Filtered ranking
Best Media Players for iPhone and iPad in 2026
3 of the 6 media players ranked on listme.name match: they officially support iOS. The order uses the same scores as the full ranking.
The ranking
- 1
VLC media player
Plays nearly any audio or video format on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and it is free and open source under GPL-2.0. It does not serve a library to other devices.
Best for Playing almost any file on any computer
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree and open sourceOpen source
- 2
Plex
Streams a personal library to phones and browsers with free movies and live channels available too. Plex Pass is paid for premium features, and the code is closed.
Best for Streaming a home library to phones and browsers
WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidSelf-hostedFree plan, paid upgrades
- 3
Kodi
Free home theater software that plays local files and add-on content on Android, Windows, macOS and Linux. Add-on quality varies, and it is a player rather than a server.
Best for A home theater setup on a TV or media box
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree and open sourceOpen source
At a glance
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Serves a home library |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 VLC media player | 91.5 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid | No |
 Plex | 89.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidSelf-hosted | Yes |
 Kodi | 84.0 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid | No |