Five media players for PC: what to compare

Five media players to evaluate

• VLC
• CnX Player
• PotPlayer
• KMPlayer
• GOM Player

This guide does not assign current ratings or claim that one player is faster, safer or more efficient than the others.

Use a sample from your own collection

Try files with the containers and video tracks you need, such as MKV, MP4, HEVC, AV1 or H.264. Include your subtitles and multiple audio tracks. A container extension alone does not establish whether a player supports every stream inside it.

For 4K 10-bit HDR, check the source format, display, decoder and PC together. Compare seeking, audio synchronisation, subtitle readability and sustained playback using the same file and settings.

Compare the controls you will use

• Library: Can you find, sort and group your videos comfortably?
• Subtitles and audio: Can you choose tracks and adjust timing and readability?
• Playback: Are picture fit, speed and other controls easy to reach?
• Playlists: Can you build and change a queue?
• Casting: Does your actual TV, network and file work with the player?
• Appearance: Can you use a comfortable light or dark theme?

If you compare battery use, heat or resource usage, use matched conditions and measure the result on your own hardware. This page offers no current benchmark evidence.

Where CnX Player fits

The Windows 5.0 release brings a folder-based video library, mini player, queue, playlists, subtitles, audio controls and picture adjustments. It includes HDR10 and HLG, 10-bit colour and advanced HDR tone mapping, plus casting to compatible TVs.

Casting and 10-bit HDR are CnX Pro features, with a free trial on every video.

Explore the CnX Player features or read about video formats.

Get it fromMicrosoft Store

Earlier video demonstrations

The following videos were part of this page’s earlier comparison. They may show old app versions.

• Earlier demonstration 1
• Earlier demonstration 2
• Earlier demonstration 3