As DVDs become less common and many modern laptops and desktops no longer include optical drives, finding a free DVD player for Windows 10 has become essential. With the discontinuation of Windows Media Center, Windows no longer offers a built-in DVD player, so third-party options are necessary. Fortunately, plenty of free utility support DVD playback, offer media organization and enhance video and audio features. Keep reading to learn more.
A Look At The 10 Best Free DVD Player for Windows 10
Before choosing a DVD player, check its compatibility with your operating system and confirm it includes the required codecs for ISO and other file types. Here are the top 10 free DVD players for Windows 10.
1. VLC Media Player
This free DVD player for Windows 10 is compatible with video formats, including WebM, MPEG-2, and 4. VLC enhances media playback performance by offering rapid video decoding. Its simple UI makes it your perfect choice for playing DVDs, CDs, VCDs, and more. You can even play YouTube in VLC.
pros
- It has low CPU usage.
- Lightweight DVD Player can play old formats.
- VLC is available on multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, and IOS.
- It offers a clean experience that is devoid of intrusive advertisements.
cons
- It doesn’t support Blu-ray casting.
2. 5KPlayer
If you're searching for an ideal DVD player for your home theater, 5KPlayer is a top contender. Available for both PC and Mac users at no cost, it not only plays DVDs but also supports 4K screen recording and mirroring via AirPlay. The player allows streaming through DLNA and AirPlay. DXVA2 hardware acceleration delivers crisp visuals in formats like MTS and MKV while supporting surround sound in MP3, WMA, and FLAC.
pros
- The best DVD player for Windows 10 can play DVDs and 4K & 8K videos.
- 5K Player can detect and play multi-channel surround sound to elevate your auditory experience.
- This HD video player can play videos from 720p to 5K UHD resolutions.
- This DVD player software supports 360-degree VR video.
cons
- It doesn’t offer adequate customization options.
3. PotPlayer
PotPlayer is an excellent choice if you're looking for a DVD player that is compatible with all Windows versions. It supports various video formats, DVDs, Blu-rays, and audio CDs and also offers 3D glasses compatibility. With advanced H/W Acceleration, PotPlayer optimizes playback by utilizing CPU and GPU power for demanding files.
pros
- Its versatility extends to viewing modes, including side-by-side, top-and-bottom, and page flipping.
- PotPlayer also allows users to select sound cards and supports multiple subtitle formats, such as SRT, VOB, and Blu-ray.
- Pre-loaded with necessary codecs eliminates the need for additional downloads to play multimedia from DVDs or Blu-rays.
- This free DVD player for Windows 10 allows users to adjust the contrast, brightness, and hue levels.
cons
- The configuration might seem a bit difficult for novice users.
4. Leawo Blue-Ray Player
Leawo Blu-ray Player lets you play DVD files, folders, and ISO/IFO files. Compatible with Windows versions from Vista to 10, it provides easy options for adding subtitles or selecting audio tracks. The player supports MP4, MKV, AVI, and MP3 formats.
pros
- Lightweight tool having minimal CPU usage.
- It offers superior audio decoding options.
- The best DVD player for Windows 10 can play HD videos up to 4K in specific formats.
- Allows users to adjust volume, rewind, fast forward, and change video and audio settings while playing DVDs.
cons
- Users often complain of constant advertisements.
5. PowerDVD 22
PowerDVD 22 is a comprehensive free DVD player for Windows 10, ideal for home theater setups. It supports various media formats, including DVDs, 4K Blu-ray, and 8K videos. It also handles disc-based formats such as Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray, with support for BD-Live, 360-degree, and VR video playback. PowerDVD allows cloud-based streaming and TV casting and offers a remote-control app for seamless use throughout your home.
pros
- With user-friendly TV and PC modes, TrueTheater enhancements improve video quality with HDR, upscaling, and noise reduction.
- You can also cast content to HDTVs via Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV.
- PowerDVD 22 also provides media organization features, such as customizable thumbnails and poster walls.
- An intuitive search feature helps you quickly find your favorite shows and movies.
cons
- The loading times become slow occasionally.
6. WinX DVD Player
WinX DVD Player is a feature-packed DVD player for Windows users. It effortlessly plays all types of DVDs, including commercial, home-made, and region 1-6 DVDs, ensuring smooth playback. The user-friendly interface allows one-click access to your favorite movies while supporting various digital formats like MP4, MOV, MKV, and HEVC. Equipped with a high-quality video encoding engine, it delivers excellent video and audio performance without losing quality.
pros
- You can play copy-protected DVDs.
- Volume, brightness, contrast, etc can be adjusted, ensuring an optimal viewing experience.
- The speed of media playback can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
cons
- It offers limited interface customization options.
7. GOM Player
GOM is one of the best DVD players for Windows 10. It supports various resolutions and file formats. It has built-in codecs like Vobris, H263, and XVID, enabling smooth video playback, though Blu-ray discs require additional codecs. GOM also excels with 360° VR video playback and boasts an extensive subtitle library, automatically syncing subtitles for videos. The paid version removes ads and enhances 4K UHD playback.
pros
- It is very easy to navigate this user-freindly DVD player.
- The feature-packed multimedia player delivers extensive codec support.
- A lightweight DVD player doesn’t strain your limited CPU resources.
- You can adjust the level of brightness and contrast.
cons
- The installer comes bundled with other programs.
8. BlazeDVD
BlazeDVD is a robust multimedia player that supports DVD, VCD, and SVCD playback and offers different modes to suit your viewing preferences. With Surround Sound for immersive audio and ten customizable audio filters, BlazeDVD delivers a theater-like experience. Since it focuses primarily on DVD playback, it is the ultimate choice for novice users who want to do the job fuss-free.
pros
- Simplified controls help you navigate your DVD content easily.
- You can play both commercial and homemade DVDs.
- After inserting a disc in the DVD Player, you can enjoy instant video playback.
- It comes loaded with all necessary decoders.
cons
- It offers limited playback options in the free variant.
9. KMPlayer
KMPlayer is a sleek, modern media player that supports 3D, 4K, and UHD videos across various formats. It has all the necessary codecs built-in, eliminating the need to search for additional ones. Beyond video playback, KMPlayer doubles as a music player and allows users to download videos from Instagram, Daily Motion, and YouTube.
pros
- Renders equally fast results on PCs with older configurations.
- The subtitle setup of this DVD Player is straightforward to use.
- It can download videos from social media sites for effortless playback.
- It captures and saves audio or video files in almost any format.
cons
- It doesn’t offer any stereo sound support.
10. AllPlayer
ALLPlayer’s base version supports DVDs, MPEG-4, WMV, and RealVideo files. You'll need to download extra plugins for additional file types. The ALLPlayer DVD player excels in subtitle options, automatically searching for matching subtitles or generating intelligent subtitles when needed. Subtitles are fully customizable and can even be read aloud using speech synthesis, enhancing the viewing experience.
pros
- You can easily play videos with subtitles.
- It comes with a built-in video downloader feature.
- The DVD player guarantees seamless playback irrespective of the format chosen.
- AllPlayer is compatible with Windows, Mac & Android devices.
cons
- It offers limited customization options.
Looking to back up your DVDs for offline viewing? The best option is to record the DVD, which allows you to enjoy your content anytime, even without a disc drive. Keep reading to learn about the best screen recorder software to help you.
Bonus Tip: Screen Record DVD on Windows for Free
While the market is filled with countless screen recorders, not all are free. Even the free ones come bundled with adware. However, you need to worry as the Free AWZ Screen Recorder is a versatile screen recording tool for Windows and Mac that captures everything in high-definition, including tutorials, online meetings, and streaming videos.
If you plan to record DVDs, AWZ Screen Recorder can offer a hassle-free option. While you screen record on Windows 10 with audio using AWZ Screen Recorder, users can choose the recording area. Let's take a detailed look at its features:
Features:
- It supports 4K recording of Mac & Windows screen.
- AWZ Screen Recorder can create real-time video annotations with lines, highlights, shapes, or screenshots.
- Users can overlay a webcam feed and adjust its position on the screen during recording.
- You can capture screen activity and audio simultaneously or opt for audio-only recording.
- Users can personalize mouse click effects and enhance pointer visibility with animations.
Enjoy now!
Bottom Line
Although Windows 10 lacks a built-in DVD or Blu-ray player, finding the best free DVD player for Windows 10 for smooth disc playback is easy. Today, we have listed the ten best tools for DVD playback, whether you are dealing with homemade or commercial DVDs. And, if you wish to capture the best of offline entertainment, then you can use the free screen recorder software by AWZware.