iTunes vs MX Player vs VLC for Android: which media player should you choose?
Choose iTunes for an Apple-centered music library, MX Player for feature-rich video playback, or VLC for a free, ad-free player with broad format support.
At a Glance
| App | Google Play rating | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 iTunesApple | 4.7 out of 5130,000,000 ratings | Free | – | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 MX PlayerAmazon Mobile LLC | 4.2 out of 514,147,136 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.49 - $239.99 per item) | Android, iOS | Everyone |
 VLC for AndroidVideolabs | 4.1 out of 51,993,853 ratings | Free | No | Android | Everyone |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
How We Compared Them
All three apps handle media, but their priorities differ: iTunes focuses on buying, organizing, and playing music and videos within Apple’s ecosystem, while MX Player and VLC for Android are geared toward playing video and audio files.
This comparison weighs their features, trade-offs, Google Play ratings, install counts, and pricing to help you choose the right fit for your devices and media habits.
How we compared them
We compared each app’s stated purpose and features, along with its Google Play rating, install count, price, ads, and in-app purchases. We also considered the practical trade-offs described for each app, such as Apple-device integration, subtitle controls, format support, and ads.
Google Play figures were read on 2026-11-07. No data-safety declarations were included in the information used for this comparison, so we do not assess privacy practices.
Best forbuilding and managing a music library across Apple devices
iTunes is the clearest choice here for people who want a music-focused library and Apple-device integration. It lets users buy, organize, and play music and videos, with access to a large song catalog and high-quality audio streaming.
Its Apple-centered approach is also its main limitation: full access requires an Apple ID, and it is not available on every non-Apple device. Compared with MX Player and VLC, it offers fewer video-player controls, while playlist customization and in-app purchases may also be drawbacks.
What We Like
- Apple-device integration
- Music library and purchasing tools
- High-quality audio streaming
What to Know
- Less suited to advanced video playback
- Apple ID required for full access
Best forwatching videos with flexible playback and subtitle controls
MX Player
Amazon Mobile LLC
- Google Play
- 4.2 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Age Rating
- Everyone
MX Player brings together broad video-format support, hardware acceleration, gesture controls, and customizable subtitles. Those playback-focused tools make it more tailored to video watching than iTunes, with a more approachable feature set than VLC for people who want straightforward controls.
The free version contains ads, and some features are behind in-app purchases, which can cost from $0.49 to $239.99 per item. Subtitle syncing may be imperfect with some files, and the app can occasionally crash on older devices.
What We Like
- Wide video-format support
- Subtitle customization and gesture controls
- Hardware-accelerated playback
What to Know
- Ads in the free version
- Some features require in-app purchases
Best forplaying many media formats without ads or in-app purchases
VLC for Android
Videolabs
- Google Play
- 4.1 out of 5
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- Android
- Age Rating
- Everyone
VLC for Android is the strongest fit for people who want a versatile player without ads or paid unlocks. It supports a wide range of media formats, works for offline playback, and offers interface and theme customization—useful flexibility beyond iTunes’s Apple-focused library.
The trade-off is that VLC can feel cluttered, and some features may take technical know-how. Playback bugs and heavier resource demands on older devices are also potential downsides compared with the more guided experience MX Player aims to provide.
What We Like
- Broad media-format support
- No ads or in-app purchases
- Offline playback and interface themes
What to Know
- Some features take technical know-how
- Can feel cluttered or demanding on older devices
Which One Should You Pick?
Best for Apple music libraries
iTunes
Best for subtitle and gesture controls
MX Player
Best ad-free option
VLC for Android
Frequently Asked Questions
01Which app is best for watching local video files?
MX Player and VLC for Android are more directly focused on video playback than iTunes. MX Player offers gesture and subtitle controls; VLC supports a broad range of media formats and has no ads or in-app purchases.
02Which of these apps has no ads?
VLC for Android has no ads. MX Player contains ads, while iTunes is described as free but has no ad information included here.
03Which app is best for Apple devices?
iTunes is the natural fit for managing and accessing a music library across Apple devices, though full access requires an Apple ID.
04Which app supports subtitles and playback controls?
MX Player offers subtitle customization and gesture controls for volume and brightness. VLC supports a wide range of media formats, while iTunes is more focused on managing and playing a music and video library.
About This Comparison
Appwesome compares apps independently. We don't make, own or distribute any of these apps and have no affiliation with their developers, Google or Apple. Names, icons and trademarks belong to their owners; store details are shown for reference and can change.