Readon TV Movie Radio Player Alternatives: Top Free Media Players ComparedReadon TV Movie Radio Player was once a popular free application for streaming TV, movies, and radio from around the world. If you’re looking for modern alternatives — whether because Readon hasn’t been updated, you want better codec support, improved streaming reliability, or stronger security — here’s an in-depth comparison of top free media players and streaming apps you can use today.
What to look for in an alternative
Before comparing players, consider these factors:
- Format and codec support — can it play AVI, MKV, MP4, H.264/HEVC, etc.?
- Streaming protocol support — does it handle HTTP, HLS, RTMP, RTP, MMS, IPTV M3U playlists?
- Live TV/IPTV support — built-in guide (EPG), playlist management, timeshifting?
- Interface and usability — easy playlist import, remote control support, skinning?
- Performance and resource use — hardware acceleration, low CPU usage?
- Security and privacy — open-source vs closed, telemetry, bundled software.
- Cross-platform availability — Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
- Active development and community — frequent updates and good documentation.
Top free alternatives overview
| Player / App | Platforms | Strengths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLC Media Player | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Extremely broad codec support, plays local files and streams (HLS, RTSP, HTTP, MMS), supports M3U playlists, open-source, low risk of bundled extras | Best general-purpose option; active development |
| MPV | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (via forks) | Highly customizable, excellent performance, flexible scripting, hardware acceleration | Minimal GUI; better for power users |
| Kodi | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, LibreELEC, Raspberry Pi | Full-featured media center, PVR/IPTV add-ons, EPG support, skins, plugin ecosystem | Great for home-theater setups; add-ons enable online content |
| PotPlayer | Windows | Rich features, presets, wide format support, integrated codecs, hardware acceleration | Windows-only; closed-source but powerful |
| SMPlayer | Windows, Linux | GUI front-end for MPV/mplayer, easy to use, supports YouTube, plays streams and playlists | Good balance of features and simplicity |
| Plex (Free tier) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, NAS | Media server + client, remote streaming, smart libraries, Live TV & DVR (requires tuner for DVR) | Best for centralized libraries and remote access; some features paid |
| Stremio | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Stream aggregation via add-ons, clean UI, torrent streaming support | Uses third-party add-ons; check legality of sources |
| IINA | macOS | Modern macOS UI built on mpv, native gestures, great H.265 support | macOS-only; open-source |
| Kodi forks/clients (e.g., LibreELEC, OSMC) | Raspberry Pi, Linux, HTPC | Optimized for small devices, great for ⁄7 media centers | Use when building a dedicated media box |
Detailed comparisons and use-cases
VLC — the all-rounder
- Best if you want a simple, reliable player that handles almost every file and many streaming protocols.
- Plays IPTV M3U playlists, HLS, RTSP, and can transcode or stream to other devices.
- Minimal setup: open network stream → paste URL or load playlist.
- Pros: open-source, cross-platform, strong community. Cons: interface feels dated, fewer advanced home-theater features.
MPV & SMPlayer — performance and customization
- MPV is lightweight, scriptable, and uses modern playback backends; excellent for users who want performance and control.
- SMPlayer provides a friendly GUI on top of mpv/mplayer, with built-in search for YouTube and subtitle download.
- Pros: efficient, great for power users. Cons: mpv’s default lacks GUI; SMPlayer is less polished than mainstream apps.
Kodi — media center powerhouse
- Ideal for living-room setups: library organization, PVR and IPTV add-ons, on-screen EPG, remote control support.
- Supports a huge add-on ecosystem to add streaming sources, though quality and legality vary by add-on.
- Pros: highly extensible, great UI for TVs. Cons: can be complex to configure; some add-ons require maintenance.
PotPlayer — Windows-only advanced player
- Packed with options and filters, excellent codec support and playback tuning.
- Often chosen by Windows users who want maximized playback quality and fine-grained controls.
- Pros: rich feature set; Cons: closed-source, Windows-only, occasional bundled offers—download from official site.
Plex & Stremio — streaming-focused and media aggregation
- Plex is best when you want a server-client setup to stream your personal library to any device, with metadata and remote access.
- Stremio aggregates online streams via add-ons and has easy library management; good for discovering content.
- Pros: great for centralized libraries and cross-device streaming. Cons: some Plex features behind paywall; Stremio add-ons may use questionable sources.
Streaming/Live TV & IPTV specifics
- For IPTV/M3U playlists, VLC and Kodi are the simplest to start with. Kodi provides EPG integration and better channel navigation.
- If you need timeshifting, DVR, and tuner support, consider Kodi with a PVR backend or Plex with a tuner/DVR (Plex DVR requires specific setup and might be limited on free tier).
- For low-resource devices (Raspberry Pi), use LibreELEC with Kodi for a smooth ⁄7 player.
Security, privacy, and legality notes
- Prefer open-source players (VLC, MPV, Kodi) for transparency. Closed-source players may include telemetry or bundled extras—download from official sites.
- Be cautious with third-party add-ons that provide copyrighted streams; use legal sources where possible.
Quick recommendations by need
- Best overall: VLC (ease + breadth).
- Best media center for TV/screens: Kodi (features + EPG).
- Best for power users/performance: MPV (customization + efficiency).
- Best Windows-only advanced player: PotPlayer.
- Best for server/remote access: Plex (with server setup).
- Best app-based aggregator: Stremio.
If you want, I can:
- Provide step-by-step setup for any of these (e.g., how to load M3U playlists in VLC or configure IPTV in Kodi).
- Suggest lightweight options specifically for Raspberry Pi, Android TV, or low-end Windows laptops.
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