Best MPC-HC Alternatives
Reviewed
The top-ranked MPC-HC alternative is MPC-HC (clsid2 fork) (Open Source). The best free option is VLC Media Player (open source).
The original MPC-HC has not been developed since 2017, and its last release, v1.7.13, came out on 16 July 2017. The closest replacement is the MPC-HC fork maintained by clsid2, still updated in 2026. VLC, mpv and MPC-BE are other free, open source players under active development.
1MPC-HC (clsid2 fork)
Open SourceActively maintained fork of Media Player Classic Home Cinema for Windows 7 to 11.
2Free, open-source media player that plays virtually any file or stream.
3MPV
Open SourceMinimalist, highly configurable media player with excellent performance.
MPC-BE
Open SourceAn actively developed fork of Media Player Classic with extra features.
PotPlayer
FreeFeature-packed Windows media player with extensive format support.
SMPlayer
Open SourceFree media player with built-in codecs and YouTube playback.
Media Player Classic Qute Theater
Open SourceA clean, open-source media player based on Qt with a modern interface.
Open-source media center for organizing and playing media across devices.
KMPlayer
FreeVersatile media player supporting a wide range of formats and codecs.
GOM Player
FreemiumPopular media player with codec finder and subtitle support.
5KPlayer
FreeA free media player with streaming, AirPlay, and video download support.
What happened to MPC-HC?
The MPC-HC team says on its official website that the player has not been developed since 2017 and asks users to switch to something else. Its last release, v1.7.13, came out on 16 July 2017, and the original GitHub repository is archived. A separate developer, clsid2, took over development of a fork in 2017 and still releases updates.
Top MPC-HC alternatives compared
MPC-HC (clsid2 fork)
This fork continues MPC-HC on GitHub, and its maintainer says many improvements have been made since taking over in 2017. The latest release, 2.8.4, came out on 18 October 2026, and it runs on Windows 7 to 11 under the GPL v3 license. It suits people who want to keep using MPC-HC itself, kept up to date.
VLC Media Player
VLC is a free, open source player for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS that plays most codecs without codec packs, including H.264, MKV and WebM. VideoLAN says it has no spyware, ads or user tracking, and the current Windows version is 3.0.24. It suits people who want one player on every device.
mpv
mpv is a free, open source, cross-platform player driven from the command line, with a small on-screen controller instead of a full interface. Its GPU video output supports high-quality scaling, color management, interpolation and HDR, and user scripts can extend it. It suits technical users who want fine control over video quality.
MPC-BE
MPC-BE is a free, open source Windows player based on the original Media Player Classic and MPC-HC projects, with extra features and bug fixes. It runs on Windows 7 to 11 under GPL v3, and version 1.9.3 was released on 5 November 2026. It suits people who want another actively developed Media Player Classic descendant.
| App | Price | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPC-HC (clsid2 fork) | Free, open source | Windows | Staying on MPC-HC |
| VLC Media Player | Free, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Playing almost any file on any device |
| mpv | Free, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Fine control over video output |
| MPC-BE | Free, open source | Windows | An actively developed MPC descendant |
We checked each project's official site and GitHub releases on 6 November 2026. Both Windows forks shipped recently: the clsid2 MPC-HC fork released 2.8.4 on 18 October 2026 and MPC-BE released 1.9.3 on 5 November 2026.
MPC-HC alternatives: FAQ
What is the best alternative to MPC-HC?
MPC-HC (clsid2 fork) is ranked first on this list (Open Source). The ranking combines our base score with readers' votes, so it can change.
What is the best free alternative to MPC-HC?
The highest-ranked free or open-source options here are MPC-HC (clsid2 fork), VLC Media Player and MPV.
Which MPC-HC alternatives work on Mac?
VLC Media Player, MPV, Kodi and IINA run on macOS.
Which MPC-HC alternatives work on Linux?
VLC Media Player, MPV, SMPlayer and Media Player Classic Qute Theater run on Linux.
Are there MPC-HC alternatives for Android?
Yes: VLC Media Player, Kodi, KMPlayer and GOM Player have Android apps.
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