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Head-to-head · Media Player Software

MPlayer vs MediaPortal

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score MPlayer #5 in Media Player Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit MPlayer
MediaPortal #7 in Media Player Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit MediaPortal

MPlayer leads on 0 checks, MediaPortal on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMPlayer · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresMediaPortal · 3 of 4

MPlayer scores higher on our rubric for media player software: 8.7 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.

MPlayer is the better fit for open-source playback with legacy format breadth. MediaPortal is the better fit for windows home-theater and live-TV setups.

  • MPlayer fits best

    Open-source playback with legacy format breadth

  • MediaPortal fits best

    Windows home-theater and live-TV setups

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature MPlayer 8.7/10 Visit ↗ MediaPortal 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.5
Ranking #5 in Media Player Software #7 in Media Player Software
Best for Open-source playback with legacy format breadth Windows home-theater and live-TV setups
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Desktop Desktop
Platforms Linux, Windows, macOS Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Support Community, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features MPlayer 1/4 · MediaPortal 3/4
Network playback Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Subtitle support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Hardware acceleration ✓ ✓
4K playback Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet web, windows, ios, android
Format support Not checked yet MPEG-2, MPEG-1, MOV, H.264, VC-1, DivX, Xvid, AC3, DTS, MP3, AAC, Matroska, DVD, Blu-ray
License model Not checked yet Free
Our review
Pros
  • Broad video, audio, codec, and subtitle format support
  • Handles optical media, television input, and network streams
  • Offers speed control, frame-by-frame playback, and hardware acceleration
  • Plays DVDs, Blu-ray discs, subtitles and many common media formats
  • Combines live TV, DVR scheduling, radio, music and network playback
  • Supports plugins, skins, metadata and remote access through web, Android and iOS
Cons
  • Command-line distribution may require more technical setup
  • Optional GUI is not enabled by default
  • No integrations are provided
  • The main desktop player is documented for Windows
  • Hardware acceleration requires configuration through LAV Video
  • Remote web, Android and iOS access is separate from the desktop player
Our verdict

MPlayer is an open-source media player for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X, with support for other Unix-like systems. It is suited to people who need broad playback coverage across local files, optical media, television input, and network…

Read the review →

MediaPortal is free, open-source media center software for Windows PCs and home-theater setups. It combines video playback with DVD and Blu-ray menus, subtitle support, movie metadata, music, FM and web radio, live TV viewing, scheduling…

Read the review →
  1. MPlayerMedia Player Software 8.7Free plan
  2. MediaPortalMedia Player Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • MPlayer — where it wins

    • Broad video, audio, codec, and subtitle format support
    • Handles optical media, television input, and network streams
    • Offers speed control, frame-by-frame playback, and hardware acceleration

    Where it doesn't

    • Command-line distribution may require more technical setup
    • Optional GUI is not enabled by default
    • No integrations are provided
  • MediaPortal — where it wins

    • Plays DVDs, Blu-ray discs, subtitles and many common media formats
    • Combines live TV, DVR scheduling, radio, music and network playback
    • Supports plugins, skins, metadata and remote access through web, Android and iOS

    Where it doesn't

    • The main desktop player is documented for Windows
    • Hardware acceleration requires configuration through LAV Video
    • Remote web, Android and iOS access is separate from the desktop player

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update