9 Best DVD Player Software for Windows PC in 2023
Digital Video Disc (DVD) technology is far from dead. If you still have your favorite DVD collection, it’s easy to enjoy them on your computer using DVD playback software.
There’s no need to have a separate DVD player because with a computer and software you can easily switch between TVs. You’ll also have lots of extra features like file management and wide format support, that plays any video file you may have. Plus, you’ll be able to have your content added to the cloud and shared on mobile devices.
Oh, and you don’t have to have a clunky DVD player laying around.
But deciding which DVD player can be a bit confusing since there are so many with lots of different features.
We recommend getting a DVD player software that will seamlessly integrate your computer into your home entertainment system wirelessly. It should make streaming all your content and sharing it with friends and family easy. Plus, have the latest in video and audio enhancements to give you richer, more detailed colors with crisper, balanced sound for all your discs and videos.
This guide takes an in-depth look at the three best DVD player software options to help you choose the perfect one for your needs.
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Top 3 DVD Player Software Snapshot
1. PowerDVD 22 – Best Overall DVD Player Software
Plays DVDs, 4K Blu-ray and 8K video on your PC True Theater enhancements. You can also cast to your big screen TV and use your smartphone as a remote. Detailed Review >
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2. PotPlayer – Best for 3D
DVD player software that plays DVD and Blu-ray and has support for various types of 3D glasses.
3. VLC Media Player – Best Playback Support
Free and open-source DVD player software that plays DVDs, a wide range of file formats, and streams online content.
How to Pick a DVD Player Software?
The following are important things to look for in DVD player software. Read our tips and tricks for choosing the best one for your needs below:
- Features
- Playback Quality
- Ease of Use
The number one thing to look for in DVD player software is features. In our list below, you’ll find options that simply play DVDs, and some that do so much more. It all comes down to what your specific needs are.
Will you be using your DVD player software to watch Blu-rays? Some of the options don’t offer support for Blu-ray, and some that do can’t play Blu-ray menus or BD Live. Will you be streaming online content? Do you prefer to watch your DVDs on your TV and need a casting feature? Do you have a huge media library and need organizational features? Will you be playing music or organizing photos? These are all questions to ask before deciding on DVD player software.
Some of the options on our list actually improve the quality of the DVDs and video files they play with upscaling features, while others can cause your computer to constantly freeze or lag. Scan reviews before picking DVD software to make sure it provides excellent video and audio quality.
If you haven’t used DVD player software before, you’ll want to make sure the one you choose is beginner-friendly. And users of any skill level appreciate a clean, intuitive user interface. Look at screenshots online to see if you find the software attractive before you swipe right.
9 Best DVD Player Software for Windows PC in 2023
1. PowerDVD 22 – Best Overall DVD Player Software
Compatibility: Windows
TechRadar Rating: 5/5
Video Playback Quality: 5/5
Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $59.99 for Standard or $99.99 for Ultra
Key Features:
- Media organization with poster art
- Supports 360-degree and VR video playback
- Access to cloud storage
- BD-Live and Blu-ray Menu support
PowerDVD 22 is an all-in-one media player for Windows and is one of the best options for home theater use. If you are looking to play DVDs, 4K Blu-ray, or watch 8k videos, this software is for you.
In addition to playing media from discs, you can use PowerDVD to stream cloud-based content. With TV media casting, a PowerDVD remote app, and high-quality audio playback, you can use PowerDVD as your home theater media center.
PowerDVD features a modern and user-friendly interface. It offers two interface options, TV Mode and PC Mode, and you can switch between them at any time. The TV Mode interface features a simplistic, horizontal menu that is easy to navigate using the CyberLink remote app. The remote app allows you to control PowerDVD throughout your home.
The software also offers support for an extensive range of media formats. You can play MP4, AVCHD 2.0, HDMI, MKV, AVI, and more. Disc-based video formats PowerDVD supports include DVD, Blu-Ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray movie discs.
You can browse and play online video content via Vimeo, YouTube, and Facebook or add online content to your media gallery for easy access – no internet connection needed.
TrueTheater enhancements are among PowerDVD’s most valuable features. These image enhancements include HDR color, lighting, motion compensation, HD upscaling, noise reduction, and stabilization. The audio and video enhancement technologies enhance your media experience on PC and TV, and it optimizes the quality of your home videos and older disc content.
PowerDVD’s TV casting feature lets you connect your PC wirelessly to your HDTV via Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV. By installing and connecting the CyberLink remote app, you can enjoy DVDs and content from your computer’s local storage while sitting on your couch.
Pros
- Support for all main media formats and disc-based content
- User-friendly interface for PC and TV
- High-Quality video and audio reproduction
Cons
- No casting option for protected media
Take those DVDs off the shelf and start enjoying them today! Download PowerDVD 22 below.
2. PotPlayer – Best for 3D
Compatibility: Windows
G2 Rating: 4.6/5
Video Playback Quality: 4.8/5
Price: Free
*Premium versions available for $24.99 for Downloader Express, $39.99 for Plus, and $49.99/year for Premium
- Adjust brightness, contrast, hue
- Supports various subtitle formats
- Bookmark favorite scenes
- 360-Degree VR support
PotPlayer is DVD player software that provides the ultimate 3D experience. It supports various types of 3D glasses so you can watch 3D movies on your PC or 3D TV. In our test, we noticed excellent playback quality for both audio and video.
Enjoy DVDs and Blu-rays with different views such as side by side and top and bottom. Page flipping is also supported. This DVD player software is loaded with codecs and can play anything from large files to broken files.
PotPlayer is fully customizable, but has a slight learning curve for beginners. And unlike most of the other DVD player software on our list, it doesn’t support online video streaming.
Pros
- Fast download speeds
- Lightweight
Cons
- No online video streaming
- Doesn’t support some Blu-ray formats
3. VLC Media Player – Best for Video Files
Image from videoLAN
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
TechRadar Rating: 4.5/5
Video Playback Quality: 4.5/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Fast hardware decoding
- 360-Degree video support
- Increase video volume by 200%
- 8K resolution
VLC Media Player is free and open-source DVD player software that is best for playing video files and streaming online content. You can play videos while they are still downloading and play zip files without unpacking them first. It also plays most streaming protocols and media devices including DVDs, CDs, VCDs, and webcams.
This DVD player software has customizable skins and filters for both audio and video. It comes with synchronous subtitles, plug-in support, and an album cover search function.
VLC Media Player has wide format support, but doesn’t play Blu-ray, which is a must for DVD player software by today’s standards. And unlike PowerDVD and GOM Player, VLC has a learning curve.
Pros
- It will play even old and forgotten formats
- Lightweight
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- No Blu-ray support or casting
4. KMPlayer – Best Playback Support
Compatibility: Windows
JustUseApp Rating: 4.4/5
Video Playback Quality: 4/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Audio and video playlists
- Video to GIF creator
- Slideshow creator
- Support for 24 languages
KMPlayer is a free, feature-rich DVD player software for Windows. It includes support for any kind of video playback, including 3D, 360-degree VR, 4K, 8K, DVD, Blu-ray, and URL download. Control video and audio playback with hotkeys and intuitive controls.
This DVD player software includes noise-reduction, super high-speed mode, and casting with Chromecast. KMPlayer offers support for a variety of subtitle formats and built-in codecs.
KMPlayer and Leawo Blu-ray Player are both completely free DVD player software, but are opposites in features and functionality. While Leawo is lightweight and beginner-friendly, KMPlayer is heavy on system resources and has a steep learning curve. However, KMPlayer is packed with features compared to its bare-bones counterpart.
Pros
- Excellent sorting features
- Modern UI design
Cons
- Not for beginners
- Heavy on computer resources
5. GOM Player – Best for Subtitles
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
G2 Rating: 4.4/5
Video Playback Quality: 3.8/5
Price: Free
*Premium version available for $15
Key Features:
- Customizable skins and logos
- Support for 14 languages
- VOB file player
- 360-degree VR support
GOM Player is DVD player software for anyone who regularly watches videos with subtitles turned on. It supports every major subtitle format and will even search the web and sync subtitles for videos without a subtitle option. There is a dedicated subtitle button included in the control panel that allows you to turn subtitles off and on with the click of a button and adjust subtitle placement and size.
When we found a file format that was unsupported by GOM Player, we were able to easily search the built-in codec library to fill in the gaps. We were even able to play corrupted files by downloading the missing codecs. Other features included in this DVD player software are support for 8K video, a control panel to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, and adjustable playback speed including time jumps.
The large codec library is handy, but a DVD player software like PowerDVD that already supports all major file formats is even better, as constantly looking up missing codecs can be time-consuming. We found many users complained the software made their computers freeze or lag.
Pros
- User-Friendly
- Large codec library
Cons
- Installer bundles additional programs
- Free version has ads
6. Leawo Blu-ray Player – Best for CPU
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
TopTenReviews Rating: 4/5
Video Playback Quality: 4/5
Price: Free
*Premium version available for $44.95/year
Key Features:
- Customizable skins and backgrounds
- Support for multiple languages
- Support for Dolby, AAC, TrueHD, DTSHD
- Audio player for music
Leawo Blu-ray Player is a DVD player software that takes up very little CPU. It’s a great option for anyone who likes to work on the computer and play DVDs at the same time. You can stalk your ex on Facebook and watch a DVD of the first movie you saw together simultaneously, without any lag in addition, there’s a Power Manager feature to help conserve battery life, with no change in video quality.
Another thing we liked about this DVD player software was the complete control we had over playback. From the playback menu, you can adjust subtitles, watch full-screen, adjust volume, fast forward, rewind, choose the next or last scenes, and change video and audio settings. It includes a multi-angle feature for multicamera movies and a virtual remote control.
If you just need a DVD player software to watch DVD and Blu-ray on your computer, without any extra bells and whistles, then Leawo Blu-ray Player is for you. It is simple to use, free, and takes the least amount of CPU of any DVD player software on our list. However, while options like PowerDVD are full-featured media players, Leawo is not. It does not have any media organization features, won’t cast video to your TV, lacks a simultaneous viewing feature, and won’t upscale your videos to HD.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Conserves battery power
Cons
- No upscaling features
- No BD-Live support
7. Macgo Player – Best for Audio
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
TopTenReviews Rating: 3.5/5
Video Playback Quality: 4.5/5
Price: Free
*Premium version available for Mac only
Key Features:
- Hardware acceleration
- Music and photo support
- Ultra 4K HD
- Built-in and external subtitles
Macgo Player is a DVD player software that enhances the audio quality of most media. Enhance audio with Macgo’s high-definition audio feature, as well as support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS 5.1, and DTS HD Master Audio.
We found the program to be lightweight on computer resources, fast, and lag-free, allowing us to switch between videos in no time at all. There are also simple adjustment tools for hue, brightness, saturation, and video speed.
As its name would suggest, Macgo is better suited for Mac users. Only the free version of Macgo is available on Windows, which means no support for Blu-ray and a limited toolset. PC users would be better off with PowerDVD or Corel WinDVD.
Pros
- Fast navigation
- High-Quality playback
Cons
- Limited features compared to other programs
- Windows version doesn’t support Blu-ray
8. Corel WinDVD – Best Search Function
Compatibility: Windows
TopTenReviews Rating: 3.5/5
Video Playback Quality: 4.2/5
Price: $79.99
Key Features:
- Customizable skins
- Color correction and enhancement tools
- Standard to HD video upscaling
- Playlists and bookmark tools
Corel WinDVD is a popular DVD player software with access to FlixFinder. This web service lets you search, purchase, and view online movies and other videos on your computer. Using FlixFinder, you can compare prices and view information about each file before making a purchase.
This DVD player software also offers the latest Blu-ray playback technology including BD-Live network support, 3D, and UHD. To optimize your 3D experience with Corel WinDVD, you need a 3D-enabled monitor. However, if you don’t have the necessary hardware, you can use WinDVD’s 2D to 3D conversion feature.
WinDVD offers video enhancement features such as Dolby amplifications, video stabilization, and Motion Streamliner, but they don’t match the TrueTheater enhancements of PowerDVD in terms of sophistication and adjustability. This DVD player software is also missing other PowerDVD staples such as video casting, cloud storage, and a smart remote app.
Pros
- Clean, user-friendly interface
- Minimal burden on your PC
Cons
- No smart remote or app
- No cloud storage access
9. 5KPlayer – Best for Streaming Radio
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
TrustPilot Rating: 3.3/5
Video Playback Quality: 4/5
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Support for 360-degree VR video
- Rotate video
- Subtitler
- DLNA casting
5KPlayer is a DVD player software, video converter, and satellite radio. Users can play online radio from the recommended preset stations or paste their favorite station’s URL into the software. 5KPlayer detects and plays multi-channel surround sound, so you can listen to your music with perfect quality.
This DVD player software will also play Blu-ray discs and AVI, MP4, MKV, and MOV files on your computer’s local storage. As an HD video player, 5KPlayer supports high-quality video with resolutions that include 720p, 1080p, 4K, and 5K UHD. You can also download and play videos from websites, including Facebook, YouTube, and Dailymotion.
Using 5KPlayer, you can download videos in 4K Ultra HD. You can also convert videos into various audio file formats, including MP3 and AAC.
On the downside, unlike PowerDVD, 5KPlayer doesn’t have a remote app. Instead, you will need to navigate the interface using your keyboard and mouse. Also, like many of the reviews we read, we found 5KPlayer difficult to uninstall from our PC. The software is constantly running and slowing down all other apps. Be sure to check reviews and make sure this issue is solved before downloading.
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- Accessible library to help you organize your video and music files
Cons
- Difficult to uninstall
- No smart remote or app
Best DVD Player Software Comparison Chart
Software
OS
Beginner-Friendly
Playback Quality Enhancements
Support for Blu-ray
Screencasting
Smart Remote
PowerDVD 22
Windows
Yes
TrueTheater enhancements including HDR color, lighting, motion compensation, HD upscaling, noise reduction, and stabilization.
Yes
Yes
Yes
PotPlayer
Windows
No
None
Yes, but not all formats
No
No
VLC Media Player
Windows, Mac, Linux
No
Audio/video filters, increase volume by 200%
No
No
No
KMPlayer
Windows
No
Noise reduction, high-speed mode
Yes
Yes
No
GOM Player
Windows, Mac
Yes
None
No
No
No
Leawo Blu-ray Player
Windows, Mac
Yes
None
Yes, but no BD Live support
No
Yes
Macgo Player
Windows, Mac
Yes
High-Definition audio enhancements
No
No
No
Corel WinDVD
Windows
Yes
Standard to HD upscaling, Video stabilization, Motion Streamliner, Dolby amplifications
Yes
No
No
5KPlayer
Windows, Mac
Yes
TrueTheater technology, Dolby amplifications
Yes
Yes
No
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PowerDVD 22
vs
PotPlayer
VLC Media Player
KMPlayer
GOM Player
Leawo Blu-ray Player
Macgo Player
Corel WinDVD
5KPlayer
OS
Windows
–
Beginner-Friendly
Yes
–
Playback Quality Enhancements
TrueTheater enhancements including HDR color, lighting, motion compensation, HD upscaling, noise reduction, and stabilization.
–
Support for Blu-ray
Yes
–
Screencasting
Yes
–
Smart Remote
Yes
–
How to Use DVD Player Software
Here are the steps for watching a DVD on your PC with PowerDVD 22.
Download it below and follow along.
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Simply insert your disc into your PC, and your video will play automatically. If you already have a disc inserted, follow these steps.
- Open PowerDVD 22 and click Open DVD/Blu-ray Folder. Select the drive that contains your disc.
- Click Resume or Restart to begin playback.
- Use your keyboard to control the playback or download the PowerDVD free remote app on your mobile.
To learn more about playing DVDs with PowerDVD 22, click here.
Download the Best DVD Player Software for Free
Installing DVD player software on your computer allows you to watch high-quality content on the go without needing an internet connection. Modern DVD software offers a comprehensive playback function and can even serve as the “brain” of your home entertainment system.
Choosing the right DVD software for your needs can be a challenge. Many different products are available, and each one differs in terms of file format support, disc playback functionality, and connectivity features.
PowerDVD 22 is a leading DVD player software for Windows that offers exceptional DVD and Blu-ray playback functionality. With this software, you get an extensive range of features that allow online streaming and casting to your existing entertainment systems. PowerDVD’s TrueTheater enhancements go a long way towards improving your home cinema experience, especially when it comes to low-resolution content.
PowerDVD 22 supports almost all file formats. With features such as TV casting and remote app navigation, this software is your best option if you want to watch movies from your couch.
To make the most of your home entertainment system and DVD collection, download PowerDVD 22 today.
DVD Player Software FAQ
1. What Features Should I Look for in DVD Player Software?
The top ten features you should look for in DVD Player Software are
- Video/Audio enhancements
- Beginner-Friendly
- Wide format support
- Online streaming
- Screencasting
- Subtitles
- 360-Degree VR and 3D support
- Blu-ray support including menus and BD Live
- Smart remote
- Media organization tools
If you’re looking for a DVD player software that checks all of these boxes, we recommend PowerDVD 22.
2. What is the Best Blu-ray Player Software?
PowerDVD is also our choice for the best Blu-ray player software. It supports all kinds of Blu-ray including Blu-ray menus and BD Live.
For more information on the best Blu-ray player software for Windows and Mac, click here.
