"I've been using RealPlayer to watch movies on my computer for years. But now the RealPlayer couldn't play Blu-ray discs I purchased online. I would like to get a Real alternative. Is there any suggestion on a good alternative to RealPlayer?"

Developed by RealNetworks, RealPlayer, formerly known as RealAudio Player, RealOne Player and RealPlayer G2, is a cross-platform media player app. The media player is compatible with numerous container file formats of the multimedia realm, including MP3, MP4, QuickTime File Format, Windows Media format, and the proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats. It could play back most media files on your computer. To check what your RealPlayer could play back, play check RealPlayer Wiki.

Though RealPlayer has been one of the most popular media players for multi-platforms, it has some disadvantages that may lead you to look for an alternative to RealPlayer. People searching online for Real alternatives should take a look at this post, where you could get multiple RealPlayer alternatives. All of these Real Player alternatives listed in this post are freeware. Check these alternative Real Player options and then get desired one.

Part 1: Why Do You Need a RealPlayer Alternative?

Originally designed for the playback of recorded media, RealPlayer is a cross-platform software product developed by RealNetworks. The media player is compatible with numerous formats within the multimedia realm, including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of RealAudio and RealVideo formats. The software is powered by an underlying open source media engine called Helix.

Since the RealPlayer is such a useful player software, why do you still need a RealPlayer alternative? There are paid version and free version for users to choose. Some complain that you should even pay for playing back certain video file formats. At the same time, there are even free open source players performing better than the paid version. That's the reason why we wrote this article. You can check the following part for free RealPlayer alternatives.

Part 2: 5 Free Real Alternatives to RealPlayer

The below 5 free alternatives to Real Player all come in both Mac and Windows versions. Some of them even come with other platform versions like Linux. You could view these RealPlayer alternatives before you decide which Real alternative you may need.

1. Free Blu-ray Player

Leawo's Free Blu-ray Player is an all-in-one media player combo. As an alternative to Real Player, Leawo Free Blu-ray Player performs even better than RealPlayer. It could work as free Blu-ray disc player, free DVD player, free HD video player, free audio player and free ISO file player.

Different from RealPlayer, which has no support of Blu-ray disc playback, Leawo Free Blu-ray Player is a complete region-free Blu-ray disc player. It supports almost all video formats for playback, and multiple audio decoding technologies like Dolby, DTS, AAC, TrueHD, DTS-HD, etc. It delivers even better movie experience than RealPlayer.

kmplayer-ios

2. VLC Media Player

VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files like videos, audios, DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. You don't need to install extra codec package. It has no spyware, no ads and no user tracking. By far, it's the first Real Player alternative that has multiple platform versions like Windows, Mac, Android, Linux and iOS.

VLC Media Player

3. iTunes

Most people would be familar with iTunes. Yes, it's also a wonderful alternative to RealPlayer. Designed by Apple as a media player, media library, online radio broadcaster, and mobile device management application, iTunes could play, download, and organize digital downloads of music and video (as well as other types of media available on the iTunes Store) on personal computers running the OS X and Microsoft Windows operating systems. It also has iOS versions for iPad, iPhone and iPod.

iTunes

4. KMPlayer

KMP is a versatile multi media player which can cover a various different types of contained formats. Without any separate Codec, you are able to play any media files because KMP has its' own internal Codec. Supported Codec are separated by internal & external. For the sound Codec, KMPlayer supports MPEG1, 2, AAC, WMA 7, 8, OGG & etc. and it additionally supports matrix function/normalizer function when internal sound Codec is being used. Internal Codec gets processed inside of KMPlayer so it's faster & safer. Also KMPlayer supports all the Codec from ffdshow and it additionally supports MPEG1/2.

KMPlayer

5. MPlayer

MPlayer is a free and open-source media player. The program is available for all major operating systems, including Linux, Mac OS X and other Unix-like systems, as well as for Microsoft Windows. It could play CDs, DVDs, Video CDs, Blu-ray discs, videos and audios. MPlayer can also use a variety of output driver protocols to display video like VDPAU, the X video extension, OpenGL, DirectX, Direct3D, etc. It can also be used to display TV from a TV card using the device, or play and capture radio channels via radio.

MPlayer

Part 3: The Best RealPlayer Alternative - Free Blu-ray Player

If you're looking for the best alternative to RealPlayer software, Leawo Free Blu-ray Player is what you need. As an all-inclusive media player, Leawo Free Blu-ray Player tops RealPlayer and other RealPlayer alternatives in several aspects like its region-free Blu-ray disc playback and multiple advanced audio decoding system support.

  • Leawo Blu-ray Player
  • Leawo Blu-ray Player

    Region-free Blu-ray player software to play Blu-ray disc and DVD disc for free, regardless of disc protection and region restriction.
    Play 4K FLV videos, 4K MKV videos, 4K MP4 videos, etc. without quality loss.
    Play 1080P videos, 720P videos with lossless quality.

Why Leawo Free Blu-ray Player is the Best VLC Alternative?

1. This free media video player is 100% free. You could use it to play any media in any format for totally free. No in-app purchase or other kind of cost required.
2. Besides acting as free 4K video player, it's region-free 4K Blu-ray player software to play 4K Blu-ray disc, regardless of disc protection and region restriction.
3. Free media video player to play up to 4K UHD/1080P Full HD video without quality loss in any format, including 4K MKV, 4K MP4, HD MP4, HD AVI, etc.
4. Select subtitles and audio tracks, even add extra subtitles. Deliver cinema-like movie experience with support of various advanced audio decoding technologies like Dolby, DTS, AAC, TrueHD, DTS-HD, etc.

 

Leawo Free Blu-ray Player Video Demo:

Part 4: Comparison between RealPlayer Alternatives

To let you know better about these 5 RealPlayer alternatives, we've made a comparison chart between these 5 Real alternatives. This chart displays different features of these 5 free Real alternatives and show you the differences. You will then learn which one is better.

Leawo Free Blu-ray Player VLC Media Player KMPlayer iTunes MPlayer
Play Blu-ray files free
Play 4K videos free
Play 1080P videos free
Play audio files lossless
Region-free Blu-ray disc player
Play DVD disc
Virtual remote control
Power manager
Customize skin
Change Blu-ray palyer region codes
Select subtitles and audio tracks
Add external subtitles
OS
Windows
Mac

Part 5: What Else can RealPlayer Do?

Firstly introduced in April 1995 as "RealAudio Player", it has the capability to play streaming media file over the internet. So , it is widely used as a plugin to watch streaming video or listen to streaming audio.

Convert File Format

Apart from that, RealPlayer also offers you the feature of converting file format, with which you can convert video to iPhone/Android/Mac/PC supported video/audio formats. But this feature is unstable to use since the player will crash during the conversion process. If you are looking for conversion feature like this, you can have a try at Leawo Video Converter. This converter will allow you to convert file formats as well as edit video roughly. Free trial version is also available. Click link below to download Leawo Video Converter for free.

  • Leawo Video Converter
  • Leawo Video Converter

    1. Convert video and audio files between 180+ formats without quality loss
    2. Support 720P, 1080P and even real 4K video output
    3. Create photo slideshows from photos stored on camera, computer, camcorder, etc
    4. Built-in video editor to trim, crop, add watermark, apply special effect, etc
    5. 2D to 3D converter with 6 different 3D movie effects available

Download & Save Videos

There is also an amazing feature for users to download videos from the web onto your PC, and then automatically upload them to your RealCloud. Then you can download and save videos in your RealPlayer library to watch anytime, or take them on the go – even when you're not connected to the web. If you don't know how to donwload with RealPlayer, check the following guide.

Step 1: Open RealPlayer.

Step 2: Click the RealPlayer Logo (at the top left corner).

Step 3: Go to "File".

Step 4: Then select "Open".

Step 5: Type the web address and then choose a video.

Step 6: Once the video plays, move your mouse over the upper-right corner of the video.

Step 7: The "Download This Video" button will appear. Click it to begin downloading.

Step 8: If the Download This Video button is not enabled, right-click on the video and then select the Download This video option.

Though it is a free service for you to download video with RealPlayer, it will only allow you to download video up to 720P only and the quality as well as the downloading speed is quite low. So I would rather choose other professional downloader software instead. This time, CleverGet Video Downloader is my first choice. It enables you to download online videos or live streams from more than 1000 websites with original quality retained.

  • CleverGet
  • CleverGet Video Downloader

    Download Movie Video With 320 Kbps audio.
    Easily Download Live Streams Without Quality Loss.
    Video Info Extractor.
    Supports Playlist Downloading.
    Support Multi-tasking & Video Info Extractor Inside.
    Ease-of-use UI.