AppBreakup
Submit an app

MPC-HC alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave MPC-HC: windows only, and dated interface. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MPC-HC, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MPC-BE currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1MPC-BE logoMPC-BEOpen sourceYesWindows3 of 366.5
2PotPlayer logoPotPlayerFreeNoWindows4 of 462.6
3mpv.net logompv.netOpen sourceYesWindows3 of 359.6
4VLC media player logoVLC media playerOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +23 of 357.2
5SMPlayer logoSMPlayerOpen sourceYesWindows, Linux, macOS4 of 455.3
  1. MPC-BE logo

    1. MPC-BETop pick

    Best for: Windows users who want MPC's lightness with a more modern interface and extras

    Open sourceWindows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from MPC-HC

    Sister fork with a refreshed interface and more built-in features.

    Pros

    • Light and fast like MPC-HC
    • More modern look with thumbnail previews
    • Actively developed and free

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Settings are dense and technical
    • Project pages are partly in Russian
    Visit MPC-BE Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MPC-BE a good MPC-HC alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Status
    Active
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform
    Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. PotPlayer logo

    2. PotPlayer

    Best for: Windows users who want a free player with deep control over decoding, subtitles and output

    FreeWindows

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MPC-HC

    Far more options and built-in tools, still free on Windows.

    Pros

    • Fast hardware-accelerated playback
    • Huge range of settings and built-in tools
    • Strong subtitle and 3D support

    Cons

    • Settings are cluttered and overwhelming
    • Windows only and closed source
    • Translations can be awkward
    Visit PotPlayer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PotPlayer a good MPC-HC alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Hardware acceleration
    DXVA, CUDA, QuickSync
    Checked Oct 25, 2026potplayer.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows 7 to 11 (x86, x64, ARM64)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026potplayer.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Kakao Corp
    Checked Oct 25, 2026potplayer.tv(opens source in a new tab)
    Codecs
    Built-in, plus OpenCodec
    Checked Oct 25, 2026potplayer.tv(opens source in a new tab)
  3. mpv.net logo

    3. mpv.net

    Best for: Windows users who want mpv's image quality with menus and a settings dialog

    Open sourceWindows

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MPC-HC

    Modern mpv-based Windows player with better scaling options.

    Pros

    • mpv engine with a Windows-friendly GUI
    • Compatible with mpv config files and scripts
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Small team, so updates are irregular
    • Still more technical than mainstream players
    Visit mpv.net Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is mpv.net a good MPC-HC alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform
    Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. VLC media player logo

    4. VLC media player

    Best for: Anyone who wants one free player that opens almost any file on every device

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from MPC-HC

    Cross-platform, if you want the same player on every device.

    Pros

    • Plays nearly every format without extra codecs
    • Free and open source, no ads or tracking
    • Available on desktop and mobile platforms

    Cons

    • Interface looks dated and settings are hard to navigate
    • Library and metadata features are basic
    • HDR and high-end video output lag behind mpv-based players
    Visit VLC media player Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is VLC media player a good MPC-HC alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tagline
    Plays everything, runs anywhere
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. SMPlayer logo

    5. SMPlayer

    Best for: People who want an easy, free player that resumes each file with its own settings

    Open sourceWindows, Linux, macOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from MPC-HC

    Friendly front end that remembers settings per file.

    Pros

    • Remembers position and settings per file
    • Built-in codecs play almost anything
    • Free, open source and ad-free

    Cons

    • Interface is functional rather than modern
    • macOS support is less polished than on Windows and Linux
    • Some features depend on which engine you pick
    Visit SMPlayer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SMPlayer a good MPC-HC alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026smplayer.info(opens source in a new tab)
    Resume
    Remembers settings per file
    Checked Oct 25, 2026smplayer.info(opens source in a new tab)
    Chromecast
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026smplayer.info(opens source in a new tab)

The best MPC-HC alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

MPC-BE logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for most people

MPC-BE

Sister fork with a refreshed interface and more built-in features.

PotPlayer logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for a free option

PotPlayer

Far more options and built-in tools, still free on Windows.

mpv.net logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for open source

mpv.net

Modern mpv-based Windows player with better scaling options.

VLC media player logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for Mac

VLC media player

Cross-platform, if you want the same player on every device.

SMPlayer logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for Windows

SMPlayer

Friendly front end that remembers settings per file.

VLC media player logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for Linux

VLC media player

Cross-platform, if you want the same player on every device.

VLC media player logo

Best MPC-HC alternative for iPhone and Android

VLC media player

Cross-platform, if you want the same player on every device.

MPC-HC alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to MPC-HC?

MPC-BE ranks first right now. Sister fork with a refreshed interface and more built-in features. PotPlayer and mpv.net follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to MPC-HC?

Yes. MPC-BE (open source), PotPlayer (free), mpv.net (open source) and VLC media player (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to MPC-HC?

Yes: MPC-BE, mpv.net, VLC media player and SMPlayer.

Which MPC-HC alternatives work on Linux?

VLC media player and SMPlayer run on Linux.

Why do people switch from MPC-HC?

The complaints we hear most: windows only; dated interface; original project ended; relies on a community fork.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces MPC-HC, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.