9 Best DVD & Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC in 2024

Have you ever been in the mood to watch a specific film, only to find it’s not on any streaming services? Of course, you own the movie on DVD, but is it worth the effort? Is the DVD player even hooked up? Where is the remote? Which video input setting is it again?

Inevitably you forego your plans and choose to watch something else. 

Don’t let thousands of dollars of Blu rays and DVDs waste away in a box somewhere. All you need is a quality Blu ray player for PC. 

The right Blu ray and DVD player software can turn your living space into a home theater. Place a Blu ray or DVD into your computer’s disc drive, and it will automatically start to play. Want to enjoy the movie on the big screen? With the click of a button, you can cast your movie to your television screen and use your computer as the remote. 

A good Blu ray player for PC will enhance the movie-watching experience by improving the sound and video quality of the disc for a more cinematic experience. 

However, not all Blu ray and DVD player software are equal, so we’ve compiled a list of the 9 best options.

• Snapshot of the Top 3 DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC
• How to Choose DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC
• 9 Best DVD & Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC in 2024
• Best DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC Comparison Chart
• How to Use DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC
• Download the Best DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC for Free
• DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC FAQ

Snapshot of the Top 3 DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC

How to Choose DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC

DVD player software is an essential tool for anyone with a large DVD/Blu ray collection, especially for individuals who no longer want a clunky Blu ray player attached to their TV. However, with the variety of DVD player software available online, choosing the best one can be difficult. Read below to see how to choose the Blu ray and DVD player software that suits your needs. 

Compatibility

Before purchasing any Blu ray player for PC, ensure that it is compatible with your computer. Check the system requirements such as operating system, processor, RAM, and hard disk space. 

User Interface

Choose DVD player software that has a user-friendly interface. It should be easy to use and navigate, as well as visually appealing. The best Blu ray player for PC will also have clear instructions and help sections. 

Video/Audio Quality

Check the resolution capabilities of any DVD player software you are considering to make sure it supports high-quality formats like HD, Full HD, 4K, and even 8K. When it comes to audio quality, look for a Blu ray player for PC that supports DTS, Dolby, and Surround Sound. Look for a Blu ray player for PC that will also upscale older videos and improve video/audio quality so you can play Blu rays and DVDs at home but feel like you are at the cinema.

Features

The best Blu ray player for PC will have a variety of features when you play DVDs, such as subtitle support and adjustments for video brightness, contrast, and saturation. Think of additional features you might need, such as casting and virtual remote support. If you have a large media collection, look for DVD player software with organizational features. This includes automatically adding metadata and poster/cover art, and creating personalized playlists. Some DVD player software will even let you organize photos, and play/manage your music collection. 

9 Best DVD & Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC in 2024

1. PowerDVD - Best Overall

Compatibility: Windows

TopTenReviews Rating: 4.5/5

Video Playback Quality: 5/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscription is available for $4.58/month or Lifetime Licenses are available for $59.99 for Standard and $99.99 for Ultra

Key Features:

1. TrueTheater Audiovisual Enhancements: Create a cinema-like experience in your living room when you play Blu rays and DVDs
2. Screencasting: Wirelessly send movies from your Blu ray player for PC to your big screen
3. Stunning 4K Ultra HD & 8K Video: For a crystal-clear picture 
4. Pick Up Where You Left Off: Watch across different devices without having to find your place 

Who It’s For

We reviewed PowerDVD as the best overall software on this list because it’s much more than just a Blu ray player for PC. This 8K and 4K HDR media player runs content in any media format, allowing you to delete all of your other media players in favor of this versatile, high-performing software. This Blu ray player for PC is easy enough for beginners to use but has a long list of features and organizational tools that avid cinephiles will appreciate. 

Why We Picked It 

If you prefer to play DVDs on a bigger screen, this Blu ray player for PC lets you cast media from your saved PowerDVD library to any TV equipped with Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV. In addition, with this DVD player software’s TrueTheater technology, you can further elevate your video quality and automatically optimize color, lighting, and audio to significantly enhance your viewing experience. You can even use your smartphone as a remote control instead of reaching for your desktop every time you need to pause.   

Upload your favorite movies or shows to CyberLink Cloud via this Blu ray player for PC and have access to your collection anywhere. You can also share any video you upload via a link with friends and family.

Are you addicted to YouTube? Using this Blu ray player for PC, you can access and download your favorite YouTube videos in up to 8K. You can even watch your favorite channels without an internet connection! 

We know that organizing all of your media can be time-consuming. Thankfully, PowerDVD offers advanced organization features to categorize and arrange your movies, videos, songs, photos, and other media. Since this DVD player software supports most media types, you can organize all of your media within the same software rather than scattering it across various programs. 

One of this program’s most impressive organizational features is its photo management with AI. This Blu ray player for PC uses artificial intelligence technology to detect faces in your photos, automatically tagging and organizing them within your library. 

PowerDVD’s audio organizing features make it an excellent location to store songs, albums, and playlists. In addition, the program’s multi-device compatibility allows you to take your playlists wherever you go, whether to the gym or on your next road trip. 

Bottom Line

Overall, PowerDVD is a top-quality Blu ray player for PC that will enhance your viewing and listening experiences across all media types. We recommend downloading PowerDVD today if you’re looking for the best Blu ray and DVD player software that will take movie nights to a whole new level.  

Download PowerDVD for free by clicking the link below and play DVDs and Blu rays at the best possible quality. 

2. PlayerFab All-In-One - Best for Streaming

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Softpedia Rating: 4.5/5

Video Playback Quality: 4.5/5

Price: $339.99

Key Features:

1. Poster Wall: Auto-Download posters and metadata for your movies and TV shows
2. Smart Music Library: Organize and display your collection by instantly grouping music by album, artist, or genre
3. Playback Modes: Separate PC Mode and TV Mode, optimized for small/large screens; TV Mode uses a virtual remote found on your PC

Who It’s For

PlayerFab All-In-One is a Blu ray player for PC that is also an excellent media player for streaming services. It supports all the popular streaming platforms, like Amazon, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Peacock, and even international streaming sites you may not be able to access anywhere else. This DVD player software offers a variety of helpful streaming features. It will autoplay the next episode of any show, and even auto-skip annoying ads. We recommend PlayerFab All-In-One as the best Blu ray player for PC for anyone who subscribes to multiple streaming services and would like to access them in one place. 

Why We Picked It 

This Blu ray player for PC will play Blu rays or DVDs from any region. It supports all disc navigation menus and will play Blu ray designed for 4K Ultra HD. You can enjoy lossless, high-resolution audio, such as Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD, with up to 7.1 channel surround sound. And with a pair of 3D glasses, you can watch 3D movies at home with all-around 3D playback support and four 3D output modes. 

Bottom Line

PlayerFab is one of the most feature-rich DVD player software on our list. However, it ranks behind PowerDVD because our top Blu ray player for PC offers the same features for a much lower price. PowerDVD also takes up less space, and in our research, we found it worked more consistently. Also, DVDFab, the company behind PlayerFab, is notorious for containing spyware, popups, and ads. 

3. VLC Media Player - Best Compatibility

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

TechRadar Rating: 4.5/5

Video Playback Quality: 4.5/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

1. Synchronous Subtitles: Find and sync subtitles for any video
2. 8K Support: Play DVDs and online videos in the highest resolution possible
3. Skin Editor: Design and create skins for this DVD player software quickly and easily - no XML knowledge required

Who It’s For

VLC Media Player is free and open-source DVD player software that runs on any OS. We recommend it for Linux users who need top-notch software to play DVDs and videos. It also works on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chrome, and any version of Linux, including Mint, Ubuntu, and Fedora. 

Why We Picked It 

When you play DVDs, you can increase volume by up to 200%, and search album covers. VLC has support for plug-ins, extensions, and internet channels. This DVD player software can play DVDs, CDs, VCDs, webcam footage, and most streaming protocols. It can even play old and outdated formats. However, it cannot play Blu rays. 

Bottom Line

Despite its phenomenal format support, VLC Media Player will not play Blu rays, which is a disappointment, and why we placed it behind PlayerFab on our list. But for large zip files, forgotten formats, and online video content, it is a great DVD player software, especially for Linux users. We prefer our top choice PowerDVD because it offers more features, it will play Blu rays of any type, and it is much more beginner-friendly.  

4. KMPlayer - Best for Playback Control

Image from codecs.

Compatibility: Windows

Google Play Rating: 4.3/5

Video Playback Quality: 4.5/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

1. URL Streaming: Stream radio with the upgraded music player
2. My List Feature: Create personalized playlists
3. GIF Capture Function: Capture moving images from your videos and create your own GIFs

Who It’s For

KMPlayer is a free, feature-rich Blu ray player for PC. Play Blu ray, DVD, and 8K videos smoothly, and control the video and audio playback with intuitive buttons and hotkeys. Its diversity in playback controls sets it apart from other DVD player software on this list. We found KMPlayer was not a simple software because it is packed with features. It is primarily for intermediate to advanced users. 

Why We Picked It 

KMPlayer has advanced image processing functions like noise-reduction and super high-speed mode. In addition, it supports a variety of subtitle formats, built-in codecs, and 24 languages. In our test, this DVD player software was able to cast from PC to TV with no lag using Chromecast. 

Stream videos from YouTube and other online platforms via URL, and then bookmark URL playback. KMPlayer comes with excellent sorting functions and the ability to create video and audio playlists. 

Bottom Line

This Blu ray player for PC is not as user-friendly as other DVD player software on our list. It also uses quite a bit of CPU to operate. For a lightweight and beginner-friendly option that offers even more features, try PowerDVD. 

5. Corel WinDVD - Best for Upscaling

Compatibility: Windows

TopTenReviews Rating: 3.5/5

Video Playback Quality: 5/5

Price: $79.99

Key Features:

1. Playlist & Bookmark Tools: Create movie playlists for continuous playback and bookmark your favorite scenes
2. Dolby Pass-Through Support: Play Blu rays and enhance the audio quality for a theater-like experience
3. 3D Video Support: You can also convert standard videos into 3D

Who It’s For

Corel WinDVD is a Blu ray player for PC for anyone looking to elevate their home video footage. The program’s anti-shake feature will reduce camera motion to make your videos look professional and sharp. Meanwhile, its motion streamliner tool will increase your frame rate to reduce the shakes and jitters you may see in fast-motion videos. It also includes color enhancement and proven upscaling technology to help you experience near-HD quality video from standard DVDs. 

Why We Picked It 

This DVD player software allows you to play Blu ray discs on your computer without sacrificing too much CPU or RAM. This program uses an average of 8% of CPU power during usage, making it very easy on the system. In addition, you can run other programs simultaneously with this Blu ray player for PC without worrying about your playback or navigation speed suffering. 

Bottom Line

Corel WinDVD is a step above the included Windows Media Player, allowing you to play DVDs while optimizing playback quality. It is one of the best DVD player software on the list to enhance your video quality, falling short only to PowerDVD. 

However, WinDVD’s primary features end with its Blu ray playback abilities. For example, if you are looking for a Blu ray player for PC with touchscreen capabilities or the ability to use your smartphone as a remote, then Corel WinDVD is not for you. 

6. PotPlayer - Best for 3D

Compatibility: Windows

AlternativeTo Rating: 4.1/5

Video Playback Quality: 4/5

Price: Free

Key Features:

1. Video Adjustments: Play DVDs and tweak brightness, contrast, and hue
2. Subtitle Support: Supports all popular subtitle formats
3. Bookmark Feature: Mark your favorite scenes so you can find them easily 

Who It’s For

PotPlayer is a free Blu ray player for PC with excellent 3D support, including various types of 3D glasses. If you often watch 3D videos or own a 3D TV, this is the DVD player software for you. It offers excellent quality for both audio and video playback. We found it had a slight learning curve for beginners. 

Why We Picked It 

It is also a good Blu ray player for PC for anyone who wants to play large or broken files. This DVD player software is filled with codecs so it can play absolutely anything. It can also play DVDs with different views (Side by Side, Top and Bottom, and Page Flipping). 

Bottom Line

PotPlayer supports OpenCodec so it can play a large variety of formats. However, it lacks support for some Blu ray formats, and it doesn’t offer online video streaming. The interface is fully customizable, but it will take time for new users to learn. 

7. GOM Player - Best for Subtitles

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Softpedia Rating: 3.9/5

Video Playback Quality: 4/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $10/year or $15 for a Lifetime License

Key Features:

1. Customizable UI: Personalize skins and logos
2. Playback Control Panel: Play DVDs and adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation of your video
3. Speed Settings: Change the playback speed and even create time jumps 

Who It’s For

We recommend GOM Player if you regularly play DVDs or videos with subtitles on. This DVD player software has been collecting data for its subtitle library for 10 years and supports every major subtitle format. If the built-in library does not include your film, this Blu ray player for PC will automatically search the web and sync the correct subtitles. We liked the dedicated subtitle button in the control panel so you can easily switch them on or off while watching, and the variety of adjustable subtitle options including placement and size. 

Why We Picked It 

This Blu ray player for PC comes with a large built-in codec library. In our test, we could play corrupted files by downloading the missing codecs. If you try to play a file format unsupported by GOM Player, you simply have to search the codec library to fill in the gaps and play your video. This Blu ray player for PC natively supports 360-degree VR playback (however, this function is not supported on Mac or Windows XP).   

Bottom Line

We love GOM Player for its subtitle features and were pleased it could play corrupted files. But while the codec library is helpful, constantly looking up missing codecs is time-consuming. We prefer PowerDVD, which natively supports all major file formats. PowerDVD also comes with tons of features, while GOM Player is pretty basic. 

8. Leawo Blu ray Player - Best for CPU & Battery Life

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

TopTenReviews Rating: 4/5

Video Playback Quality: 3.5/5

Price: Free
*Premium subscription available for $44.95/year or $99.95 for a Lifetime License

Key Features:

1. Virtual Remote Control: Manipulate the disc menu while you play DVDs using a virtual remote
2. Customizable Skins: Rotate between 4 available presets and upload a custom background 
3. Multi-Angle Feature: Switch viewing angles when watching multicamera movies

Who It’s For

If you like to play Blu rays while continuing to work on your computer, then Leawo Blu ray Player is for you. This Blu ray and DVD player software uses very little CPU, allowing you to do other things on your PC without slowing you down. In addition, the Power Manager feature lets you conserve battery life without sacrificing video quality. 

Why We Picked It 

Leawo Blu ray Player for PC and Mac has detailed navigation and complete playback control when you play Blu rays and DVDs. This DVD player software allows you to adjust subtitles, video, and audio tracks during playback and supports multiple languages. We found it had a simple interface and was easy to use.

Bottom Line

Leawo Blu ray Player for PC takes the least amount of CPU of any Blu ray and DVD player software on our list. However, this lightweight program is also light on features. For example, it doesn’t offer upscaling to HD, simultaneous viewing, or BD-Live support, all features found in our top Blu ray player for PC, PowerDVD. 

9. Aiseesoft Blu ray Player - Best for Beginners

Image from Aiseesoft.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac

TopTenReviews Rating: 3.5/5

Video Playback Quality: 4/5

Price: $31.20/month, $62.45 for a Lifetime License, and $135 for a Business License

Key Features:

1. Screenshots: You can take a snapshot while you play a DVD and upload it to social media with comments
2. Audio Settings: Choose an audio track and adjust subtitle parameters
3. Playlists: Create and play music and video playlists of your favorites

Who It’s For

Aiseesoft Blu ray Player for PC and Mac is a simple DVD player software that allows you to play Blu rays and DVDs from any region on your desktop. It’s a great DVD player software for beginners or anyone who just wants to play DVDs and video files on their computer. 

Why We Picked It 

This DVD player software uses AI to play Blu ray discs/folders, DVD discs/folders, ISO files, and any HD/SD video files losslessly. It also handles all common audio files, such as MP3, FLAC, WMA, AAC, and OGG. 1080p, HD, and UHD 4K are supported, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and HD surround sound. 

Bottom Line

Aiseesoft Blu ray Player for PC is a high-quality way to play DVDs, Blu rays, and videos on your desktop. It lacks many features found in our top Blu ray player for PC, PowerDVD, such as upscaling features, a virtual remote, screencasting, and BD-Live support. However, the limited feature set makes it a good choice for those who aren’t tech-savvy (for example, your Grandma can enjoy her boxed set of Murder, She Wrote using this DVD player software). Aiseesoft is very CPU-intensive, which is why we placed it below the lightweight Leawo Blu ray Player for PC.

Best DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC Comparison Chart

How to Use DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC

Here is a step-by-step guide for how to play a Blu ray or DVD on your PC with PowerDVD.

Download this Blu ray player for PC by clicking the link below then follow along. 

There are several ways to play a Blu ray or DVD on your PC using PowerDVD:

1. Insert your disc into an onboard or external ODD. Your video content will play automatically.
2. If your disc is already in, open PowerDVD, click the Open DVD/Blu ray Folder icon, and select the drive with your disc. Click Resume or Restart to begin playback.

3. Go to My Computer in PowerDVD’s Media Panel and find the drive with your disc. Click Resume or Restart to begin playback.
4. Play Blu rays or DVDs directly from Windows File Explorer. Right-click on the disc drive and select the Play with CyberLink PowerDVD option.

Use your keyboard as a remote, or download the PowerDVD Free Remote app on your mobile phone. 

For more how-to guides on using PowerDVD, visit the PowerDVD Tutorials page. 

Download the Best DVD and Blu ray Player Software for Windows PC for Free

PowerDVD is an all-around impressive Blu ray player for PC that supports various media types including photos, songs, YouTube videos, movies, and more. The DVD player software’s media organization, video playback enhancements, and surround sound make it the best choice for any Windows user to play DVDs, Blu rays, and more.

Turn your home into a home theater. PowerDVD will upscale old DVDs to HD-quality video and sound with TrueTheater Technology. You can enjoy your enhanced media on the big screen through any major screencast brand and use your phone as a digital remote.  

Download for free by clicking the button below and see why PowerDVD was named the #1 media player by TechHive, Guru99, SoftwareTestingHelp, TopTenReviews, TechRadar, and more!