A hassle-free, easy to use, and free media player

VLC for Android is a free multimedia player that lets you play music and video content. You can download this handy program for Mac, Microsoft Windows PC, iOS, and Android devices. While the user interface is straightforward, the platform has dynamic benefits that let you customize your viewing experience.

As an open-source cross-platform multimedia player, it plays most multimedia files as well as various streaming protocols. Safe, powerful, and completely free, the app can play a range of media, including video and music files, in multiple formats directly on your device of choice.

Work in progress

VLC for Android is still in the development stages and, as a message warns when you launch the app, it is not stable and can cause problems if you don’t know what you’re doing with it. Users have experienced glitches on several occasions and the app, in some instances, completely froze while in use.

When it’s working, VLC for Android makes for a good alternative to the stock media player. It handles a decent range of file formats across audio files, videos, and streaming media, and has the same minimalist interface as the desktop version. Moreover, it also supports subtitle files and offers hardware acceleration automatically, although this feature can be disabled.

Smooth controls

The video player window in VLC for Android is well designed, playing videos at full-screen resolution or at a ratio of the user’s choosing, with gesture-based controls for changing volume and brightness settings. You can hover through videos simply by sliding your finger across the screen. Video-wise, the app supports a range of formats, and playback of these is generally very smooth.

However, full HD video is not officially supported, and watching certain 1080p movies is borderline impossible due to lag or simply getting a black screen. It definitely performs better when handling audio files, with simple player controls and a widget that gives you basic controls from your home screen. At the same time, it doesn’t come with support for Chromecast. Until then, if you’re looking to cast from your device to your TV, you can go for RealTimes (With RealPlayer) or Plex instead.

Is VLC download free and is it free to use?

VLC is free to download and install. Only a free download is available, although you can donate to the developers in case you want to support the development of the project by VideoLAN. The multimedia program delivers the entire suite of features for free.

Is VLC safe?

The VLC player is an open-source project, which enables you to look into the source code to make sure that the program is safe for you. The open-source nature allows you to modify the code to change the platform to your personal preferences. 

Bring your tunes on the road

Through the latest update on the app’s iOS version, it can now be used in cars through Apple CarPlay. Previously inaccessible via direct use, the new update integrates the VLC player with CarPlay, making it possible for users to bring their favorite media on the go. Now, the whole suite of features can be accessed through your car’s interface, allowing you to stream local or online music, create playlists, and more. However, do note that this update is only available for a specific platform version of the app.

A promising start

There’s no question that VLC for Android is very rough around the edges, and you’ll likely encounter problems if you want to play HD video. However, as an early build, it shows signs of emulating the success of the desktop version of VLC.