Requirements: macOS 10.12+
, 104MB free space
Version 8.0(2800) (20 Jun, 2021) Release notes
Category: MultimediaApplication
Why would anyone want an alternative to VLC? The answer is simple. Even though the app has been constantly worked on for over a decade, it has many issues. Namely, you can encounter difficulties with the interface, bugs, glitches and underperformance. You won’t see these things in Elmedia Player - it’s much more reliable, and just as packed with features. But don’t take our word for it - see the comparison below.
You won’t miss VLC once you’ve tried Elmedia. This VLC alternative presents improved functionality, stability and design. Elmedia Player doesn’t need additional codecs or settings fiddling to provide a complete experience. And if you want more, the app can be enhanced for the low, low price of $19.95. Elmedia Player PRO is a software masterpiece that’s worth every cent.
Elmedia Player was developed with its users in mind, bearing a polished, refined interface with regularly-used settings at the forefront. The UI provides a refreshing alternative to VLC. Accessible and handy playback controls allow you to manage your videos and audio files effortlessly.
VLC features an average interface that won’t be fully utilized by a regular user. Some commonly-used features are hidden away. Don’t expect perfection from VLC - alternative Mac apps can offer better interfaces.
Both Elmedia Player and VLC support a generous variety of formats. However, VLC sometimes requires you to tweak codec settings. Most people would rather skip that and start enjoying a video right away. Naturally, they desire a Mac VLC alternative.
You can find hardware acceleration both in Elmedia and in VLC. There is no conclusive data on differences in their sheer performance. However, Elmedia supports more GPU hardware, making it more reliable than VLC. The difference becomes more apparent when playing HD and UHD clips. If VLC hardware acceleration doesn’t work on your platform, you should look for an alternative to VLC.
Both players support basic functionality for external and embedded subtitle tracks. Elmedia and VLC can deal with .srt, .ass and .smil files. Nonetheless, Elmedia manages to get an edge on VLC by implementing built-in automatic subtitle search. You can even set the default language which will be chosen from search results.
Again, Elmedia and VLC are similar in this regard. Either provides a function to take screenshots at regular intervals. And yet again, the Elmedia version is much more convenient to use, and, in addition, it provides format options for the resulting images.
VLC streaming interface is notably brutal. Menus full of confusing and poorly-explained options will have you toiling for hours to figure it out. To be frank, it’s not in vain: VLC does allow a great deal of customization for your streams. But if you’re a fan of Apple’s "it just works" approach, go for Elmedia. Compared to VLC, it’s hilariously quick and easy to set up. Elmedia can easily cast from Mac to Chromecast, DLNA and Airplay devices.
There’s a solid reason to look for a VLC alternative Mac player. Running VLC at maximum volume (above 100%) may cause damage to some speakers. This is especially bad in laptops, where such damage may void their warranty. The volume slider may be reconfigured to cap out at 100%, but it would be much better and safer to have it set that way by default.
Much like any open-source project, VLC isn’t perfect. This isn’t frequent at all, but you will definitely encounter bugs and glitches. Sometimes it happens with a single format, sometimes you can’t open any files at all. Expect the worst after major system updates...
For brevity’s sake, we’ve condensed all our technical info into this table. Use the data below to make your final decision.
| Top Features | Elmedia | VLC |
|---|---|---|
| OS | macOS 11.0 Big Sur, 10.15 Catalina, 10.14 Mojave, macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.12 Sierra, OS X 10.11 El Capitan, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and earlier. | macOS 10.15 Catalina, 10.14 Mojave, macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.12 Sierra, OS X 10.11 El Capitan, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and earlier. |
| Interface | Refined and convenient | Bulky, hard to use |
| Graphics | Hardware-accelerated, with constant updates to improve performance | Hardware-accelerated, may perform poorly with HD videos |
| UHD/HD experience | Compatible with H.264/H.265, 4K, 4K HDR, 8K | Compatible with H.264/H.265, 4K, 4K HDR, 8K, sometimes 4K/8K playback is choppy |
| Subtitles | Highly automated, with language options, online and local search | Can be added and switched manually |
| Settings | Alter playback, visuals, many other facets | Plentiful but confusing |
FAQ