shouldiuse.io

Report

Should I Use VLC media player (VideoLAN)?

videolan.org·Analyzed 18 hours ago··Based on 10 sources

Free multimedia solutions for all OS

Worth it

Worth it

If you watch video on a computer, use VLC — it is free, plays nearly everything, and has no paid tier to upsell you.

Free open-source player that plays anything. Great for individuals; no support line, so update it and avoid fake mirrors.

Confidence: High

$0

Price

Free and open source, no ads

Open source

License

Run by non-profit VideoLAN

All major OS

Platforms

Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile

Billions of users

Scale

Per press mentions of the project

Value for money5

Free, open source, no ads or paywall

Ease of use4

Default forum answer for unplayable files

Feature depth4

8K, streams, recording, playlists, conversions

Support quality2

Community forums only; no vendor helpdesk

Security posture3

Recurring CVEs, but patches shipped regularly

Pros

  • Completely free and open source; creator refused millions to keep it that way.⁹
  • Plays formats others can't, like security-camera .dav files.⁷
  • Default recommendation across tech, photo, and enthusiast forums.
  • Handles screen recording, multiple audio tracks, and 8K playback.
  • Cited by camera and hardware manuals as the standard playback tool.

Cons

  • No vendor support; fixes come from community forums only.
  • Security vulnerabilities recur; you must update manually.³
  • Fake and lookalike download sites confuse users.10
  • Some organizations ban it after malware-abuse campaigns.

Gotchas

  • highDownload only from — typo-squatted mirror domains exist.10
  • mediumCVE-2025-51602 (denial of service) shows vulns keep appearing; update promptly.³
  • mediumHackers have abused VLC in campaigns; some companies ban it outright.
  • lowComplex playback problems mean forum digging; expect no official helpdesk.

Best for

  • Anyone with odd video formats (.dav, camcorder, dashcam)
  • People avoiding paid codec packs
  • Screen recording and streaming on a budget
  • 8K/360-degree video playback

Not for

  • Businesses needing vendor SLAs or support contracts
  • IT teams wanting centralized, policy-managed deployments
  • Security-strict orgs that ban unsigned open-source apps
  • Anyone unwilling to keep software updated themselves

Pricing

VLC media player

$0

  • Full playback and conversion features
  • No ads, tracking, or paid tier
  • Open source, all platforms

Security

Actively patched open-source project, but vulnerabilities recur — keep it updated and download from the official site.

  • CVE-2025-51602 — denial-of-service vulnerabilityA VLC media player DoS vulnerability tracked publicly in 2026 advisories.³
  • Critical vulnerability patched (2019)VideoLAN addressed a critical VLC vulnerability; disclosure caused temporary confusion.⁴
  • Binary hijacking vulnerabilityA binary hijacking vulnerability exists per Lavawall's patch-status tracker.⁵
  • Security fixes in 3.0.18 and 3.0.20Official security bulletins and release notes confirm repeated security patches.⁶

What users say

Forums overwhelmingly treat VLC as the default free fix for unplayable video, while other threads surface fake-download and security worries.

“I use the free open source program VLC”
— Arduino forum
“The creator of VLC refused an offer worth millions to sell it”
— Reddit, r/nextfuckinglevel
“VLC Media Player is an amazing software that stays completely free”
— Facebook post

Alternatives

Compare VLC media player (VideoLAN) with each alternative.

Full analysis

Based on 40+ public sources: official pages, security trackers, and forum/Reddit mentions.

Sources

  1. VLC official site and downloadvideolan.org
    official
  2. VideoLAN product security pagevideolan.org
    official
  3. CVE-2025-51602: VLC DoS Vulnerabilitysentinelone.com
    security
  4. VideoLAN Patches Critical Vulnerability in VLCsecurityweek.com
    security
  5. VLC 3.0.23 patch status, CVEs & trackinglavawall.com
    security
  6. VLC Player 3.0.20 includes security fixestalk.tidbits.com
    security
  7. .dav video player — Spiceworks communitycommunity.spiceworks.com
    review
  8. VLC banned after Cicada hacking campaignfacebook.com
    news
  9. VLC creator refused millions to sellreddit.com
    news
  10. What's the official link — r/VLCreddit.com
    review

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