VLC is NOT Best Video Player, Here’s Why it Sucks

Popular opinion may not be always right. VLC Media Player is widely used and recommended by everyone on web and even some of your friends too but I do not. They say that VLC can play almost any video format available on the Earth , which is true but there is more to it.

Most media players available can play all popular formats. Even the default Windows media player can do so if there are required codecs available.

User expects more than just playback compatibility and that’s where VLC lacks.

1. Difficult Keyboard Control

VLC Keyboard Shortcut Confusing Meme

Out of the box, hot keys for VLC are very confusing or uncomfortable I will say. I prefer jumping forward by pressing “Right Arrow” which is obvious to many of you. VLC is totally different in this case, you need to press combination of keys.
Though they are customizable but it why it isn’t default?

2. Boring Interface

Old VLC Interface

This is the reason why many users do not prefer Media Player Classic which takes you back to the era of Windows 98. VLC has recently did some work on appearance and brought Skin feature but lacks modernity.

Take a look at GOM Player or Daum PotPlayer‘s interface to know the difference.

3. No external Codec support

VLC has inbuilt codec support and doesn’t support any codec or filters outside their library. If something cannot be decoded by its own codec library, it cannot be played on VLC. That’s a rare possibility but what about performance?

There are some audio streams like AC3 which can be decoded by some codec to give better sound quality than the one inbuilt in VLC. Also, problem can be noticed while seek positioning HD videos. VLC lags or do not properly positions in case of forwarding or moving backward. This is because, though the codec has capability to decode but it is not the best choice.

GOM Player on other side lets you choose codec of your choice. If you do not understand, it finds the one compatible and best for playback on web and downloads it.

GOM Codec and Filters

This might be the reason GOM installer size is 30% lesser than VLC.

4. Subtitle Editor

Though subtitles are supported, but you cannot edit them in anyway in VLC.

Also, if you like to customize the speed or the size of subtitles, option isn’t available right away. One has to enter Tools and Preferences to do it if you do not remember the Hotkey. In GOM Player however, these options are readily available on right click context menu during video playback.

GOM Subtitle Explorer

5. Remote Control app for Android

I like to watch movies sitting away from Computer screen so definitely need control remotely. VLC has no official remote control application and the ones available aren’t as sophisticated as GOM Remote control for Android.

GOM Remote for Android

Lastly, watch this video which explains why VLC Media Player sucks 😀

Which Media Player should I use?

If you have read the article completely, it is clear that I recommend GOM Player. Go for it, you will feel better.

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 37 comments
Vijay Kudal - February 11, 2014

You have any youtube player which can run in small window and dont take too much system resources?

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Ajay - February 11, 2014

I’ve tried a few players and usually end up deleting them and going back to VLC. An alternate player I have on the mac is MPlayerX.

Point 1 above totally irritates me as well. Can’t understand why they can’t have the right arrow key just fast forwarding!

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Hi Ajay,
    Good to see your comment after a long time 🙂
    Obviously it is irritating, human nature tries to relate and obvious thing which comes to mind is that “right means moving forward”.
    Give a shot to GOM or Daum PotPlayer. Trust me, there wouldn’t be any turning back.

    Reply
      Ajay - February 13, 2014

      Will check them out. BTW, you can edit the Hotkeys for VLC. On the Mac, scrolling back and forth can be done with two fingers, so it makes it a bit easy.

      Reply
        Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

        Yes, I have mentioned that already in article. My question was why not default.
        No idea about Mac though.. never used. Thanks for mentioning about it.

        Reply
Varun - February 11, 2014

you pointed the real negative points of VLC and thanks for this. 🙂
will try out GOM Player for next 30 days.

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Why just 30 days Varun 😛
    It is completely free software with no time limitation. Use it till you like it.

    Reply
      Varun - February 13, 2014

      Yeah sure 🙂
      but for the first 30 days I’ll compare whether GOM will break my love for VLC or not.
      and by the way besides Windows Media Player which music player you would suggest.

      Reply
        Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

        Well, for music I use Windows Media player. Will look out for more options and write about it if anything better is available.

        Reply
          Varun - February 14, 2014

          Thanks and already in love with GOM Player 😉

          Reply
Akshay Mahurkar - February 12, 2014

I personally prefer KMPlayer…

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Even I used to have it Akshay (some 2 years ago or so) but then its development stopped. Official site used to redirect somewhere and version I got was always in Korean with no option to get English. Since then moved to GOM.

    I would suggest trying out Daum PotPlayer which has very similar interface to KMPlayer.

    Reply
Tushar Thakur - February 12, 2014

I also hate VLC. I love GOM.

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Great minds think alike 😀

    Reply
marokos - February 12, 2014

GOM player installed on a pendrive play my movie on another system (WINDOWS) without installed codecs?

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Hi Marokos, GOM Player comes with some essential codecs required to playback popular formats but in case, something is missing, it will ask guide you to download one and then play.

    Reply
Vitor Sequeira - February 12, 2014

Hi Rohit,

I used VLC, but now, the best players IMO are:
– Daum Pot Player and Light Alloy

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Hi Vitor,
    Heard about Light Alloy for the first time now, will check it out on your recommendation. Daum PotPlayer is also a good option. In fact, I have already mentioned about it this article.

    Reply
Siddhant Jain - February 12, 2014

Well VLC media player is the best, you pointed out all the irrelevant negative points. Which have no meaning.
What’s so difficult in using ctrl, shift or alt key in combination with the arrow key??

Obviously, it’s just the matter of perspective of each person. And I love VLC player.
and one more thing, I know a lot about computer, so again you mentioned point, that only those people use VLC, who doesn’t knw how to use computer properly.
Again, everybody has their own perspective and their likings. you cannot say, retarded to those people who use VLC.

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Hi Siddhant, I respect your opinion but I never called people who use VLC retard.
    Of course, VLC is versatile as there is hardly any media file which can’t be played there. But, all the points I mentioned are about comfort and ease which enhances media playback experiences.

    Keyboard shortcuts for example, using combination isn’t difficult but pressing just one key is bit easier and obvious IMO. Also, there might be a circle of users who want to have Subtitle editor and sophisticated remote control of player which is certainly missing in VLC.

    If one’s need and requirements are fulfilled by something, I can’t and simply I won’t force them to switch to another. I just offered a suggestion, an alternative to their existing app.
    That’s all.

    Reply
      Siddhant Jain - February 13, 2014

      Ok. Thanks for your suggestion. I appreciate it. 🙂

      Reply
Giri - February 12, 2014

Nice observation !! I prefer Cyberlink poweDVD ….I will try GOM now..

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    Rohit Langde - February 13, 2014

    Hi Giri, PowerDVD comes in premium range of products aiming to offer complete Theater experience and won’t make sense comparing with VLC or GOM.
    I would suggest sticking with PowerDVD if you are already using it and do not have any problem with its memory usage and heavy processes.

    Reply
kucing - February 13, 2014

i would recommend KMPlayer or Real Player Mini…..
it’s really convenient to use it

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Nihar - February 14, 2014

Then tell me which one is better??

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Still - February 19, 2014

Using VLC with no troubles whatsoever. Also engaged my simple wireless presenter to do basic operations stop/play/FF/RW/. No problems at all, and I like the preset-crop options when watching something wider than 16:9. Tried gom for a week – threw away with no mercy 🙂 Peace.

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Techmove - March 1, 2014

Gom not a free player! What is hard to understand about $34.95 USD? From what I could see a free trial version is offered. I have heard this described as crippleware?
Am I missing something?

>>Trial Version Limitations per what I am asuming is the official Gom website…

You can experience almost all that GOM Video Converter has to offer while using the trial version, at the exception of the following limitations:

1. A working internet connection is required every time you run the trial version.

2. You are required to update GOM Video Converter every time a new version is released.

3. A GOM Video Converter watermark will be embedded on all videos converted with the trial version.

4. There is a 10 minute time limit on all output videos when using the trial version.

5. The bit rate is locked at 128kbps when converting files into the MP3 format.

6. The option enabling users to create an MP3 file when converting to the AVI or FLV format is unavailable.

7. The “Split” feature is only available in the full version.

After purchasing and registering a license key, you will have unrestricted access to all of GOM Video Converter’s features.

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    Rohit Langde - March 3, 2014

    Hello Techmove,
    Sorry but we are talking about GOM Media player not Video converter.

    Reply
vikas - March 6, 2014

I have been using GOM for some time now, but nothing comes close to Splayer. GOM player generates a faded video as compared to Splayer. Try playing them side by side, you will notice the difference.

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Sk Billal Hossain - April 4, 2014

I have never suported your opinion.because i have many useful VLC.Any Video is very soon play to VLC.Others facilitiyes any vido cut or shot picture.

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Sazy - May 15, 2014

I always prefer GOM Player, which is far better than VLC. Thanks for the post Rohit 🙂

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Sushrut Ghodkhande - December 1, 2015

I feel windows media player surpasses all the others in terms of sound quality and hence use the combination of WMP with K-lite Codec pack, works just fine.

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Kittykaty - January 29, 2016

So many minds. I prefer Elmedia Player and you never convence me to try anything else.

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Sea Monster - April 9, 2016

I definitely agree. VLC is the most overrated media player ever, I personally prefer QQ Player.

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Reticuli - April 25, 2016

Most of its video conversion stuff has been broken for years.

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ufquack - May 15, 2016

Your number 1 point doesn’t make any sense to me. VLC has very flexible jump settings, it is not complicated at all and it is highly configurable to set it to a most convenient way of moving forward or backward and more importantly you don’t have to waste a lot of time, most players do not have that kind of precision and invariably you jump too far over the position you wanted. You can configure this exactly the way you need it, especially important for skipping commercials on recorded TV shows, you can have a few seconds on a short jump ahead on one key all the way to a minute or more jump ahead on another.

#2 The last thing I care about what the “skin” of a program looks like. I just want it to work without failing and in my experience VLC has 99% of other players beat and I’ve tried many over the years.

As for the rest of your points, it depends what you’re trying to do, nobody required that you have to use solely one video player for anything so I’m not sure why anyone needs to put down a solid program, as well as an awesome program for just that reason! VLC is an important program, a “go-to player” when all other players have failed to do something that should be a piece of cake. I don’t use any other player because I got tired of fiddling with settings and how it should look. I don’t want to live my life around the look of players or likewise operating systems, the player is not the attraction, the video file you are watching IS! It’s not a lifestyle, it’s not fancy and neither does it need to be, I just want my computer do what it is supposed to do, work how it should work, namely get the job done.

Also VLC does not need a remote control, just get yourself a small wireless Logitech keyboard, and control it up to 30 feet away, it’s true that you may have a hard time seeing the screen but then don’t tell me you can’t get up once in a while to look closer, don’t be lazy, get off your fat couch sitting ass and take the exercise. Problem solved.

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k09k - November 23, 2016

Have tried Splayer, VLC desktop and app store version, GOM, 5KPlayer, SPlayer, Power Media Player and Pot Player.

Out of these 5KPlayer rendered video nicely and output audio is good. But tge only downside is that it eat lots of memory and very hard to navigate. (So it is not worth to keep it, imo) … GOM player – i hate minimalist design. Then here comes Pot Player: thus player is the best player out there for me. I really render well video and audio, highly customisation (can assign hotkey and make it global and so on), nice and simple UI, can seek subtitle position by pressing hotkey (best for non mainstream movie where correct subtitle is so hard to find) and much more.

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