Best online video players

Playing multimedia content is one of the actions that we usually carry out most frequently with our computer during leisure time. To be able to play movies and series that we have stored, we need a player. Surely as a software element we will know many, but perhaps not so much if we talk about online players, ideal if we do not want to install on our hard drive.

Similarly, if we have a website and we want to transmit videos through it, we will need an online video player, with which we can play and pause the content, as well as have additional options. We can also make use of pages that have their own player together with content to view and complementary extensions for Chrome.

Best online video players

What is an online player

When we talk about an online video player, we are referring to an application capable of playing videos over the Internet while providing information about the relevant controls related to video broadcast. A simple player will allow us to play, pause and search through a video, while the most complete ones are capable of customizing their options, including subtitles or allowing them to switch between available video sequences, such as quality options.

Currently, online video players are designed on HTML5 , replacing the classic Flash players. This makes them offer an easier way to integrate them into our website, they only need the video element to be used. Simply set the width and height for the video size and its control attributes to add features like play and pause or set it to play automatically.

Within the <video> tag option we can add videos in the same way that an image is added to a web page. We define the source in .mp4 format and the size of the video in a simple embed code, so that we can play it through an HTML5 player of our choice where we can preload JavaScript to create controls on the default video tag element.

Since most of today’s browsers support HTML5 videos, it makes online playback more comfortable on both desktop and mobile screens.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The use of an online video player compared to the use of a desktop player has some advantages and disadvantages when it comes to watching our favorite movies and series.

Advantages

Their main point in favor is that they do not require any type of installation on our computer and we will not even have to download a file, since we will only need a web browser and an Internet connection to be able to run them. In this way, it allows us to save space on the hard drive while draining the performance of the system, especially on less powerful computers.

Likewise, this allows us to have access to these players from anywhere and even if we are not using our usual device, since it is not installed we do not need it. In the same way, it is not necessary to be downloading and installing updates periodically, since this is done online and automatically.

drawbacks

But, as expected, not everything is perfect when we decide to use an online video player, and these also have their drawbacks when compared to a player installed on our computer.

To begin with, it should be noted that these players require an Internet connection to be used. It is true that, at present, it is very easy to have the Internet, either by sharing data from the mobile or from a public Wi-Fi network. But if we don’t have it, we won’t be able to use them, quite the opposite of what happens with any desktop player that doesn’t require this connection to work.

We should also keep in mind that, in general, an online player is usually less secure than a desktop software, since our data can be more exposed, so we run more risks. Quite the opposite of what can happen with an application installed on our computer.

Also, online video players are likely to be less stable than their desktop counterparts, making them more prone to crashes. However, a player installed and compatible with our system is more optimized to offer better performance and greater stability.

Open source or proprietary

When deciding on an online video player, we can find those that are open source and others that are proprietary . The former have some advantages over the latter as they are free to use and even allow their source code to be evaluated and reviewed. As a drawback, it should be said that the proprietary ones usually have a greater number of functions and integrations, which the open source ones cannot assume due to the high development cost that it would entail.

On the other hand, open source players tend to have fewer bugs and a higher number of quick fixes since they are supported by the community by having access to their code. In the case of the proprietary application, we must ensure that it has good customer service that is able to solve our problems adequately.

Another plus point is the high level of customization of the open source player, making it easier to adapt to our needs. On the other hand, the proprietary one is usually less customizable, but, in return, they usually come preloaded with functions and themes that make it easier to play with them.

free online video players

If we are determined to use an online video player, then we are going to tell you about some of the essential and free ones that we must take into account.

Playervideo.onlinegratis.tv

We are talking about an online player that has the necessary elements to be able to play our videos from the PC without having to download anything. It will only be necessary to have the URL address to enter it, load it and start playing. It is designed by and for simplicity, because from its menu we can only pause and resume the video and adjust the audio volume.

Reproductor video onlinegratis tv

Of course it has its limitations as we can only play videos in MP4 format . It also does not support subtitles and does not allow you to edit the content. Of course, we can be calm since the page does not store any type of file, it only takes care of reading the link that we provide. We can access by clicking on this link to the developer’s website.

Videoplayer.onlinegratis.tv

It is a free online video player that is characterized by its simplicity , since it has easy-to-use controls with various functionalities. It stands out for being compatible with a good variety of video and audio formats such as Mp4, Ogv, WEBm and Mp3, as well as web pages.

Videoplayer onlinegratis tv

This web application has all the components that we may need to be able to load and view videos , without the need for a codec. Among its tools, it has an online preview and offers compatibility with the integrated subtitles of the videos. We can also put it on full screen and change the playback speed from 1x to 1.5x and 2x. We can access from this link to your website.

JPlayer

It is a free and open source player, which has detailed documentation (in English) on how we can configure it, customize it and use it to play videos on our website. It is possible to hide the full screen button or the volume button, as well as set the playback speed by default. Also, if we want to go a little deeper we can customize his skin and change his appearance completely.

JPlayer

The main drawback is that it only provides a standalone player , so we have to look for other services so that it can stream the video effectively. In addition, it also does not include any ability to add subtitles to the video. We can use JPlayer by accessing its official website .

Online movie and series players

These pages have their own online video player, allowing us to play all their legal and free content from our web browser.

dnastream

This web application works as a kind of “on-demand television” , since it has a wide catalog of video options to choose from, whether they are movies, documentaries, cartoons or even cooking recipes. All in Spanish and for free, all of its products being completely original and legal, so we can see them with total security.

AdnStream

The playback looks quite fluid and without jumps, although the image quality does not contain the best resolution, it is quite acceptable. From its playback bar we can pause and resume the video, change the volume and move to any part of it, remaining hidden once we remove the mouse pointer from the image. We can access all the content of AdnStream, by clicking on this link its official website .

Internet Archive

We are talking about an open source website specially designed to preserve the content hosted on the Internet and that can be made available in an accessible way for all types of users. Its developers are in favor of the free circulation of information, so through this library we can have universal access to knowledge.

Internet Archive

Thus, we can have access to a wide variety of all kinds of material, such as videos, audios or text, and we can even upload our own. All the material it contains is free of copyright so that we can access it for free. In addition, it has its own internal search engine so that we can easily locate everything we need. To enjoy all the Internet Archive content, just click this link to the developer’s page .

veoh.com

This platform has been specially designed to store extensive audiovisual content that we can play from our own web browser. It has both videos and music, all organized by categories. We can have access to videos (sports, culture, TV shows, etc), movies (animation, comedy, romance, etc), music (alternative, Pop/Rock, Latin, etc), channels (reality, interviews, travel and culture , etc.) and groups.

Veoh

It is interesting as a content and playback library, but it should be noted that most of it is not in Spanish , and that we will also find videos, such as movies, of just a few minutes. It can also help us find content without copyright that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. In addition, it offers various options to upload videos and also to download them. The best of all is that we can access all its content for free

Chrome extensions to play online

Chrome is the most popular web browser, and among its features, it stands out for its compatibility with extensions capable of providing it with greater functionalities. With the use of these plugins we can run online video players.

Torrent Stream

This add-on for Chrome is a great alternative for those users who want to play audio or video files from torrent without having to download any program on the computer and be able to view it from their own web browser. In order for the extension to recognize torrent files, they must use magnet links, so just by copying and pasting the corresponding URL we can start playback. It offers compatibility with MP4 AND MKV files and also offers support for subtitles. We can install Torrent Stream for free by clicking on this link to the Chrome Web Store .

Videostream for Google Chromecast

With this add-on we will be able to use Google Chrome as a multimedia player, with the added bonus of having support for Chromecast, so we will be able to send the signal to any monitor or television in the house where we have it connected. It should also be noted that it has support for subtitles, something that lovers of movies and series in the original version will surely appreciate. It is capable of recognizing the subtitle embedded in the video, and if it does not have it, it also allows you to load the file with the subtitle. Also, it supports more than 400 video codecs like MKV, AVI, MP4, MP3, among others. We can download it for free from the Chrome Store.

Video Speed Controller

To enjoy online videos, we can use this add-on for Chrome, which has various functions, among which is the possibility of speeding up and slowing down, forwarding and rewinding HTML5 audio or video with direct access. In this way we can modify the playback speed to our liking, helping us to optimize the viewing of movies while making quick adjustments to the playback speed. Install Video Speed Controller for free from the Chrome Store .