Ranking updated
Best video player apps for iPhone in 2026
For keeping your own videos and photos in one library, with favourites, continue watching and transfer to Apple TV, Synthetiq Player. For a free, open source player that plays most formats and streams from media servers, VLC. For browsing a NAS, Plex, Emby or Jellyfin with Trakt sync, Infuse. For a fast player with no ads and no playback limits for free users, Outplayer. Full breakdown below.
How we picked: we read each app’s own App Store description for where it plays videos from, how it handles subtitles and sync, and how it is paid for. We do not quote prices; check them in the store for your country.
Your own video library
Synthetiq Player keeps your personal videos and photos in one clean library: you import them from Files or Photos, save favourites and pick up where you left off with continue watching history. Playback has quality selection, and with a free account the library syncs across supported devices. It can transfer videos, photos, favourites and progress to Apple TV, and you can optionally connect it to a media server you own or control for access to your own collection.
Free, open source and plays most formats
VLC is a free and open source player that plays most movie, show and music formats without conversion. It syncs files with Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box and iCloud Drive, takes files over Wi-Fi sharing, and streams from SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS and UPnP/DLNA media servers. It supports advanced subtitles with full SSA compatibility, multi-track audio, playback speed control and Chromecast.
Media servers and a no-ads player
Infuse plays MP4, MKV, M4V, MOV and more, with HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby and DTS audio, on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Vision. It browses videos on a Mac, PC, NAS or Wi-Fi drive, in Plex, Emby and Jellyfin, and in cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive without syncing, streams over AirPlay and Google Cast, syncs watched history with Trakt and downloads subtitles from OpenSubtitles. Outplayer is built around speed: 4K HDR playback with instant seeking, Picture in Picture, spatial audio, subtitle styling with dual language support, and SMB and external drives through the Files app. Free users get no playback restrictions and no ads, and a one-time purchase adds more configuration options. For photos, see image viewers for Mac.
| App | Best for | Where videos come from | How it is paid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetiq PlayerCensuusApp Store | a personal library with continue watching | Files, Photos, your own media server | free account for sync |
| VLCApp Store | playing most formats, free | cloud drives, Wi-Fi sharing, SMB, FTP, UPnP/DLNA | free and open source |
| InfuseApp Store | NAS and Plex, Emby, Jellyfin libraries | Mac, PC, NAS, Plex, Emby, Jellyfin, cloud services | free download, optional Infuse Pro subscription |
| OutplayerApp Store | a fast player with no ads | Files app, SMB, external drives | free with no ads, one-time purchase for more options |
Frequently asked questions
Which video player for iPhone has no ads?
Outplayer says free users get no ads and no playback restrictions, and VLC is completely free and open source.
Which iPhone video player works with Plex or Jellyfin?
Infuse browses and plays videos from Plex, Emby and Jellyfin, as well as from a Mac, PC or NAS.
Which video player for iPhone has good subtitles?
VLC supports advanced subtitles with full SSA compatibility, Infuse downloads subtitles from OpenSubtitles, and Outplayer has subtitle styling with dual language support.
Is there a video player that remembers where I stopped?
Synthetiq Player keeps a continue watching history and can carry your progress over to Apple TV.