# VLC media player vs Video Lite

The clearest difference is rating: Video Lite at 4.8 against VLC media player's 3.7. Video Lite also leads on ratings volume (175K vs 6.1K) and review sentiment (65% vs 52%). VLC media player's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#29 vs #102). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Video Lite sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. VLC media player asks for nothing beyond the download.

Video Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Video Lite has 175K ratings behind it against 6.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of VLC media player's written reviews are positive against 65% of Video Lite's.

VLC media player ships an update every 3 weeks, Video Lite every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VLC media player | Video Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-media-player/id650377962/reviews) | **[4.8 (175K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-lite/id1598997500/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6.1K | **175K** |
| Positive reviews | 51.9% of reviews | **64.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#29** | #102 |
| Size | 67 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +17 |
| Developer | [VideoLAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/599606329) | [Video Lite, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1599778221) |

## What reviewers say

### VLC media player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vlc-media-player/id650377962)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This media player supports a vast array of video and audio formats without requiring conversion. It offers advanced subtitle support, playback speed control, and streaming capabilities from various sources. Users can also sync files directly from cloud storage or Wi-Fi sharing.

**Highlights:** Plays all video and audio formats, Advanced subtitle support, Playback speed control, Chromecast rendering, File synchronization (cloud, Wi-Fi), Streaming from network servers

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Plays everything
- 👍 Great for offline media
- 🔒 No ads or subscriptions
- 🚀 Convenient file transfer
- 👍 Customizable playback

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 🔋 Drains battery
- 👎 Confusing UI/UX
- 🐛 Unreliable network streaming
- 👎 Lacks basic features

**Reported bugs**

- Playback issues with certain codecs
- Crashes when accessing network shares
- Inconsistent shuffle/repeat behavior
- Subtitle sync problems
- Deleted files not freeing up storage

**Requested features**

- Picture-in-Picture mode
- Improved playlist management
- Folder-based organization
- Lyrics support
- Chromecast integration


### Video Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/video-lite/id1598997500)

**Currently charting:** #102 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This app offers a comprehensive browsing experience for video websites, featuring Chromecast support, picture-in-picture mode, and a sleep timer. Enjoy a seamless, native interface with dark mode and background playback.

**Highlights:** Seamless native app experience, Chromecast support, Picture-in-picture mode, Dark mode, Sleep timer, Background playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads (1 Month) | $0.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads (3 Months) | $1.99 | per 3 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Ad-free experience
- 🔒 Background playback
- 👍 Convenient features
- 🚀 Smooth performance
- 👍 Reasonable subscription cost

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy updates
- 🔋 Overheating and battery drain issues
- 💩 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🔇 Audio issues with video playback

**Reported bugs**

- Playlist loading issues
- Inconsistent enhanced player behavior
- Chromecast connectivity problems
- Captions not working as expected
- Video quality locked at low resolutions

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support
- Improve video quality options
- Implement a way to move bookmarks between folders
- Add a notification bell for new uploads from subscribed channels
- Allow editing of comments after posting


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VLC media player free?

VLC media player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Video Lite free?

Video Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VLC media player or Video Lite?

Video Lite is rated higher. VLC media player averages 3.7 out of 5 from 6.1K ratings, while Video Lite averages 4.8 from 175K ratings.

### Do VLC media player or Video Lite have ads?

Neither VLC media player nor Video Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VLC media player or Video Lite?

VLC media player ships an update every 3 weeks, and Video Lite every 2 weeks. Most recently, VLC media player was updated on November 11, 2026 and Video Lite on November 11, 2026.

### Which is more popular, VLC media player or Video Lite?

VLC media player currently peaks at #29 in the App Store charts, and Video Lite at #102. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*