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Chromecast VS VLC Media Player

Compare Chromecast VS VLC Media Player and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.
Contents:
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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Chromecast logo Chromecast

Google's thumb-sized media streaming device

VLC Media Player logo VLC Media Player

VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework.
  • Chromecast Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • VLC Media Player Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13

Chromecast features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Chromecast is very straightforward to set up and use, requiring minimal technical knowledge. Users simply plug it into their TV's HDMI port and stream content from their devices.
  • Affordability
    Chromecast is relatively inexpensive compared to other smart TV devices or streaming boxes, making it an accessible option for many consumers.
  • Wide Compatibility
    It works with a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, allowing users to cast content from almost any device.
  • Updates and Support
    Google provides regular updates to the Chromecast, ensuring new features and security enhancements are available over time.

Possible disadvantages of Chromecast

  • Dependent on External Devices
    Chromecast requires another device, like a smartphone, tablet, or computer, to stream content, which may not be convenient for all users.
  • No Native Apps
    Unlike some other streaming devices, Chromecast doesn't have native apps or a dedicated interface; it relies entirely on casting from external devices.
  • Limited Features
    Chromecast lacks certain advanced features, like offline storage or a dedicated remote, which might be available on more advanced streaming devices.
  • Dependence on Internet
    A strong internet connection is essential for smooth streaming with Chromecast, which can be a drawback in areas with unreliable connectivity.

VLC Media Player features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    VLC Media Player is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, providing a consistent experience across different devices.
  • Wide Format Support
    VLC supports virtually all audio and video file formats, making it a versatile media player for various types of content.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, VLC is free to use and its source code is accessible, allowing for community-driven modifications and improvements.
  • No Ads or Spyware
    VLC Media Player is free of advertisements, spyware, and user tracking, offering a clean and private user experience.
  • Customizable Interface
    Users can customize the interface with skins and add functionality through plugins and extensions, enhancing the user experience.
  • Streaming Support
    VLC can stream content over networks and manage internet radio streams, making it ideal for both local and remote media playback.
  • Frequent Updates
    The development team regularly updates VLC, ensuring it remains secure, stable, and compatible with the latest media formats.

Possible disadvantages of VLC Media Player

  • Resource Intensive
    VLC can be resource-intensive, which may cause performance issues on older or less powerful devices.
  • Complex Interface
    The extensive range of features and settings can be overwhelming for new or less tech-savvy users, making it difficult to navigate.
  • Occasional Bugs
    Like any software, VLC is not immune to bugs, which can sometimes result in crashes or unexpected behavior during playback.
  • Limited Library Management
    VLC's media library functionality is relatively basic compared to dedicated media management software, which may be a downside for users with large media collections.
  • Suboptimal Subtitle Support
    While VLC supports subtitles, the functionality can sometimes be glitchy, with occasional issues in displaying or syncing subtitles accurately.
  • Advanced Features Can Be Hidden
    Some advanced features are not immediately obvious and may require digging into the settings or using command-line options, which can be a barrier for less experienced users.

Analysis of VLC Media Player

Overall verdict

  • Yes, VLC Media Player is widely considered to be a good media player.

Why this product is good

  • VLC Media Player is praised for its versatility, open-source nature, cross-platform support, and ability to play a wide variety of media formats without needing additional codecs. It also offers features like streaming, conversion, and extensive subtitle support.

Recommended for

  • Users who need a reliable and versatile media player.
  • Anyone looking to play non-standard or less common media formats.
  • People who prefer open-source software or want a player that is consistently updated.
  • Users who require cross-platform compatibility between Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Chromecast videos

+ Add

Chromecast Review | Can A $35 Device Be That Good?

More videos:

  • Review - Google Chromecast 2018 Review
  • Review - 5 reasons to still buy the Chromecast

VLC Media Player videos

+ Add

VLC Media Player Review!

More videos:

  • Tutorial - VLC Media Player Android Review and Tutorial - Cool Features of VLC

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Chromecast and VLC Media Player)

Chromecast

VLC Media Player

Watch Movies Online
100 100%
Watch Movies Online
0% 0
Audio Player
0 0%
Audio Player
100% 100
Movie Streaming
100 100%
Movie Streaming
0% 0
Media Player
0 0%
Media Player
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Chromecast and VLC Media Player

Chromecast Reviews

We have no reviews of Chromecast yet.
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VLC Media Player Reviews

  1. Muhammad Yaseen
    Playing Videos

    This is very useful application for me. Now i can watch videos of any format on my laptop with vlc player. It solved my all problems of video formats and play problem.

Best VLC Alternative Media Players
Users might seek alternatives to VLC Media Player due to preferences for a different user interface, additional features not available in the program, performance issues like lagging or compatibility problems, or specialized needs such as specific codec support. While VLC offers robust functionality and broad compatibility, exploring other media players can address personal...
Source: icecreamapps.com
9 Best VLC Alternatives to Play Media in Any Format
In today's fast-paced world, media players have become an essential part of our lives. VLC Media Player has always been a popular choice, but it seems that the video player exhibits more problems as time goes on. A quick search of user reviews proves that it has fallen behind competitors in terms of advanced features, and newer updates of VLC are fraught with bugs, glitches,...
Source: www.cyberlink.com
10 Best VLC Media Player Alternatives in 2024 (Free)
Some years before VLC Media Player provided a lot of useful and satisfying features to the users as one of the best Media Players but as the use of Media Players increased many more alternatives to VLC Media Player developed that became its competitors. These not only serve similar features as VLC Media Player but also provide more useful features and various file formats...
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
Top 5 GOM Player Alternatives for Windows
You can spot VLC Media Player on the first position of almost every media-player-based list. It’s been one of the standards for playing wide variety of media formats — including audio and video. Being an open-source program, you are completely free to use VLC. As far as playing media in Windows is concerned, VLC Media Player comes with the best-in-class support. You will...
Source: xtendedview.com
Top 5 Alternatives of VLC for iPad
VLC player is one of the famous media players that is commonly used across multiple operating systems, including iPadOS. It's an open-source and easy-to-use media player that shows compatibility with every mainstream video and audio format. IPad users can use the file synchronization feature to stream videos saved in cloud storage platforms like Dropbox, iCloud Drive,...
Source: videoconverter.wondershare.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Chromecast should be more popular than VLC Media Player. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Chromecast mentions (6)

  • Optimization issues
    Maybe this is about Casting rather than Chromecast? Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Need some advice on how to utilize my TV as a monitor
    The problem is the desktop is too far away from the TV. If I wanted to connect them through an HDMI cable, it would have to be at least 7-8 meters long and the HDMI 2.1 cables (which supports 120Hz@4K) that I found online are mostly 3 meters long max. I have seen people suggest the Chromecast solution where I would run the Steam Link app but I am not sure where I would land performance-wise. Budget-wise I am a bit... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Question regarding moving from Android TV with built-in chromecast to chrome cast dongle
    Just so were' clear, you mean the $50 Chromecast with Google TV, not the $30 Chromecast, correct? If so, then you will have the newest interface. I have two of them, one paired with a Sony Bravia. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Prime Video issue
    Https://store.google.com/product/chromecast I’m partial to the charcoal but the chalk look cool too. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Google Store's Chromecast is very slow in Firefox.
    I basically started the capture, went to https://store.google.com/product/chromecast, waited about 30 seconds, then hit back so I can regain my Firefox, stopped capturing, and uploaded. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

VLC Media Player mentions (3)

  • The 10 tools I install on every new Mac I get
    VLC - plays everything, has excellent keyboard shortcuts and can in a pinch even record screens for you (free). - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Why Open Source Software VLC's official website has been blocked for over 5 months now?
    Try accessing it without the 'www' subdomain (https://videolan.org/vlc/). Source: almost 3 years ago
  • AV1 no working
    I think I recommend you to use VLC Media Player without AV1 extension, it just decode. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Chromecast and VLC Media Player, you can also consider the following products

Apple TV - New Apple TV running tvOS

AIMP - AIMP : Free Audio Player : Официальный сайт программы

Netflix - See what's next. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.

Winamp - Winamp is a media player that allows users to play multiple-file formats, arrange media in a varied file-management system, and play unique media with AAC encoding.

Roku - Roku is a streaming player manufactured by Roku Inc.

foobar2000 - An advanced freeware audio player for the Windows platform.

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