Requirements: OS X 10.9+
, 55.34MB free space
Version 7.12(2164) (24 Jun, 2020) Release notes
So, you’re using a device that runs on the macOS. That’s great. You’re fortunate to have access to one of the best operating systems on the planet. But the best doesn’t mean perfect. There are some areas that the macOS doesn’t exactly excel in.
The macOS comes with an in-house media player that gets the job done. However, it lacks various other capabilities. For instance, it does not support a whole lot of video formats.
This is exactly why you might need a third-party media player to complete the picture. So which third party media player should you download for the macOS? Well, we’ve come up with a list to help you out.
Elmedia Player for Mac is a free multifunctional player aimed at the macOS. It can play a range of formats, which makes it a fantastic option. There’s even a PRO version that packs a whole lot more in terms of functionality and other tools.
The interface in Elmedia Mac media player is very similar to that of iTunes, which just makes things better. You can create, manage, and delete playlists. You can even choose from a variety of parameters to create your own smart playlist.
Some formats supported by this media player include FLV, RM, RV, MOV, AVI, XAP, MP4, and SWF. It can also manage subtitles, play 4K & 8K, offer Chromecast & Chromecast Ultra support, and stream videos from your Mac device to your smart TV.
It is even AirPlay-enabled.
Pros
Cons
VLC is probably the granddaddy of all media players listed here. It was one of the first third-party open source media player applications to support multiple formats. Of course, these abilities have made it one of the most popular media players out there with almost every second person with a Mac system using it.
Apart from offering multi-format support, VLC is a lightweight application. It won’t take up a lot of space or memory with its extremely simple yet appealing interface. It plays HD, BluRay, and even integrates with web streaming services.
Pros
Cons
Cisdem Video Player for Mac is a free media player that offers multi-format support. You can play around 50 video formats that include everything from Full HD to even 5K. You don’t need additional codecs or plugins to do so.
Cisdem offers one of the best HD video-playing experiences possible. There are absolutely no crashes or bufferings to deal with.
Loading subtitle files is also quite easy on this application, which also offers de-interlacing and snapshot functions.
Pros
Cons
5KPlayer is a free media player that offers HD support. It is also capable of AirPlay media streaming and online video downloads. It also operates as a region-free DVD player and supports playback for ultra HD videos.
Some of its key features include:
Pros
Cons
Kodi is a media player for Mac that can stream across a local network with extensions for services like YouTube, Pandora, and Spotify. You can use it to access a variety of TV shows and other media. You can also play your DVDs on this player.
One of its greatest features is that you can select add-ons to enhance the user experience. The add-ons can be chosen from categories such as Pictures, Music, and Video.
Pros
Cons
IINA is the freshest macOS video player . This macOS video player is a dedicated app that enables Mac users to watch a wider range of media files. Built from scratch to deliver excellent functionality and diversity, everything about this macOS media player was carefully adjusted for maximum performance. It works perfectly on Mac Operating Systems from Yosemite and later while also being capable of the latest technologies such as Force Touch or Touch Bar. IINA is not only capable of playing a vast range of media files, but it’s also designed to be pleasant to the eye and easy to use. It comes with UI components that are used in other apps like cascaded menus, however, it also delivers interactive features and gestures for an intuitive control for playback and settings.
Pros
Cons
QuickTime is another old-school player that has been around for ages. More importantly, this is Apple’s own proprietary media player. So you’ll definitely find it preloaded into your system.
Now, since it is an Apple product, you can expect an intuitive and minimalistic interface. It is a simple media player that gets the job done. If you want more out of it, get the PRO version that comes with features such as video conversion and video editing.
On the whole, it is a capable media player for users with minimal needs.
Pros
Cons
There are several things you need to consider when choosing a media player for your macOS-based device. For starters, make sure it doesn’t come bundled with adware. Most adware is spyware or malware, which can lead to a host of problems.
Then look for a slick interface that doesn’t confuse you. Thirdly, make sure it can support a wide range of formats. The last thing you want to do is hunt for codecs and plugins.
Also, look for easy and user-friendly playback functions.
Good media players should also come with playlist features. Are you able to create and manage your playlists? If no, dump that media player immediately.
Finally, make sure the app has regular updates. This is necessary for ensuring a sustained compatibility.
Here's a comprehensive side-by-side look at some of the best Mac media players today. This chart will help you decide which one is best for you.
|
Top features
|
VideoDuke
|
Elmedia
|
VLC
|
5KPlayer
|
Cisdem
|
Kodi
|
QuickTime Player
|
|
Support for multiple video formats
|
Support for multiple video formats
|
yes (AVI, FLV, SWF, MP4, WMV, MOV, DAT, M4V, MPG, DivX, MKV, etc.)
|
yes (MKV, MP4, VOB, WMV, MPG AVI, etc. )
|
yes (MKV, M2TS, MP4, AVI, WMV, FLV, etc.)
|
yes (MKV, AVI, FLV, AVCHD, WMV, etc.)
|
yes (AVI, MPEG, WMV, ASF, FLV, MKV, etc.)
|
yes (MOV, MPEG-4, MPEG-1, AVI, etc.)
|
|
Support for multiple audio formats
|
Support for multiple audio formats
|
yes (MP3, WMA, AC2, MKA, OGG, FLAC, AAC, etc.)
|
yes (AAC, AC-3, FLAC, MP3, ALAC, etc.)
|
yes (MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, etc.)
|
yes (MP3, OGG, ACC, WMA, AIFF, etc.)
|
yes (MIDI, WAV, AIFF, MP2, MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc.)
|
yes (iTunes Audio, MP3, Core Audio, AIFF, WAV, AMR, etc.)
|
|
Wireless streaming (local files to TV)
|
Wireless streaming (local files to TV)
|
yes (PRO)
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Playlist creation options
|
Playlist creation options
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Video tuner
|
Video tuner
|
yes (PRO)
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
|
Convert video
|
Convert video
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
yes (PRO)
|
no
|
no
|
|
Video customization (flip, rotate, mirror)
|
Video customization (flip, rotate, mirror)
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
|
Audio fine-tuning and balancing
|
Audio fine-tuning and balancing
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
add-on
|
yes
|
|
Video playback enhancement (audio/video delay)
|
Video playback enhancement (audio/video delay)
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Updated subtitles support
|
Updated subtitles support
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Subtitle to video matching (increase/decrease subtitle delay with video)
|
Subtitle to video matching (increase/decrease subtitle delay with video)
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Access to online subtitles download and integration
|
Access to online subtitles download and integration
|
yes
|
add-on
|
no
|
no
|
add-on
|
no
|
|
Multi-window viewing mode
|
Multi-window viewing mode
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
|
Hardware efficiency
|
Hardware efficiency
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
|
Screen capture and recording options
|
Screen capture and recording options
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
|
Integrated browser add-ons to play online media directly from the web
|
Integrated browser add-ons to play online media directly from the web
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Free versions
|
Free versions
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
The Mac version of Windows Media Player no longer supports the recent macOS versions. In 2006, Microsoft endorsed Flip4Mac featuring Flip Player as the new official Windows Media Player for Mac. Flip4Mac allows users to play WMV and WMA files in QuickTime Player and different web browsers. So it is safe to say that Windows Media Player for Mac was replaced by Flip4Mac app that agrees to execute and implement different digital media functions with extreme efficiencies and assistance for Mac. Viewers can download Flip4Mac directly from the given link securely. Follow the link http://www.telestream.net/download-files/flip4mac/3-3/Flip4Mac-3.3.8.dmg for direct access and installation.
QuickTime Player is a preferred app for most users as it is packed within the macOS. Undoubtedly it has a great usability with lots of user-friendly features that provide smooth playback, high-quality picture, eminent sound, and capacity to play different video formats. It is great in basic features, but when it comes to performing other various functions it is not the top performer. For such extra functionality, viewers might want to opt for a QuickTime alternative for Mac.
Now for Mac users, there are numerous third-party video players available to choose from. All the video players have a different set of functions and various designs. We are sure that there is something each user might find in any of the players on the list, we’ll let you choose the best option for you.
Go through the list just by clicking on the link below to find the most appropriate media player that best satisfies your expectations.
VLC Media Player is absolutely free and is openly available for macOS X systems right from the developer's website. It is recommended to download VLC for Mac from approved sites for safer downloading without getting affected by viruses or spyware. VLC supports most media on DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and plays various streaming protocols.
Follow the instructions given below to download and install VLC on your Mac.
VLC, the open-source media player is easily one of the most popular players in history. Sporting over 3 billion downloads since its inception close to 19 years ago, it has remained untouched in its category. One of the aspects of it that makes it so ubiquitous is its ability to play so many formats. While it clearly has stood the test of time, there have been some recent security concerns that may threaten its usage.
A cybersecurity agency based in Germany (CERT-Bund) stated that there is a high-level vulnerability that if exploited can enable someone to execute code remotely, gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and cancel your service. In fact, CERT gave it a Level 4 breach status which is the Second highest risk assessment level.
In response, the developers of VLC (VideoLAN) state that the issue was not a security issue, there were no proof or evidence of attacks, and that the issue (which was caused by an older version of the library called libebml, that was bundled in an even older version of the Ubuntu operating system where the so-called ‘virus’ was discovered) was resolved and the security agency neglected to make that public.
Absolutely! There are several products that support 4K and Ultra HD. Here is a list from Apple.com:
iMac (27-inch, Late 2014) and later
iMac Pro (2017)
Mac mini (Late 2014) and later
Mac Pro (Late 2013)
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) and later
MacBook Air (Early 2015) and later
MacBook Pro (Retina, Late 2013) and later
If you happen to have one of these devices, you are in luck! However, you will still need a high-quality, stable player that will play all of your HD movies.