Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SWF File Player VS Media Player Classic

Compare SWF File Player VS Media Player Classic 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.

SWF File Player logo SWF File Player

SWF File Player is a free player for SWF (Shockwave Flash) files.

Media Player Classic logo Media Player Classic

Download Media Player Classic 6.4.9.1 [2011.04.11] : Media Player Classic (MPC) comes with a big load of extra features you will enjoy
  • SWF File Player Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-03
  • Media Player Classic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-28

SWF File Player features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    User-friendly interface that makes it simple to load and play SWF files without complicated setup.
  • Lightweight
    The player is a lightweight application that does not require significant system resources, allowing for smooth performance even on older systems.
  • Freeware
    Available as a freeware application, offering access to SWF file playback without any cost.

Possible disadvantages of SWF File Player

  • Limited Features
    Lacks advanced features compared to more comprehensive media players, focusing mainly on basic playback functionality.
  • SWF Format Decline
    As SWF files become less common due to declining Flash support, the usefulness of the player diminishes.
  • Compatibility Issues
    May encounter compatibility issues with certain SWF files, particularly newer ones, due to outdated Flash technologies.

Media Player Classic features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Media Player Classic (MPC) is known for its minimalistic design and low resource consumption, making it suitable for older systems without sacrificing performance.
  • Wide Format Support
    MPC supports a broad range of video and audio formats, eliminating the need for additional codecs or plug-ins for most media playback needs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is clean and intuitive, allowing users to navigate and utilize the player's functionalities without a steep learning curve.
  • Customizability
    MPC offers extensive customization options, including adjustable hotkeys, customizable toolbars, and various settings for enhanced user control.
  • No Installation Required
    MPC is available in a portable version, which doesn't require installation, making it convenient for use from a USB drive or on multiple PCs.
  • Active Development Community
    Being an open-source project, MPC benefits from continuous updates and improvements contributed by a dedicated community of developers.

Possible disadvantages of Media Player Classic

  • No Built-in Streaming Support
    While MPC excels at local media playback, it lacks direct support for streaming services, which is a feature found in some other media players.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to more modern media players, MPC may fall short in terms of advanced features like integrated media libraries or network streaming capabilities.
  • Outdated Design
    The user interface, while functional, has an outdated look that might not appeal to users accustomed to more modern app aesthetics.
  • Dependency on External Codecs
    Though it supports many formats out of the box, certain less common formats might still require the installation of additional codecs or plugins.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Compared to some other media players, updates and major releases for MPC can be less frequent, potentially leading to longer periods without new features or critical bug fixes.

Analysis of Media Player Classic

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Media Player Classic from free-codecs.com is generally seen as a good media player, offering reliable performance and flexibility, especially for those who need a straightforward media player without unnecessary features.

Why this product is good

  • Media Player Classic is considered a good media player because it is lightweight, supports a wide range of video and audio formats, and offers a simple, user-friendly interface. Additionally, its compatibility with various codecs and ability to play high-definition content without extra installations make it a reliable choice for many users.

Recommended for

    Media Player Classic is recommended for users who need a lightweight, efficient, and versatile media player to handle diverse media formats. It's particularly suited for individuals looking for open-source software without complicated settings or bloatware.

SWF File Player videos

Trying out SWF File Player

Media Player Classic videos

Media Player Classic HC Review

More videos:

  • Review - Media Player Classic Announces End of Development - End of an Era?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SWF File Player and Media Player Classic)
Online Services
100 100%
0% 0
Audio Player
0 0%
100% 100
Product Presentation
100 100%
0% 0
Media Player
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SWF File Player seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

SWF File Player mentions (1)

  • Running a flash file in SWF Player no longer works. "No Shockwave Flash Object installed"
    Recently, since flash has been shut down, I have been getting around this by setting my system clock to a year ago and running the SWF file in SWF File Player (http://swffileplayer.com). Source: almost 4 years ago

Media Player Classic mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Media Player Classic yet. Tracking of Media Player Classic recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SWF File Player and Media Player Classic, you can also consider the following products

BlueMaxima's Flashpoint - the webgame preservation project.

MPC-HC - MPC-HC, the free, open source media player for Windows. DownloadsNote. Supported Operating Systems: Windows® XP SP3 .

Ruffle - An open source Flash player

VLC Media Player - VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework.

Lightspark - The Lightspark project

SMPlayer - SMPlayer is a free video and audio player for both Windows and Linux that allows you to play almost all media files without having to install additional codecs. Read more about SMPlayer.