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VLC media player vs Infuse: catalog facts
VLC media player	Infuse
Free Free software from a non-profit; there is no paid tier and no advertising in the player.	Freemium A free version exists. Infuse Pro requires a subscription or a one-time purchase.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	macOS, iOS
Plays an unusually wide list of codecs and containers out of the box, including MPEG-1/2, H.264, H.265, VP8/VP9… No spyware, no advertising and no user tracking, stated on the project feature page	Direct playback of formats that Apple's own player refuses, with no transcoding server Connects to network shares as well as Plex, Jellyfin and Emby
The stable desktop line is still 3.0.23; the 4.0 interface rewrite has not shipped The interface is functional rather than modern, and advanced options are buried in preference dialogs	Apple platforms only Most of what people install it for is behind the Pro subscription or lifetime purchase
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.