, curiosity drove me to see if a single free video player for a Mac could really open everything.

This no-cost video player for Mac supports a massive range of formats from MP4 and MKV to AVI and MOV without the need for extra codec packs. Cisdem works on macOS and reads folders as well as individual files, auto‑adding items to the queue. It also supports Windows 10 and later, so you can download a version for PC and use it across both systems without picking up entirely new software.

Play/Pause, Step Forward/Backward, Volume controls, Rotate, Incognito mode: they’re all built‑in and easy to access. Subtitles, both embedded and external (like .srt or .ass), load automatically if placed in the same directory. Multiple audio tracks can be swapped on the fly with no interruption. This media viewer handles 1080p, 4K, 5K, and even 8K videos without reacting like a system under stress. Playlist memory is reliable – when I reopened the app, it resumed where I left off.

When I tested it on a MacBook Pro, I watched a two‑hour lecture plus a teaser clip back‑to‑back, switching subtitles mid‑stream and taking snapshots of key frames for a project. The only trade‑off was that the conversion features, nice as they are for making files ready for other devices, require an upgrade if you want the full breadth of output formats.

Why I picked it: it is claimed to play almost any video and audio format on macOS, so I couldn’t resist!

Cheap but good, this Mac media player slips past most restrictions and opens nearly every file format you throw at it. Many of us will settle for what just works, but OmniPlayer pushes further, letting multiple videos share the screen while you shuffle windows and playlists around.

Subtitles follow your commands: fetch online, load local, change color or size mid-playback without a hitch. It chews through 4K, 1080p, even 720p HD videos and audios from FLAC to MP3 sound crisp. Hardware decoding quietly hums behind the scenes, so older Macintoshes don’t groan under the load. Streaming URLs from YouTube or Vimeo drops straight into the queue, ad-free and ready to roll.

It also entertains a handful of curious features, apart from working as a video viewer on a Mac. It allows you to take screenshots in different formats. Also, you can generate GIF images up to 60s. And exporting thumbnails is just a one-click job.

Testing it, I found screenshots and GIF generation easier than expected, and the playlist remembered where I left off even after quitting. Switching audio tracks mid-scene or nudging subtitles into place felt faster than I imagined, with progress previews making navigation almost playful. OmniPlayer doesn’t scream for attention, but when I needed flexibility, control, and coverage, it quietly delivered across the board.

Why I picked it: one of those imperceptible media viewers that often fit better than heavy hitters when all you need is for the video to just play without turning into a space hog.

JustPlay is a straightforward video player for Mac that doesn’t try to be clever, and that’s exactly its charm. It gets along with almost anything: MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, and all the rest of it. And it does so without asking for extra codec packs or plugins. It’s compact, starts instantly, and plays 8K clips as if they were lightweight home videos.

The new version runs natively on Apple Silicon, which means no lag or fan noise when running on a MacBook Pro. The app gives you a bunch of useful toggles: speed, color balance, subtitle fixes, audio sync, all of which are neatly tucked into a clean, minimal window.

What sets it apart is how it remembers where you left off, including subtitles and soundtrack. I once paused halfway through a foreign documentary with odd timing issues, came back hours later, and it picked up right from the frame I stopped at, with subtitles resynced automatically. The video tuner is a quiet lifesaver, too; I bumped up brightness and contrast to watch a dimly lit concert recording without squinting at my screen.

A reader like this doesn’t scream for attention; yet it’s one of the best media players for a Mac if you just want something dependable and compact. It’s perfect for those who want a free video player for a Mac that stays out of the way but gets the job done in full HD or higher.

Why I picked it: I kept running into old video files that newer players refused to open, and QuickTime was the one that actually greeted them like old friends.

Many so-called best video players for Mac forget that users sometimes need to watch footage shot on long-retired cameras. QuickTime Player, pre-installed on every Macintosh rig, still reads those dusty MOV and MP4 clips without a mindscrew.

It remains Apple’s own video player for macOS, which means it’s tuned to the system right out of the box and doesn’t demand extra codec packs or add-ons. This tiny reader supports a long list of formats, from 3GP and AVCHD to WAV and AAC, and still manages to stream videos online via URLs, which is quite a rarity among default tools.

What surprised me while testing it on my MacBook Pro was how quick it was to perform small edits. I trimmed a 4K clip from my iPhone, rotated it, then split it into three clean parts, all without ever leaving QuickTime.

Recording my screen to demonstrate a Photoshop® shortcut also worked without a glitch, and I even captured an iPhone game video by connecting my device with a cable. Later, I exported it and played it on my Windows PC using the same QuickTime file – no conversion, no additional issues.

This makes QuickTime an oddly dependable tool for teachers, editors, and YouTubers who deal with short clips or need to record presentations. It’s not a studio editor but a reliable daily companion that does more than just play your videos.

Why I picked it: it’s rare when a free app behaves like it’s got something to prove. 5KPlayer does exactly that: turning a plain MacBook into a hub where movies, radio, and online videos coexist in one small space.

Among the best video players for Mac, this one feels unusually complete. It copes with MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, AVI, and even 8K footage without sputtering. It’s more than just playback software for macOS. Rather, it’s a small media control center that reads, streams, downloads, and organizes.

The app also supports AirPlay and DLNA. It’s really great because you can toss a clip from your laptop to a TV or mirror your iPhone screen to your Mac in seconds. It also doubles as an online video downloader, grabbing clips from YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook with a single link.

This free video player for a Mac also boasts hardware acceleration for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel chips, so that even large HEVC and AV1 files will play without choking the CPU. I also liked its radio section: BBC, Capital FM, Planet Rock, all one click away.

For audiophiles, the built-in music player respects FLAC and ALAC formats and even reads Dolby and DTS multi-channel sound. A small but neat touch: it auto-loads subtitles if they’re in the same folder, no manual hunting required.

When I put it through a real test, I downloaded a 4K tutorial from Vimeo, mirrored my iPhone’s screen to the Mac, and streamed an MP3 playlist to a TV – all at once. Nothing froze. The app simply worked through it, juggling files like a tiny studio assistant. That’s where it shines: it doesn’t just play media; it connects your gadgets, files, and habits into one clear flow.

Why I picked it: it’s the kind of Mac app that makes you rethink what “just a player” means: precise, flexible, and built with taste.

Movist isn’t just another face in the crowd of media readers. It’s one of the best video players for Mac, crafted with elegance and function living side by side. You can switch between QuickTime and FFmpeg decoders on the fly, tweak playback with HDR tone mapping, and output digital audio through S/PDIF for pristine sound.

The media reader supports a great miscellany of formats, including MP4, MKV, AVI, FLAC, and so on. And it feels perfectly tuned for macOS, including Apple Silicon chips. It even decodes H.265/HEVC files with hardware acceleration, something that still puts strain on many laptops.

Subtitles? It’s a playground: multiple formats, zipped files, 3D text, and real-time syncing. The player can auto-detect subtitle encodings and display several lines at once, ideal for multilingual viewers. The playlist auto-fills by scanning nearby folders for matching episodes or subtitles, saving you from manual chores. And with the recent update, Dolby Vision support and HDR tone mapping have pushed its visual output a notch higher.

When I tested Movist on a MacBook Pro, I dropped a YouTube link straight into the window and watched it stream instantly. Later, I played a 4K HDR movie while adjusting the audio EQ and subtitles without a pause, with no strange menus or technical clutter. It ran quietly, responding to every shortcut like muscle memory.

Why I picked it: I wanted a media player that could twist ordinary clips into something unexpectedly interactive, where each video could be dissected, repeated, and explored freely.

Thanks to its support of over 100 media file types, from MP4 and MKV to AVI and FLV, GOM Player deserves to take place among the best free video players for a Mac (and for Windows, Android, and iOS, too). It is a really good media reader for macOS users who deal with eclectic media libraries.

Full-screen playback, adjustable window boxes, and a clean toolbar let videos take center stage without stripping control from the viewer. VR buffs will appreciate its 360-degree mode, where every frame can be rotated vertically or horizontally, pausing on specific points for detailed observation.

The repeated interval playback stands out: select a segment, set exact seconds, and loop it endlessly – perfect for dissecting tutorials, short film edits, or music sequences. The tool is being polished to perfection nonstop by its developers, with updates and bug fixes coming in nearly every month.

It also reads external codecs effortlessly, rescuing stubborn files that default Mac software often refuses. I once used it during a small workshop on animation timing: looping micro-sequences of a short film helped the team refine transitions in record time. Interface skins adapt to moods: simple white, touch-optimized, or minimal layouts focus attention strictly on visuals.

Korean vocalization support automatically adds Katakana or Latin-alphabet lyrics to YouTube music videos, which was a hit while hosting a K-POP sing-along with friends. Playlists can auto-fill related series and shuffle or repeat at will, while subtitle support spans multiple formats, including embedded and compressed .zip or .rar.

If you’re having trouble with file formats, you could always opt for a video converter that makes them compatible with any of the players we’ve listed above. Movavi Video Converter is an intuitive video-converting program that takes any file and changes the format to what you want it to be. By having this on your Mac device, you’ll always have a backup in case you come across a file that isn’t compatible with your on-device player.

Picking a perfect Mac video player is not one-size-fits-all. Elmedia Player stands out for users who want everything from 4K to playlists without flinching. VLC handles odd formats and ancient DVDs like a champ. DivX mixes playback, conversion, and streaming into a single window. IINA brings macOS gestures and Touch Bar flair.

Need speed and simplicity? JustPlay and QuickTime Player open files instantly. 5KPlayer streams, downloads, and mirrors devices. HDR and Dolby lovers should glance at Movist. GOM Player thrives on rare formats and looped clips.

Specialist tools like Cisdem Video Player and OmniPlayer give options for multi-audio tracks, screenshots, and GIF creation.

Choose by file type, screen size, or workflow. Short or long, quirky or standard files. Pick your reader from the list and start watching without compromise.