Top 5 AVC Players Today to Watch and Enjoy H.264 Videos

Videos are easily accessible today and can be watched through multiple platforms. Some platforms commonly used today are streaming services, video-sharing sites, and traditionally downloaded videos. With that in mind, this article will focus on all of these platforms since we will discuss what are the best AVC players in the market and help you understand exactly what H.264 video codec is.

Part 1. What is AVC Format

AVC or Advanced Video Codecs also known as H.264, is one of the most popular video codecs used today along with H.265 or High-Efficiency Video Coding which is the modernized version of it that is less used

With AVC now defined, we first have to discuss what exactly video codecs are. They are digital software or devices used for compressing or decompressing digital files to make them more manageable and easier to run on online platforms by making their file sizes significantly smaller. These codecs are divided into encoders and decoders, with the former used for compression and the latter for decompression. In this article, we will focus on the H.264 or AVC which was developed in 2003. Despite being two decades old, this encoder type is still considered the industry standard and is still widely used for offline use and online video-sharing platforms made possible by its low bit rate and lossless video quality.

To learn the best video players that can play advanced video codec files, please proceed to the next part of this article.

Part 2. Top 5 AVC Player

Before proceeding to our recommendations, we will first discuss how we tested each software based on its capacity to play H.264 videos. The first category to consider is what are the best uses of each media player outside of their capabilities to play AVC videos. Next would be their main features to learn what makes each platform unique or what makes them a good option. Lastly, we will also measure and weigh their pros and cons to help our readers decide if each platform is worth using.

1 AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player

Platform:

• • Windows
• • Mac

Best Used For/By:

• • Playing DVD and Blu-ray discs
• • Music enthusiasts who want to experience surround sound.
• • Playing high-quality videos

We will start this list by featuring the most advanced video player available today. This is none other than AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player. Although initially developed as a Blu-ray player, this software was also designed to support and play digital files both video and audio. Since most digital files are commonly encoded using AVC, developers of this platform made sure that their media player is capable of playing files in the codec mode that is considered the industry standard.

On top of its capability to play H.264 and H.265 files, AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player is also equipped with an advanced sound system that can provide high-quality surround sound. This feature was supported by Dolby 7.1 and DTS sound systems, both brands recognized and respected in the audio production market.

To enjoy watching videos encoded in AVC or listen to top-quality music, download the software with the link below and proceed to the next part of this article to learn how to play AVC files with AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player.

Features:

• • Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Media support.
• • 8K and 4K resolution video player.
• • Studio quality sound system through Dolby and DTS.

2 VLC Media Player



Platform:

• • Windows
• • Mac
• • iOS
• • Android

Best Used For/By:

• • Watching videos with advanced formats.
• • Computers with weak speakers can boost audio volume.

One of the most respected media players across different platforms. VLC Media Player may be considered the safest pick in this list if you want to enjoy watching AVC videos on your computer or mobile device. In terms of advanced features and functionality, this option is only second to AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player.

Features:

• • Integrated metadata editor.
• • Built-in subtitle downloader.

PROS

• Considered a staple program by Windows users.
• Has countless advanced tools.

CONS

• Boosted audio has poor sound quality.
• Updates may cause crashes.

3 Windows Media Player



Platform:

• • Windows

Best Used For/By:

• • Playing basic media formats.
• • Windows users are satisfied with their computer’s default media player.

The most accessible media player for Windows users, Windows Media Player is the default media player available in computers using the Windows operating system. Despite being quite basic, the platform is still capable of playing videos encoded in H.264.

Features:

• • Audio CD support
• • Create a playlist for local audio files

PROS

• Built-in for all Windows computers.
• Functional enough.

CONS

• Cannot process complex video formats.

4 GOM Player



Platform:

• • Windows

Best Used For/By:

• • K-pop and K-drama fans.
• • Users who want to experience 360-degree videos.

The most accessible media player for Windows users, Windows Media Player is the default media player available in computers using the Windows operating system. Despite being quite basic, the platform is still capable of playing videos encoded in H.264.

Features:

• • Advanced file format support.
• • 360-degree video playback.

PROS

• Clean and simple interface.
• Korean vocalization support.

CONS

• Downloading it comes with a lot of bundle tools, most of them being paid programs.

5 MX Player



Platform:

• • Android
• • Windows
• • iOS

Best Used For/By:

• • Video streaming.
• • Watching videos on the go on your device.
On the mobile side, MX Player started its brand as one of the most trusted video players by Android users. Over the years, the platform and brand were bought by an Indian company which developed the program into a streaming platform specialized in Indian entertainment. On top of being a streaming platform, the original media player feature of the software can still be enjoyed by its loyal Android users.The most accessible media player for Windows users, Windows Media Player is the default media player available in computers using the Windows operating system. Despite being quite basic, the platform is still capable of playing videos encoded in H.264.

Features:

• • Has an integrated video streaming platform.
• • Large catalog of Indian movies and shows.

PROS

• Can also be used to watch movies and shows online.
• Trusted by Android users over the years.

CONS

• The free version is plagued by ads and pop-ups.

Part 3. How to Play AVC Files

After discussing five media players with H.264 or AVC support, we can now move on to the step-by-step guide on how to play these types of videos. To provide a detailed and easy-to-follow guide, we will use AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player since it is the most solid option among our recommendations thanks to its straightforward interface and practical features.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to enjoy watching your videos encoded in Advanced Video Codec:

1 Open AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player and then select the Open File option in their main interface

2 Navigate your computer’s file manager and find the video encoded in AVC that you want to watch.

3 After selecting the video, it will now play in AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player as smoothly as possible with no interruptions.

Now that we discussed five of the best software that can play H.264 videos along with a simple guide on how to play them, we hope that you can now decide which media player is best for your personal use.

Conclusion

Which among these AVC players are you going to choose? Will you opt for the highly advanced media players like AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player and VLC Media Player? Or perhaps you will choose the most accessible one in Windows Media Player or GOM and MX Player for their niche offerings? Either way, we hope that this article helped you decide on choosing the software that is best for you.

Please share this article online to help other people who are browsing the internet looking for the best AVC player that is perfect for them.